Steve Lightspeed is the founder and CEO of Lightspeed Media Corp and an AVN Porn Hall of Fame inductee. In 1999, Steve created Lightspeedcash.com, which grew from a part-time hobby into one of the web’s longest running and most successful sologirl paysite networks and affiliate programs. Steve currently runs Lightspeed AI, a technology and services company focused on bringing the amazing capabilities of AI to the adult industry and its content creators’ community. He has spoken at dozens of adult industry conferences and is known for his honest, down-to-earth, and fun approach to the business of porn.
Steve just launched the first 100% AI site in the industry with Deepfake.com, which works basically like a creator’s network with 450,000 models ready to send custom sexy and nude pics on demand. The site is free to try and offers a pro version with additional image generation options and advanced usability features. Deepfake.com has an affiliate program paying 20% of lifetime revenue, and a white label version will be available soon. Steve can be reached at Lightspeed-AI.com.
Steve, can you tell us a little bit about your background and what led you to start your own business in the adult industry?
Sure. I started out as a computer programmer in Seattle, and in the late nineties we saw a guy on TV talking about how he made millions of dollars by putting pictures of naked college girls online. And my wife just looked at me and said, wow, if he could do that, why couldn’t you do that? And I thought, you’re the greatest wife of all time! I can’t believe you thought of this, but she said I could do it. So yeah, let’s try it and see what happens. So, I hired a couple of models and took some pictures. I totally didn’t know what I was doing. I’ve never touched a camera in my life.
It was just during that time in the late nineties when anybody could put up a site and make money with it. So, I literally just started half-assed, and lucked out, timing wise. I kind of floundered around for the first couple of years until I met Richard and Tanker. I got where I realized that I can’t really do all this myself. There’s a lot to running a website and marketing and photography and doing it all by myself. So, I hired Tanker and Richard. Things just took off. It was crazy. Tanker knew everybody in the industry.
Our affiliate program just blew up overnight. And Richard got the office and all the websites and servers organized and basically un unscrewed all the things that I messed up.
So yeah, it was a perfect team. We just started killing it. We hired our first good model in 2000, our first superstar, Tawnee Stone. A lot of people have heard that name She was literally a phenomenon. She was one of the first regular girl next door types that had her own little website.
We couldn’t believe how popular her site became. We went full bore, spent upwards of a million dollars on marketing for one girl. And it really paid off. We got to travel around the world and meet everybody and become part of the industry. I think we were one of the first that really tried to do non porn stars or non-swinger sites. Everybody else was doing amateur sites or, or fan sites for existing models. But we were the first ones to go out and hire a waitress and give her a website and say that she’s famous, just to see what happens.
It just really worked out. We found out at the time there were a lot of girls who wanted to do this and just didn’t have the resources. Nobody back then knew how to build a website or put a server together. It was a perfect match. Tawnee and I argued a bit about who made who, but I couldn’t have done it without her, and she couldn’t have done it without me. So it was a great partnership. We worked together for seven years and built LightspeedCash into what it became. We opened 35 sites after her. It just became a real thing and the money just kept coming in.
And we got big into the marketing and the affiliate side of it. We really liked to treat our affiliates as good as we could. We would spoil them rotten at every opportunity. I remember we had a party here in Phoenix where we were trying to spend. $60,000 on 20 guys in three days. It was kind of like an episode of Brewster’s Millions. We were just like how can we go blow more money right now? Let’s go do stupid stuff! So we did. We did all kinds of stupid stuff. It was a lot of fun. Everybody got their own presidential suite at the Hilton, everybody got massages and jerseys, we played golf, we did go-kart races. We had a paintball war, and we partied their asses off. It was so much fun.
Can you share the story of your first big break and how it impacted your career?
The Phoenix Forum is where we really got our big break, because the forum was in Phoenix and we are in Phoenix, so CCBill just kind of embraced us and said, all right, you’re doing this show with us. And from that grew our annual Naked Dodgeball Tournament. Dodgeball was actually my little son’s idea. Of course, he didn’t know exactly what we were talking about. But I called him my little consultant.
I said, if you had to entertain a bunch of your friends for an afternoon, what would you do? He’s like, “Dodgeball, Dad! It’s awesome!” So we did that and just kind of took it to the next level.
It was Ron Cadwell from CCBill and Frank and Joanne who really took great care of us. There were like, we know you don’t know what you’re doing. But we’re going to show you how. I remember them telling me “We’re going to blow you so sky high at this show.” And they did. Everybody thought I owned that show.
What do you think contributed to your rise in the industry?
One of the things that we did differently was, at the time, everybody was all about $35 payouts and how much money can we spend on one guy. They were all chasing the whales. And we were like, alright, let’s, let’s not exclude everybody else and worry about just one guy. I’d rather be supported by a bunch of small bricks than one thick rope. So we focused on the smaller affiliates. I wanted 10,000 people to send us one join a day. And that’s pretty much what we got to.
It was a very smart strategy until things changed in about 2008. A lot of the small companies just got squeezed out because of market forces. It was a perfect storm. Kind of took the whole industry by surprise, and we weren’t really organized to the point that we could do anything about it.
Everybody was friendly but not involved with each other. Back then if we would’ve realized what the dangers really looked like, we, we might’ve fought a little harder, but hindsight’s 2020. I was told I should get over it. And I am over it now. I am totally onto the next thing. I’m ready to release my AI site. That’s been my 100% focus for the last several years. I knew this day was coming.
So how do you view the industry now compared to when you started?
It’s definitely a lot more mature now. When I started, any moron with an idea could launch a site and make money. I don’t think that’s true anymore. Also back when I started, the models kind of took whatever they could get. They didn’t have a lot of power, versus now where they have ALL the power. The models have really taken their rightful place in the industry as the ones in charge, between cam networks and onlyfans and the clip sites, the models pretty much set their own pace now. They don’t have to deal with producers and directors and all the old school stuff that used to happen.
But the whole industry is still about trust. If I do a traffic trade, I want to know the person behind it. I want to have met them personally because I don’t want to do business with someone that I don’t trust. I like to go out with people and make an ass out of myself. That’s my way of letting people sort themselves out. I go, all right, if you don’t like me, you just saved me a shitton of time. Let yourself out. See ya! I don’t trust people who can’t relax or have fun.
So what changes in the industry led to your early retirement, and how did you navigate that transition?
Oh, well, I mean, clearly anybody that reads my posts knows that I am not a fan of tube sites. I feel like we just got rolled over. I launched a few sites. I tried a few different ideas, some of the best work I’ve ever done, and I just could not get traction because all anyone wanted to talk about was tube sites. So I put all the Lightspeed sites on autopilot. They never actually went down. They’ve been getting new sales every day for 20 years. I just kind of decided since I don’t need the money right now, I’m just going to kick back and enjoy my family and do some other stuff.
I volunteered. I worked with handicapped kids for a couple years. Turned out to be really rewarding, I’m glad I did it. I took some mainstream jobs to learn more about AI. Everything I’ve been doing for the last six years or more has been about AI. It’s been fascinating watching how quickly it’s evolving. But working in mainstream made me realize that I was born for porn. I got fired from multiple jobs for being… me. I, I get it, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. I have a very raunchy sense of humor. And things have changed. I just found out that I’m old now!
So what motivated you, besides loving porn, to make a comeback in the industry, and how have your goals evolved since your initial success?
Well, I’m back for AI. I have not been as enthusiastic about anything like this since when I got my first computer or when I first went online.
This is the year of AI. Everybody has been impacted already, whether they realize it or not. It’s going to change everything. I haven’t written a line of code or a paragraph in a memo since I found chatGPT. It does everything for me. It wrote most of the deepfake site for me. I said, how do you make a picture with AI? And it went, here you go. I just started following directions. There are now 450,000 girls on the site. ChatGPT named them all and gave them all little biographies. AI is going to change everything. I just can’t even imagine all the possibilities at this point. I think we’re all going to be shocked at how much things change and how quickly.
What do you see as the benefits of AI for models and performers?
I’m sure everybody’s curious about AI and what it can do for models and what it will do to the adult industry in general. I have a unique perspective on it, probably because I’ve been working in it for so long, but I think it’s going to help all of us.
There’s a ton of valuable things that AI can help models with. not the least of which, is privacy. I know so many models who feel like they made a mistake, or years later wish they hadn’t done porn. But if we could have altered your face to where you were just a little bit unrecognizable, you wouldn’t be having all these issues now.
Also, a lot of models go through significant surgeries to maintain their looks as they age. With AI, you won’t need to do that. We’ll take pictures of you from when you looked your best, and that’ll be you, forever. How many models have been forced to retire just because they got older?
Another problem for models right now is there’s only one of them. But what if they could manage 10 versions of themselves where the AI is doing a lot of the work and they’re just overseeing the whole operation? That tells me they would make 10x more money. They could easily manage their own little networks, but still only do the amount of work they’re doing now. It only takes a few hundred images now and the girls wouldn’t even have to really model anymore. You could just use your avatars and make new content from the old content. I tell models, we can simplify your job to just walking out to your mailbox to collect your check from licensing your name and likeness.
Of course, everyone’s like, but what about personal interaction? Yeah. I think that that’s an important thing for a lot of users, but I also know that I’ve been a porn consumer my whole life, and I’ve never once gone on a live cam show or wanted to talk to any of the models.
And let’s talk about what’s REAL. We all know the most popular creators out there already have people chatting for them. They’re not doing their own communications. They’re either going through an onlyfans agency who’s taking care of the chatters, or they’re hiring chatters themselves. The old joke is don’t pull the curtain too far back on the porn industry because eventually you’re going to find an old fat bald guy, or an outsourced Filipino. One poor guy once sent an email to Tawnee Stone and said, “I hope I’m talking to you and not some old, fat, bald, creepy guy.” I wrote him back. “Fuck you. I’m not fat!”
But some models are worried that AI is going to take their jobs. I disagree. The tech is good, but nothing can replace the real thing. AI will only substitute for you when you are ready to retire. We want to work with older models who are at that stage of their career. Many of those are my dear friends from the last 25 years. I think deepfake tech could be a perfect exit strategy for them to retire but continue to cash in their brand for many more years.
What about people who create AI images of women without their consent?
I think that everyone should own the rights to their own names, faces, and voices, and nobody has the right to steal them, let alone turn you into a pornstar without your consent. On Deepfake.com, we only allow AI generation of imaginary people. Every one of those 450,000 avatars is a person who does not exist. The handful of real models on the site are there because they want to be. We are very mindful about using AI legally and ethically.
What is the appeal of AI content for your fans?
The best part of AI content is not even the endless variety, but the ability to create a scene out of your own imagination. It’s about sitting in the director’s chair. The first photoshoot I did with a great model was a fantastic experience. That’s the experience we are selling with AI. No more endless searching the dark corners of the internet for new content! Building your own DreamGirl or DreamGuy is a very addictive thing. Our users can be “Steve Lightspeed for the Day”.
What are the long-term goals for your company regarding the development and implementation of your AI technology in the content industry.
My ultimate goal is to create a 100% indistinguishable model that you can engage with, including directing her to get naked on her bed and do a little cam show. We’re probably not more than 18 months away from being able to do that. There’s already a lot you can do with video. Virtual avatars are already hard to tell that they’re not real. We’re really getting good at it.
I want to become an AI services company. Because I believe that everybody is going to want to implement AI into their business models in various ways. And there’s so many ways to do it right now, and there’s so few people that are really trained or have the experience, especially in the adult industry. I want to become THE AI source for the adult industry. But it is a dangerous game. There’s so much risk, but that’s where I think I have a little bit of an advantage, because I have solid relationships with so many people in the industry. I’ve said from the beginning of this, our industry needs responsible professionals to lead by example, and I intend to be one of them.
BING Chat is a new form of AI-assisted search, that allows you to optimize your search experience. This AI tool can not only bring up websites or images on a search, but you can create or update pictures, edit or change text, do research, or request a summary of books, movies, articles, or more. The goal is to streamline a search to the most relevant answers and content so that users aren’t overwhelmed by tons of options.
The chat offers three modes to use, depending on your needs. In creative mode, the AI technology will search out answers that are more elaborate and detailed. This search function is great for writers, researchers, artists, or anyone else needing more imaginative search results.
If you choose the precise mode, the chatbot will search for shorter, more relevant answers. This mode is better for questions that have one answer, such as math problems, historical dates, scientific calculations, or other questions with specific answers.
Balanced mode incorporates both search modes, giving you a variety of options while keeping it brief. If you’re looking for product descriptions or reviews, or trying to book lodging or travel, this option is best.
This innovation in search engine technology has made the search experience even more immersive and productive for users, but it has also created concerns for website publishers.
What Are Some of the Problems that Bing Chat Can Cause for Website Publishers?
While AI opens up several new possibilities for internet users, web developers have brought up some concerns with the technology. Because some websites restrict access to articles, photos, or other information to non-subscribers, there is a growing worry that AI bots will be able to access intellectual property and hand it out for free. Other problems have arisen with how information is presented or used, without the webmaster’s permission.
While these are certainly valid concerns, restricting access to content too much might make it hard for potential website viewers to locate content. This can cause a lack of visibility for online businesses or services, especially new ones that need more visibility in the beginning.
Due to these and other concerns, Microsoft responded by building in a few different types of limitations that programmers can code into a website, depending on their needs.
How Do I Block or Limit My Content On Bing Chat?
If a webmaster doesn’t want to reprogram the website’s code, the information will still be available as it currently stands on Bing Chat. This will allow Bing Chat to access the content in whatever way it decides. This is a good option for newer websites or online businesses, as more exposure can boost clientele. It’s also a great option for those who want to help AI technology to continue to develop, as allowing Bing Chat full access will help train generative models.
Adding in a “nocache” meta tag will allow Bing Chat to find the website or information, but will limit the information to the website’s URL, the title of the website, or just a small clip of information. This is a good middle-ground option for websites that need traffic, but do not wish to divulge specific content.
If a developer prefers that Bing Chat has no access to a website’s information, the developer should program a “noarchive” meta tag into the code. This will prevent AI from accessing any information from the website. “Noarchive” meta tags are good for websites with time-sensitive or confidential information that absolutely must have the permission of the webmaster to release. Examples include websites that publish breaking news, banks or other financial websites, or websites undergoing maintenance.
l sites, or websites that require a paid subscription to view or use, developers can add both “nocache” and “noarchive” meta tags to the code. Because developers of paywall sites want more subscribers but also don’t want AI to access the information and distribute it without permission, this solution combines the benefits of both tags. Internet users will be able to find a paywall website, but won’t be able to access information freely. This application can be used for non-paywall websites as well.
Do These Meta Tags Work?
Meta tags do not work as commands, but rather as prompts. Search engines are not required to acknowledge the meta tags, though most will respect the boundaries put in place by the tags. If problems arise, they might stem from the programming itself. Multiple meta tags, conflicting directives in the HTTP header, typos, or incorrect implementation of directives can cause problems with the search functions for the website. Publishers should check the website code frequently to detect any errors that could interfere with regular functions.
What Can I Expect in the Future?
AI is a constantly changing field. Because this technology is still new, parameters for improving the search engine experience while maintaining the rights of creators will continue to develop. Microsoft will likely continue to build protections for creators and limitations for AI into their technology as the system improves. As with any other new technology, improvement comes with time, feedback, and experience.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way from being a simple technological development to a revolutionary force that is changing entire sectors, corporate procedures, and our everyday lives in ways we could not have predicted even a few decades ago. At the center of this revolution are AI companies which are accelerating innovation and bringing about change in a variety of industries. While it is certainly a noble undertaking to search for cutting-edge AI solutions, AI companies also need to deal with a critical component of their operations: making money off of their innovative concepts.
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is a complex ecosystem of innovation, commercial strategy, and sustainable growth rather than just engineering feats or scientific discovery. In the world of AI, concepts are not confined to research and development but are also converted into profitable ventures that guarantee the continuous progression of artificial intelligence technology. We will examine the tactics and methods used by AI companies to make money off of their AI-driven inventions in this article.
1. AI Solution Licensing
One efficient approach for AI businesses to make money off of their inventions is through licensing AI solutions. These organizations can reach a wider range of customers and industries that might not have access to in-house AI knowledge by granting other businesses access to and usage of their AI technologies. For instance, a natural language processing (NLP) company can enhance its services by using AI-driven sentiment analysis. Licensing can be a lucrative revenue model when AI businesses have cutting-edge technology that other companies are keen to use.
2. Services Based on Subscriptions
AI businesses can rely on subscription-based services as a reliable and consistent source of funding. Consumers gain from having ongoing access to AI resources and services without having to pay for AI software up once.
For instance, a machine-learning platform might provide customers with different levels of access to machine-learning models and algorithms through tiered subscriptions. With this arrangement, users are certain to receive regular upgrades and improvements which will maintain good relations between the customers and the AI firms.
3. Custom AI Development
Services for custom AI development are essential for companies with specific AI needs. AI businesses are excellent at customizing solutions to address certain problems.
A manufacturing company and an AI development company could collaborate to design a predictive maintenance solution that is appropriate for their equipment and workflows. For AI firms, custom projects can be profitable since they provide customized solutions that precisely answer business demands and allow for price and project scope flexibility.
4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Services for data analysis and insights are essential for assisting businesses in making the most of their data. AI firms can provide comprehensive data analytics, spotting patterns, abnormalities, and insightful information that helps with data-driven decision-making.
These services are very valuable to businesses across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance. AI companies make money by providing enterprises with actionable insights that help them improve their strategies and operations.
5. AI Consulting and Integration
AI consulting and integration services play a crucial role in helping businesses navigate the challenges associated with adopting AI. AI firms collaborate with their clients to develop AI strategies and offer professional guidance on the choice and application of AI solutions.
The need for these services is growing as more companies become aware of artificial intelligence’s potential. AI consultancy gives AI businesses the chance to make money while assisting other companies in utilizing the technology to boost their competitiveness and growth.
6. AI Education and Training
As more people and businesses look to advance their skills and comprehend the intricacies of artificial intelligence, AI education and training have become increasingly popular. AI businesses provide workshops, courses, and instructional materials aimed at simplifying AI ideas. These popular educational initiatives make money through certificates, course fees, and the selling of training materials. AI companies enable people to seize AI’s potential and open up new avenues for their enterprises or careers.
7. Products Powered by AI
AI businesses frequently get into product development, producing hardware, software, or AI-powered tools. These goods include predictive maintenance programs as well as chatbots and virtual assistants. AI companies can expand their reach across several industries and earn cash by offering these products. An AI-based diagnostic tool that increases the precision of medical diagnoses, for instance, might be provided by a healthcare AI company, improving patient care while generating revenue at the same time.
8. Monetization of Data
In the AI sector, data is a valuable asset that can be made into money by AI companies that have access to large and relevant datasets. AI companies profit from the value of their data assets by selling data to researchers, enterprises, or organizations that require particular data sets. To enable AI firms to make money from their data repositories, data monetization methods frequently entail negotiating data licensing, data marketplaces, and data sharing agreements.
9. Service-based AI (AIaaS)
Platforms that offer AI as a Service (AIaaS) give businesses the freedom to access AI capabilities whenever they need them. Businesses looking for affordable AI solutions can use AIaaS providers to grow their services based on customer usage and generate income. AIaaS providers allow customers to pay for the resources, models, and tools that they use. This can be particularly attractive for startups and small enterprises.
10. AI-Enabled Hardware
AI firms that create hardware with AI enhancements, such as edge devices, AI chips, or customized hardware, serve enterprises looking for high-performance AI computing solutions. Sales of these hardware items to businesses in need of sophisticated AI processing skills bring in income. AI firms can increase their revenue potential and influence by facilitating the wider use of AI technology across industries through hardware enhancement.
11. AI in Life Sciences and Healthcare
Healthcare-focused AI firms can make money by charging healthcare providers, pharmaceutical corporations, and research institutions for diagnostics, personalized medicine, and predictive analytics services. By streamlining healthcare procedures, enhancing patient outcomes, and advancing medical research, these services can generate revenue through consulting, licensing, and subscription models.
12. AI in Financial Services
Financial AI firms provide AI-driven solutions for algorithmic trading, fraud detection, risk assessment, and portfolio optimization. Financial organizations may make informed decisions, lower risks, and increase returns by utilizing AI’s predictive and analytical powers. Licenses, subscription services, and consultancy fees form the sources of revenue for these AI companies.
Expanding the Future of AI Revenue
AI companies are at the front of innovation, propelling technological breakthroughs and revolutionizing sectors. Several monetization tactics have been devised by these companies in order to maintain their growth and impact.
AI companies have various ways to make money from their creative ideas either by AI-powered products, training, data analysis, custom development, subscriptions, or licensing. Businesses focusing on artificial intelligence face a dynamic and exciting landscape as monetization opportunities grow in line with the advancement and diversification of AI technology.
Selecting the appropriate revenue model that fits the company’s strengths, the needs of the market, and the long-term plan is essential to success. AI companies have a bright future ahead of them, full of chances to transform sectors and enhance the lives of people all around the world as long as the technology continues to expand.
FEW websites will say no to traffic, even if some of this traffic doesn’t come from humans. Bots are autonomous programs designed for a myriad of uses. Not all bots are good for business, however. Bad bots are malicious programs created to damage websites through everythingt from simple defacing to more serious DDoS attacks. Stopping bad bots from damaging your website is vital if you want things to keep running smooth.
Stopping bad bots without kicking out all the good bots or an unfortunate user, however, isn’t always so easy. In this article, we’ll go over what bad bots are as well as how to detect and stop them.
What Are Bots
Bots are special applications designed to assist the creator in their projects – usually through the automation of simple tasks. Bots also provide many other advantages such as being available 24/7, being easily customizable and reaching a large number of people through messenger apps.
Most bots communicate over a network such as through IM or web-based interfaces such as Twitterbots. One of the most common examples is a chatbot. Most large businesses make use of chatbots in order to more easily provide support for their customers. Another common type of bot is a web scraper which is designed to collect data from relevant webpages. Search engines are a prime example of this.
Some bots, however, aren’t quite so nice. Malicious or bad bots are designed to help commit cybercrimes and, just like good bots, they come in a wide variety of types.
What Makes A Bot Bad
Crimes come in all shapes and sizes and bad bots are no different. They can be as “benign” as a spam account commenting spam on every page. In the worst cases, they can be used to steal data or shut down your website.
Even good bots have the potential to turn malicious. A web scraper, for example, is usually used by search engines to help users find your website. It can also be used to steal content or expose you to fraud and cyberattacks.
Types of Bad Bots
Web Scraper – Typically used to gather data, a web scraper can also be used to steal content or private data from a website. The more malicious criminals might use this data to re-create your website in order to scam your customers or deliver malware. A price-scraper is a similar tool used to gather prices on a website. This type of bot is most commonly used to undercut competitors by adjusting prices in real time.
Account Takeover Bot – Criminals with a list of usernames and passwords – usually gotten through illegitimate means such as data breaches or phishing attacks – will use a takeover bot to test login credentials on a wide variety of websites. Once they find a match, the compromised account can then be used for other malicious crimes. Brute-force attack bots perform a similar task by trying various password and username combinations until they find a match.
DDoS Bots – A DDoS attack is created through the use of a large amount of DDoS bots called a botnet. Usually comprised of malware-infected devices, a botnet can shutdown or disrupt a website by overwhelming it with traffic. Unlike other types of bots, a DDoS attack is much more complicated and can come in a wide variety of different types. The type of website can also change how the attacker approaches the situation. In all cases, however, the goal is the same.
Knowing the type of bad bots that exist is the first step in being able to come up with a plan to prevent your website from becoming a target.
Detecting Bad Bots
Bad actors will do their best to make sure that their schemes aren’t found out until it’s too late. Discovering bad bot activity requires you to be aware of your website. This means looking for signs that may point to bad bot activity. Abnormal session durations, for example, are a telltale sign of bot activity. Millisecond-long durations or abnormally long sessions both point to bad bots. Likewise, abnormally high pageviews, bounce rate or a spike in traffic from unknown locations are other signs that something foul may be afoot.
Machines that are infected by malicious bots, however, can also be difficult to detect. Applications loading slower than usual or frequenting crashing can be a sign of malware. Likewise, pop-up spam or warnings with sketchy links are all bad signs. Again, signs of malicious bot activity can appear in a wide variety of forms and it’s important to look for as many signs as you can when you suspect a bad bot infestation.
Knowing that bad bots are around is one thing. Getting rid of them, however, can be much more difficult.
Stopping Bad Bots
Once bad bots have started their attacks, it can be difficult even for large businesses to put a stop to things. That’s why the best defense against bad bots is through preventive measures.
1. Firewalls – Making use of firewalls can allow you to analyze traffic and filter out any suspicious requests. Likewise, monitoring incoming web traffic can help you to identify unusual patterns pointing to bot activity.
2. CAPTCHA – Most websites make use of CAPTCHA challenges for good reason. By forcing visitors to solve somewhat complicated tasks that only a human can complete, many potential bot attacks are stopped before they have a chance to gain a foothold.
3. Bot Detection Software – Although at times expensive, specialized software can go a long way in preventing malicious bot activity. Most software also allows for a wide variety of customizable options to help you narrow down specific vectors of attack or potential weak points.
4. Keep Your Systems Up To Date – Regularly updating your security software and protocols can help prevent bad bots from taking advantage of vulnerabilities. This also applies to other related preventive measures such as a blacklist of suspicious IP addresses.
The huge variety of bad bots can be overwhelming but with the right security measures in place, most can be stopped outright before they get a chance to cause mischief.
Bad Bots And You
Bad bots are a problem for any website. Whether it’s spam accounts filling your comments with links to malicious websites or just a hostile scheme by a competitor looking for an unfair advantage, bad bots are a hassle to deal with. With the right amount of preventive measures, however, things can become a lot more manageable. Although some bad bots may still find a way to get through your tight security, the stragglers can easily be cleaned up.
