Fastly enhances bot management platform

Edge cloud provider Fastly has updated its Fastly Bot Management solution with features designed to help organisations defend against scraping, account takeovers and spam.

The new features include Dynamic Challenges, which uses real-time analysis of client and server-side characteristics to provide the least intrusive verification method for legitimate users while increasing difficulty for suspected bots, eliminating the need to rely on CAPTCHAs. Users verified via private access tokens experience a challenge-free login, while known bots receive the most difficult interactive challenges.

Another new feature, Advanced Client-Side Detection, helps organisations spot advanced bots disguising themselves as legitimate traffic. The tool can be implemented with a single line of JavaScript code.

Finally, Compound Credential Checking helps businesses tackle account takeover and credential stuffing attacks by automatically scanning login and registration attempts against known compromised credentials.

Fastly Chief Product Officer Kip Compton said the update is aimed at eliminating the need for security teams to choose between blocking malicious bots and frustrating customers.

“This update allows users to move freely while bad actors get stopped in their tracks,” he said. “By fast-tracking legitimate users and deploying interactive challenges only when necessary, Fastly significantly reduces reliance on CAPTCHAs, improving user experience and boosting conversion rates. Businesses no longer have to compromise between security and usability.”

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