Click fraud can be difficult to detect—especially when the source is deliberately trying to hide its identity. That’s where Anonymiser Detection comes in. This advanced setting helps protect your ad budget by automatically blocking clicks from users who are attempting to stay anonymous using tools like VPNs, proxies, or the TOR network.
This feature is included in our Professional subscription plan.
What Are Anonymisers?
An anonymiser is any service or tool that hides a user’s true internet connection, making it harder to identify their real IP address or location. These are often used in click fraud to disguise repeated or illegitimate ad interactions.
Click Guardian's Anonymiser Detection setting is designed to identify and block traffic from the three main types of anonymisers:
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A VPN routes a user's internet traffic through a secure, private server—masking their real IP address and making their connection appear as if it's coming from a different location. VPNs are widely used for privacy, but they can also be exploited by bad actors to bypass click detection tools.
TOR Exit Node
TOR (The Onion Router) is a network that allows users to browse the internet anonymously. A TOR Exit Node is the point where a user leaves the TOR network and accesses the public internet. Because these exit points are often shared and untraceable, they’re frequently used to obscure malicious behaviour.
Think of it like this: instead of navigating through a visible hallway, a TOR user climbs over the walls to avoid being seen—making it very difficult to trace their path.
Proxy Servers
Proxies work similarly to VPNs, acting as middlemen between a user and the websites they visit. When a proxy is used, the site sees the proxy’s IP address, not the user's. This adds a layer of anonymity and can be used to manipulate ad click tracking.
How Anonymiser Detection Protects You
Click Guardian uses real-time IP analysis and threat databases to detect when a visitor is using one of these anonymising methods.
This is particularly useful in stopping repeat offenders and large-scale fraud operations that rotate IPs or use anonymisers to stay hidden.
Enabling this setting helps ensure your ad spend is reaching real users—not bots or disguised sources.
Requirements
Anonymiser Detection is available only on Professional plans.
No manual setup is required—just enable the setting in your account’s Settings panel.
Who Can Use This?
User Type Blocking is available exclusively on the Professional plan. If you're currently on a Standard plan and would like access, upgrade your subscription or get in touch with our team to learn more.
Learn More
For a deeper dive into how VPNs impact click fraud and how we help detect them, check out our article:
What is VPN Click Fraud?