--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: August 12 - 16, 2019" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 12-16 August 2019. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-fraud.png --- [![pixalate-full-logo](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixalate_Logos/pixalate-full-logo.jpg?width=150&height=60&name=pixalate-full-logo.jpg "pixalate-full-logo")](https://www.pixalate.com) Search **Menu** ** ** ![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-fraud.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: August 12 - 16, 2019 Written by [Tyler Loechner](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/tyler-loechner) Aug 16, 2019 4:34:40 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1. Ad fraud-laden apps downloaded 100+ million times** **![mobile-fraud](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-fraud.png?width=600&name=mobile-fraud.png)** "Two related ad fraud malware programs, recently discovered in 34 trojanized Android applications, have already been downloaded roughly 102 million times from the Google Play store, researchers reported," reported [SC Magazine](https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/trojanized-apps-containing-ad-fraud-malware-downloaded-102m-times/). "The malware has been found in a wide variety of otherwise normal-looking and operable apps, including maps, QR code readers, dictionaries, fitness trackers, route finders, text editors, Muslim-centric apps and more," the article added. ### **2. 85 Photo & Gaming Android apps with 8M+ combined downloads hit by ad fraud** ### **![android-phone-white](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/android-phone-white.png?width=600&name=android-phone-white.png)** "These adware-laden apps posed as 85 photography or gaming applications on Google Play, where they have netted more than eight million in combined downloads," reported [Trend Micro](https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/adware-posing-as-85-photography-and-gaming-apps-on-google-play-installed-over-8-million-times/). "It isn’t your run-of-the-mill adware family: Apart from displaying advertisements that are difficult to close, it employs unique techniques to evade detection through user behavior and time-based triggers." ### **3. Op-ed: Combatting ad fraud requires smart people in addition to smart tech** ![humans-and-robots](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/humans-and-robots.png?width=600&name=humans-and-robots.png) "Unfortunately, fraud has become such a pervasive problem that many marketers just chalk it up to the cost of doing business," read an op-ed in [MarTech Series](https://martechseries.com/mts-insights/guest-authors/combatting-ad-fraud-requires-smart-people-not-just-smart-tech/). "They even plan for it in their budgets, opting to take the lower-cost buy, knowing that nearly [20% of it could be wasted on fraud](https://blog.pixalate.com/ad-fraud-trends-report-update-q3-2018)."  "[F]ighting ad fraud is not just a battle of technologies, it’s a battle of wits between humans," the article noted. ### **4. How the CCPA fits into targeted-TV's future** ![addressable-tv-targeting](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/addressable-tv-targeting.png?width=600&name=addressable-tv-targeting.png) "The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) could disrupt audience-based TV advertising before it really has a chance to take off," wrote [AdExchanger](https://adexchanger.com/tv-2/tv-broadcasters-are-hot-on-addressable-but-ccpa-might-hamper-their-plans/). "The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 – less than 140 days from now – is chock full of language and requirements that TV broadcasters and their data partners need to pay attention to." AdExchanger dives into the possible ramifications. ### **5. A look at the IBM-Unilever blockchain pilot** ![blockchain-image-blog-pixalate](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/blockchain-image-blog-pixalate.png?width=600&name=blockchain-image-blog-pixalate.png) "A year-long pilot that uses blockchain to improve online advertising efficiency has yielded promising initial results, according to IBM CMO Michelle Peluso," reported [VentureBeat](https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/15/ibm-unilever-blockchain-pilot-cuts-wasteful-ad-spend/). "The project has already reduced pennies on the dollar of waste in the area of ad reconciliation and brought greater transparency to the complex gauntlet of intermediaries brand advertisers have to deal with," the article added, citing Peluso. ### Search Blog Search ### Follow Pixalate ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Previous Story [← Pixalate Week in Review: August 5 - 9, 2019](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-week-in-review-august-9-2019) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [DMEXCO '19 Panel: Shining a Light on the Mobile Programmatic Supply Chain →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/dmexco-2019-mobile-programmatic-supply-chain-panel) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Weekly Recaps [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 16 - June 20, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-20-2025) Jun 20, 2025 11:09:13 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/pixalate-week-review-june-13.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 9 - June 13, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-13-2025) Jun 13, 2025 11:39:50 AM | 3 min read [![](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/June-6-Pixalate-Recap.png) ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) ### [Pixalate Week in Review: June 2 - June 6, 2025](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/june-6-2025) Jun 6, 2025 1:00:13 PM | 2 min read ** ### Subscribe to our blog *By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use ](https://www.pixalate.com/terms)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) ![pixalate-logo-red-small](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018NewTemplate/pixalate-logo-red-small.png?width=208&name=pixalate-logo-red-small.png "pixalate-logo-red-small") ** By entering your email address and clicking Subscribe, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) Products [Analytics](https://www.pixalate.com/products/analytics) [Blocking](https://www.pixalate.com/products/blocking) [Media Rating Terminal](https://www.pixalate.com/products/mrt) [Publisher Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [Seller Trust Indexes](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=publisherTrustIndex) [IoT Device Rankings](https://www.pixalate.com/rankings/?group=app&reportId=iotDeviceReach) Resources [Blog](https://blog.pixalate.com/) [Press](https://www.pixalate.com/press) [Careers](https://www.pixalate.com/jobs) [Team](https://info.pixalate.com/pixalate-leadership-team) Contact Email [** sales@pixalate.com ](mailto:sales@pixalate.com) [** privacy@pixalate.com ](mailto:privacy@pixalate.com) US: [** +1 888 749 2528 ](tel:+1%20888%20749%202528) EU: [** +44 (0)800 011 2050 ](tel:+44%20(0)800%20011%202050) Slack: [Join ATSAPI Slack Channel ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) Offices Global Offices US 1775 Greensboro Station Place, Suite 425, McLean, VA 22102 UK 20 North Audley Street London, W1K 6WE, United Kingdom EU 10 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland Singapore 10 Anson Road, #22-02 International Plaza, Singapore 079903 [![facebook](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/pixalate) [![x](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/twitter-x.png) ](https://twitter.com/pixalateinc) [![linkedin](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixalate) ![wechat](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/wechat.png) [![slack](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/footer/icons/slack.png) ](https://atsapi-pixalate.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-10dtow5cj-OEtlNr5yzJkrZMQUqcEEow#/shared-invite/email) [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/privacypolicy) [GDPR Compliance](https://www.pixalate.com/gdpr) Disclaimer Copyright © 2025 Pixalate [Back to top **](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-ad-fraud-news-week-in-review-august-16-2019#) # Disclaimer Disclaimer: The content of this page reflects Pixalate’s opinions with respect to the factors that Pixalate believes can be useful to the digital media industry. 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