Cookie-stuffing or “black technology of online marketing”

We are one hundred percent sure that there are no black affiliates among our readers. However, they watch interesting thrillers and read fascinating detective stories, even though they are not criminals. Today, we decided to talk about cookie-stuffing.

Cookie-stuffing is an affiliate marketing technique in which, as a result of visiting a website, a user receives a third-party cookie from a website unrelated to the website the user is visiting, usually without the user knowing about it. This is how unscrupulous arbitrageurs fraudulently receive referral fees.

About cookies simply

Simply put, cookie-stuffing is a method by which cookies from affiliate programs are installed in the user’s browser without their knowledge. This is done in order to attribute purchases or visits to a website to that user, even if they did not follow the affiliate’s link.

HTTP cookies are small blocks of data a web server creates when a user browses a website. Cookies are placed on the device used to access the resource. Websites that operate an affiliate program pay a commission to partners to attract visitors who complete one or more relevant transactions.

Other website owners often join affiliate programs to earn a commission, usually by simply redirecting visitors to the affiliate program’s site via a special link or advertisement. When a user clicks on this special link, a single cookie is usually placed on their computer. The cookie stores the arbitrager’s ID. This is how the advertiser determines which partner “brought” the user to its website. So far, everything is as it should be. It is a standard practice. This is how affiliates usually make a profit. Let us analyze it step by step:

• Cookie installation: When a user visits a website or views an advertisement, a cookie from affiliate programs is set on their computer.
• Tracking: If that user makes a purchase or visits a particular site, the cookies are considered activated.
• Crediting Sales: The affiliate (who placed the cookie) receives a commission for the sale or visit, even if they did not directly contribute to it.

How does black marketing work?

Cookie stuffing is often referred to as a “black online marketing technique”. It can generate fraudulent affiliate revenue for cookie stuffers but also overwrite legitimate partners’ cookies, essentially stealing commission from the other partner. It is quite normal for a user to visit a website, click on a link, and be redirected to the targeted affiliate site but not complete the corresponding transaction. The same user may revisit the target affiliate site after a while and complete the transaction. The original referral partner will be credited with the transaction and receive a commission.

What is the problem with cookie-stuffing?

This is a real “headache” for CPA networks. The problem arises when an unscrupulous affiliate starts to “cheat”. A genuine cookie can be overwritten. In this case, when the user visits the target affiliate site and completes the transaction, the profit goes not to the original partner who made the first real visit to the target site but to the one who replaced the cookie.

What is the harm of cookie-stuffing?

• Unfair Practice. Cookie-stuffing is often seen as a bypass of moral norms, as it occurs without the user’s consent.
• Data distortion. This practice distorts analytics data and the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
• Improper rewards. Cookie-stuffing can lead to incorrect crediting of sales and conversions, which harms honest affiliate program participants.

Cookie-stuffing. Methods of struggle

CPA networks constantly monitor and analyze the activities of affiliates. If administrators detect suspicious traffic, the accounts of this partner are frozen. After that, they are checked. If it turns out that the affiliate really used cookie stuffing, it can lead to various consequences, from a ban and cancellation of conversions to criminal liability. Fighting against cookie stuffing is an important part of managing affiliate programs and ensuring integrity in digital marketing. There are several effective methods to combat this practice.

Options for protection against cookie stuffing for affiliates:

• use of the HTTPS protocol;
• setting the secure parameter of each cookie to true;
• installing a directive on the servers that will prohibit website pages from being loaded in frames.

Real consequences of cookie-stuffing in the world

In 2008, eBay sued some successful affiliate marketers on its platform who used the cookie-stuffing method. Brian Dunning, the host of the Skeptoid podcast, was sentenced to fifteen months in prison and a $100 fine, and the other was sentenced to five months in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Of course, this way of making money may look attractive. You can make a lot of money this way, but it’s like robbing a bank. You can try, but you will face fatal consequences if you fail.

It is possible to make money on arbitrage “in white”, believe me! So don’t use “black” marketing and protect your cookies. Sign up and work with SalesDoubler, because with us “Big goals are achievable!”