Protection Settings - Configure Fraud Detection
Configure detection sensitivity and response actions.
Protection Settings allow you to fine-tune how ClickFortify detects and responds to suspicious traffic. Customize sensitivity levels, action modes, and scope to match your business needs.
Full Protection Settings require a connected Google Ads account. Some options may be limited in demo mode.
Detection Strategy
Choose how ClickFortify analyzes your traffic.
Automatic (Recommended)
Uses AI-powered heuristics that adapt to your traffic patterns. Select a sensitivity level:
| Level | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Minimal blocking, catches only obvious fraud | High-traffic sites concerned about false positives |
| Balanced | Good balance of protection and reach | Most businesses (recommended starting point) |
| Strict | Aggressive blocking, may affect some legitimate traffic | High-value campaigns, competitive industries |
| Very Strict | Maximum protection, review exclusions regularly | Premium/luxury products, lead generation |
Manual
Enable specific detection rules individually for granular control:
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| VPN/Proxy Detection | Identify traffic from anonymizing services |
| Bot Filtering | Block known bot signatures and patterns |
| Click Velocity Limits | Flag rapid repeated clicks from same source |
| Geographic Filtering | Restrict or flag traffic from specific regions |
| Device Fingerprinting | Track unique device characteristics |
| Data Center Detection | Identify clicks from hosting providers |
| Referrer Analysis | Check traffic sources for legitimacy |
Action Modes
Define what happens when suspicious traffic is detected:
| Mode | Behavior | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Observe | Log only, no blocking | Testing new settings, auditing traffic |
| Warn | Soft blocking with temporary exclusions | Initial setup, understanding traffic patterns |
| Strict | Immediate blocking and permanent exclusions | Production after validation period |
Recommendation: Start with Warn mode for the first 7-14 days to understand your traffic patterns and validate detection accuracy before enabling Strict blocking.
Scope Settings
Apply settings at different levels for flexible control:
Website Level
Default settings that apply to all traffic on a protected website.
- Most common configuration level
- Affects all ad accounts and campaigns for that site
Ad Account Level
Override website defaults for specific Google Ads accounts.
- Useful when managing multiple brands
- Different protection needs per account
Campaign Level
Granular settings for individual campaigns.
- High-value campaigns may need stricter protection
- Testing campaigns may need more lenient settings
Protection Features
Real-Time Monitoring
- Clicks analyzed as they happen
- Immediate action when threats detected
- No delay in protection
IP Intelligence
- Reputation database lookups
- VPN/proxy identification
- Data center detection
- Historical pattern analysis
Device Analysis
- Browser fingerprinting
- Device consistency checks
- User-agent analysis
- Canvas fingerprinting
Behavioral Signals
- Click patterns and timing
- Session behavior
- Navigation patterns
- Conversion probability
Thresholds
Configure numeric thresholds for detection:
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud Score Threshold | Minimum score to flag as suspicious | 60 |
| Block Threshold | Score that triggers automatic blocking | 80 |
| Click Velocity Limit | Max clicks per minute from same IP | 10 |
| Session Time Minimum | Minimum time on site to be valid | 2 seconds |
Notification Settings
Configure how you're alerted to fraud activity:
| Notification | Description |
|---|---|
| Email Alerts | Immediate email for high-severity threats |
| Daily Digest | Summary of daily activity |
| Weekly Report | Weekly overview with trends |
| Threshold Alerts | Notify when exclusion limits approach |
Best Practices
- Start with Balanced — Use the recommended sensitivity initially
- Use Observe/Warn first — Validate detection before strict blocking
- Review after 7 days — Check exclusions for false positives
- Gradual escalation — Increase strictness incrementally
- Monitor conversions — Ensure protection doesn't affect legitimate users
- Use campaign overrides — Different settings for different campaign types
- Check regularly — Review settings monthly as traffic patterns change
Troubleshooting
Too Many False Positives
- Lower sensitivity level
- Switch to Warn mode temporarily
- Review and whitelist legitimate sources
- Check geographic settings
Not Catching Fraud
- Increase sensitivity level
- Enable additional detection rules
- Lower fraud score thresholds
- Review manual rule options
Exclusions Not Syncing
- Check Google Ads connection
- Verify API permissions
- Check exclusion limits
- Contact support if persists