--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: December 3 - 7, 2018" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 3-7 December 2018. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/search-discovery-examine-magnifying.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/search-discovery-examine-magnifying.png) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 2 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: December 3 - 7, 2018 Written by [Tyler Loechner](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/tyler-loechner) Dec 7, 2018 4:04:09 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. ### **1. Pixalate releases Q3 2018 Ads.txt Trends Report** ![ads-txt-trends-q3-2018](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/ads-txt-trends-q3-2018.jpg?width=600&name=ads-txt-trends-q3-2018.jpg) Pixalate this week released the [Q3 2018 Ads.txt Trends Report](https://pixal.at/2QAXQtc). The report features data and insights collected by Pixalate detailing the state of ads.txt adoption over the third quarter of 2018. Ads.txt adoption **increased over 7.1x** so far in 2018, rising from under 100,000 domains to nearly 600,000. [Learn more](https://www.pixalate.com/ads-txt-trends-report-q3-2018). ### **2. IAB Tech Lab releases App Ads.txt for public comment** **![mobile-apps](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/mobile-apps.jpg?width=600&name=mobile-apps.jpg)** The IAB Tech Lab has [released](https://iabtechlab.com/press-releases/app-ads-txt-released-for-public-comment-as-next-step-to-fight-digital-advertising-inventory-fraud/) app ads.txt specification in beta. The specification is available for public comment through February 4, 2019. "With demand side platforms (DSPs), it allows buyers to confidently purchase through approved seller accounts," wrote the IAB Tech Lab. "App-ads.txt applies this ads.txt functionality to ad transactions in mobile apps, as well as over-the-top (OTT) video apps." ### **3. Google warns of 3 'malicious SDKs' used for app ad fraud** ![smartphone-touch-mobile-phone-screen-hands](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/smartphone-touch-mobile-phone-screen-hands.jpg?width=600&name=smartphone-touch-mobile-phone-screen-hands.jpg)  "Google ... has discovered three malicious ad network SDKs that were being used to conduct ad fraud," reported [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/07/google-warns-app-developers-of-three-malicious-sdks-being-used-for-ad-fraud/). "To be clear, the developers with the SDKs (software development kits) installed aren’t necessarily aware of the SDKs’ malicious nature. In fact, most are likely not, Google says." ### **4. Senator Warner sends second letter to FTC, expresses 'grave concerns' about ad fraud** ![search-discovery-examine-magnifying](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/search-discovery-examine-magnifying.png?width=600&name=search-discovery-examine-magnifying.png) "U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission today expressing 'grave concerns' over the agency’s slow response to investigating digital ad fraud," wrote [Adweek](https://www.adweek.com/programmatic/sen-mark-warner-expresses-grave-concerns-about-digital-ad-fraud-in-letter-to-the-ftc/). "In his letter to FTC Commissioner Joseph Simmons, Warner, said he was 'deeply disappointed' in the FTC’s reply to a previous letter he sent in late October detailing the growth of digital ad fraud." ### **5. The current state of attribution** ![attribution-data-charts-graphs](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/attribution-data-charts-graphs.png?width=600&name=attribution-data-charts-graphs.png) eMarketer users five charts to detail the current state of attribution in digital advertising. "Despite how much marketers prioritize attribution, many gaps in their efforts remain," wrote [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/five-charts-the-state-of-attribution). "Some marketers are taking more control over their attribution by bringing it in-house. Among the 119 media decision-makers from US brands that Advertiser Perceptions and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)surveyed in April 2018 ... [n]early half of the respondents said they in-housed attribution."  *Sign up for our blog to stay updated with new stats, trends, and analysis of digital ad fraud.*   ### 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 Releases Q3 2018 Ads.txt Trends Report](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/ads-txt-trends-report-q3-2018) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Ads.txt lowers ad fraud 22%, but can’t keep up with the growing threat →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/ads-txt-lowers-ad-fraud-but-invalid-traffic-persists) ## 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-december-7-2018#) # 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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