Richard Kahn is the co-founder and CEO of Anura.io, a leading ad fraud detection company that has been making waves in the industry for its innovative and accurate approach to combatting ad fraud. With over 40 years of experience in developing software and 20 years running a PPC ad network, Kahn has developed a unique perspective on the challenges of ad fraud and the ways in which technology can be leveraged to mitigate its impact.
One of the key factors that led to the development of Anura.io was Kahn’s experiences at eZanga, the PPC ad network that he founded with his wife in 2003. As Kahn explains, “I started to see anomalies in the visitor data. I realized fraud was starting to creep into the network.” Despite his efforts to find a commercial fraud detection solution to integrate into the network, he found that none were available. As a result, he decided to build his own solution, which ultimately proved successful in helping the network to grow.
Over time, Kahn realized that there was a larger market for a standalone fraud solution, and thus Anura.io was born. One of the key differentiators of Anura.io is its commitment to accuracy, thoroughness, and analytics. As Kahn explains, “We are the ONLY solution to achieve a 99.999% accuracy when marketing a visitor as fraudulent.” This stands in contrast to many of the company’s competitors, which often have high rates of false positives.
Anura.io also sets itself apart in terms of its approach to fraud detection. Rather than relying on a scoring system, the company collects hundreds of data points on every visitor and analyzes them in real-time to detect the digital footprint of fraud. This approach has allowed the company to find even the most sophisticated forms of fraud, including those committed by bots, malware, and humans.
Anura.io has helped many clients detect and eliminate ad fraud, often with dramatic results. As Kahn notes, “We had a new potential client in testing, and we uncovered a ton of fraud. They quickly became a paying client and then asked me to get on the phone with this source to explain our findings. I was happy to help, as that is the level of support we offer. The source gave a valiant effort to deny the fraud, but once we went through the data in our dashboard, metric by metric, there was no denying it…it was fraud.” In this case, Anura.io helped the client save millions of dollars.
One of the key challenges facing the ad tech industry today is the prevalence of ad fraud, which can have serious consequences for businesses beyond just financial losses. As Kahn explains, “Brand reputation…if you call a lot of people…that didn’t fill out the form, they are more concerned with HOW you got their information than WHAT you are trying to sell them…TCPA Violations: Every time to you reach out to someone that didn’t give you EXPRESSED permission to call them, you are breaking the TCPA, which the penalty for that is $500 – $1500 per call/text…that can add up quickly.”
Another of the most significant issues that Anura.io faces is the constantly evolving nature of ad fraud. As new technologies emerge and tactics evolve, fraudsters are always finding new ways to deceive advertisers and generate fake clicks or impressions. To stay ahead of the curve, Anura.io invests heavily in research and development to identify new types of fraud and develop new approaches to detecting and preventing them.
Anura.io is also working to address is the lack of transparency in the digital advertising industry. Many advertisers are left in the dark when it comes to the specifics of their campaigns, including where their ads are being shown and who is viewing them. Anura.io is working to change that by providing its clients with detailed, real-time analytics on their ad traffic, including information on the geographic location, device type, and behavior of each visitor.
Despite the challenges of combating ad fraud, Anura.io has seen significant growth and impact in the industry, as evidenced by its recognition and awards. As Kahn notes, “For the past several years we have received the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal, which only a select few ad fraud companies have received.” Looking ahead, Kahn sees ad fraud as a continuing challenge, but one that Anura.io is well-equipped to tackle. “We have an internal process to continue to find new fraud attacks and a process in which to deal with them and roll out updates on a regular basis to keep ahead of the new attacks for all our clients.”
Beyond his work at Anura.io, Kahn also enjoys a variety of hobbies, including traveling with his family and flying his plane. He is also passionate about giving back to the community, and has been involved in several charitable organizations, including the Delaware Humane Association and the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. In addition, Kahn has been a mentor for several up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the ad tech industry, helping them to navigate the challenges of starting and growing their own companies.
Overall, Richard Kahn’s work at Anura.io has made a significant impact in the fight against ad fraud, helping businesses to protect their brand reputation and avoid costly penalties. With his years of experience in the industry and commitment to accuracy and innovation, Kahn and his team at Anura.io are well-positioned to continue leading the way in ad fraud detection and prevention.
