Bot Management

Bot management is the practice of identifying and controlling automated traffic to web applications. Not all bots are malicious - search engine crawlers (Googlebot, Bingbot) are essential for SEO, and monitoring bots help track uptime. However, malicious bots can scrape content, conduct credential stuffing attacks, manipulate prices, and purchase limited inventory.

Bot detection techniques include:

• Fingerprinting: Browser attributes, JavaScript execution, TLS fingerprints
• Behavioral analysis: Mouse movements, keystroke patterns, navigation paths
• Challenge-response: CAPTCHAs, JavaScript challenges, invisible challenges
• IP reputation: Known bot IPs, data center detection, proxy detection
• Machine learning: Anomaly detection based on traffic patterns

Bot management categories:

• Good bots: Search engines, partners, monitoring - allow with possible rate limiting
• Bad bots: Scrapers, credential stuffers, scalpers - block or challenge
• Unknown bots: Challenge to determine intent