Targeting Bot Traffic in CAKE Basic

There are multiple ways to target bot traffic. Bots are generally not confined to a single IP so that you can block that IP. Instead, you'll just find that they continue to come in under different IP's. To get ahead of this, there are 2 approaches to handling bot traffic - with a 1) user-agent based rule and a 2) ISP or provider-based rule.

Using a user-agent based rule

This method is advised when you can see a consistent user agent that's unique to the BOT and can be identified with a unique phrase or word. This will NOT work if the user agents look like a generic browser 

To start, open up the offer card for the offer in question and go to the Traffic tab.  Next, pick the offer contract you want to set targeting for by using the dropdown in the top righthand corner.  Next, make sure that the Targeting sub-tab is selected and use the dropdown to choose Rules then click Apply.  The Rules section should now be active.

In the Rules section, click New Rule, then assign a name (try to be as specific as possible so that it's not confusing for you later).  Check Active.  The shared option is up to you (if you think you'll want to use it later, then go ahead and select Shared.  This can be updated at any time.).  Choose your redirect Offer or global redirect or 404, then in the bottom window, select Add Rule Target.

In the Add Rule Target dropdown, choose User Agent.  In the User Agent window that pops up, enter the search phrases you want to identify and include the search phrases. For example if I wanted to identify any user agent that is either AcoonBot or Baiduspider, I would add "AcoonBot|Baiduspider" (pipe-delimited).  Click Save then, back on the Rules card, click Create.

Using an ISP provider-based rule

You'll know when you need to use this rule because the user agents look just like generic browser user agents. What WILL be consistent across all those clicks is the Provider.

1. The first set of rules from above stay the same.
2. However, when it comes to selecting your rule target (Add Rule Target dropdown), select 'ISP/Carrier'
3. In the ISP/Carrier window that pops up, click 'Add Group'
4. In the 'Manage Group' window, search for the relevant term and add the appropriate providers, then click 'Save'
5. Click 'Save'
6. Click 'Create'