--- title: "Pixalate Week in Review: February 11 - 15, 2019" description: Pixalate reviews this week's news in the programmatic ad fraud space. Find the most critical ad tech and privacy news from 11-15 February 2019. image: https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/rising-arrows-up.jpg --- [![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/rising-arrows-up.jpg) [Weekly Recaps](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/topic/weekly-recaps) | 3 min read # Pixalate Week in Review: February 11 - 15, 2019 Written by [Tyler Loechner](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/author/tyler-loechner) Feb 15, 2019 12:35:34 PM This week's review of ad fraud and quality in the digital advertising space. *Attending Mobile World Congress 2019? [Meet with Pixalate ](https://pixal.at/2Tz4SNc)to discuss the latest trends in mobile advertising.* ### **1. Podcast: Dealing with digital ad fraud in 2019** ![podcast](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/podcast.jpg?width=600&name=podcast.jpg) This [eMarketer](https://content-na1.emarketer.com/podcast-dealing-with-digital-ad-fraud) podcast features Nicole Perrin, author of eMarketer's recently released[ Digital Ad Fraud 2019 ](https://www.pixalate.com/emarketer-digital-ad-fraud-2019-report)report, as she explains some of the key takeaways from the comprehensive report. "I think the top two areas [of risky inventory] have got to be mobile app and OTT," said Perrin.  ### **2. Competition between programmatic video ad sellers heats up** ![q3-2018-vsti-transparency-video-programmatic-sellers](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/q3-2018-vsti-transparency-video-programmatic-sellers.png?width=600&name=q3-2018-vsti-transparency-video-programmatic-sellers.png) Pixalate recently released the Q3 2018[ Seller Trust Indexes](https://pixalate.com/sellertrustindex/global/#!global), and we examined historical data from the Video Seller Trust Index (VSTI) to identify some industry-wide trends. Per the VSTI, competition among programmatic video ad sellers has increased, and as a result, there is now less risk in “choosing the wrong partner” for programmatic video. [Learn more](https://www.pixalate.com/programmatic-video-seller-trust-index-competition).  ### **3. MediaPost: Vigilance most important solution to ad fraud** ![hacker-computer](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/hacker-computer.jpg?width=600&name=hacker-computer.jpg) "The good news is that the Interactive Advertising Bureau's ads.txt initiative has seen a remarkably fast compliance among the world's top website publishers doing business with big advertisers and ad agencies. The bad news is that nothing's perfect," wrote [MediaPost](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/331776/adstxt-expose-proves-theres-no-perfect-solution.html), in reference to a report that ad fraudsters targeted ads.txt. "We work hard to protect our clients from such schemes through our pre-bid technology and tools we provide for supply rating and data intelligence," Amin Bandeali, CTO of Pixalate, said to MediaPost. "At the end of the day, fraudsters will always seek to game the system because they are so highly incentivized. Scammers are constantly inventing, and it’s up to each stakeholder to carefully vet and monitor their sources and partners." ### **4. Digital ad revenue rose 22% year-over-year in Q3 2018, and OTT was a big factor** ![rising-arrows-up](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/rising-arrows-up.jpg?width=600&name=rising-arrows-up.jpg) According to a new report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), "digital ad revenue was $26.2 billion in the third quarter of 2018 -- up a whopping 22% compared to the same quarter a year prior," wrote [MediaPost](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/331963/digital-ad-revenue-tops-26b-in-q3-2018.html).  “Last year saw significant growth in the OTT marketplace and in the direct-to-consumer brand ecosystem — contributing factors in digital’s successful Q3,” Sue Hogan, SVP or Research and Measurement at the IAB, said in a statement. ### **5. Just 17% of consumers think personalized ads are ethical** **![personalized-ads](https://www.pixalate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Media/Blog%20photos/personalized-ads.jpg?width=600&name=personalized-ads.jpg)** "A massive majority of consumers believe that using their data to personalize ads is unethical," wrote [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2019/02/09/83-of-consumers-believe-personalized-ads-are-morally-wrong-survey-says/#4ea19ff819f5), citing an RSA survey of over 6,000 European and American adults. The author asked why people continue to use services that use their data for personalization if they are so strongly against it, before noting: "From a European perspective, the answer might be that they actually lack choice." ### 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 [← Competition between programmatic video ad sellers heats up](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/programmatic-video-seller-trust-index-competition) [** ](https://www.pixalate.com/blog) Next Story [Krush Media partners with Pixalate to protect its platform and growing OTT offering →](https://www.pixalate.com/blog/krush-media-partnership-connected-tv-ott-ad-fraud) ## 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-february-15-2019#) # 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. Any proprietary data shared is grounded in Pixalate’s proprietary technology and analytics, which Pixalate is continuously evaluating and updating. Any references to outside sources should not be construed as endorsements. Pixalate’s opinions are just that - opinion, not facts or guarantees. Per the MRC, “'Fraud' is not intended to represent fraud as defined in various laws, statutes and ordinances or as conventionally used in U.S. Court or other legal proceedings, but rather a custom definition strictly for advertising measurement purposes. Also per the MRC, “‘Invalid Traffic’ is defined generally as traffic that does not meet certain ad serving quality or completeness criteria, or otherwise does not represent legitimate ad traffic that should be included in measurement counts. Among the reasons why ad traffic may be deemed invalid is it is a result of non-human traffic (spiders, bots, etc.), or activity designed to produce fraudulent traffic.” ** ** *By clicking Download and entering your email address, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pixalate.com/terms) and have read and acknowledge our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixalate.com/hubfs/2024-08-20_Pixalate_Privacy_Policy.pdf). *Copyright © 2025 Pixalate** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * × ## Subscribe to the Pixalate Blog The first step in ad fraud prevention. Loading... 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