Secure business continuity by blocking scraping and stopping data theft at your web site

It is a well known fact that online directories and yellow pages are frequent targets of systematic data theft also known as “scraping”. It is also becoming more and more evident that scraping poses a serious threat to these directories. As you read this article you will learn more about the problems scraping can cause your online directory – and how you can effectively prevent them.

A big part of the directory business today still circles around the paper product. But as Internet adoption spreads through mobile devices and other media, the paper product will eventually become more and more marginalised.

With the paper directories fading away it becomes more and more important to make sure your online directory is attractive enough for users and advertisers to keep you in business.

In order to keep delivering an attractive online service you need to protect your database from scraping and data theft. As you read the next section below you will understand why scraping can be a serious threat to your directory.

Scraping of directories – business impact

The problem with scraping is not the theft in itself but what scrapers are using the data for. Described below are the two major uses scrapers make of data stolen from online directories.

Boosting a competing business

One of the biggest threats to your business is when someone scrapes your database in its entirety and adds the information to their own service.

By doing this the scrapers can bring the same value to visitors and advertisers as you do without having spent any significant time or money to do so. And if they add the data from your database to their existing database they will in effect offer more value to their customers than you. If scraping is left unchecked it’s easy to imagine what it will do to traffic rates and advertiser interest at your directory.

Creating fraudulent directories

Fraudulent online directories or yellow pages are created by scraping all the data from a real directory, such as yours, and presenting it under a new site. The fraudulent directory does “business” by sending out fake invoices or selling worthless ads on their site.

Fraudulent directories deplete trust in real directories such as yours and they may also steal search engine hits that was going to end up on your site, had theirs not existed.

Solution – protecting your data around the clock

In order to help online directories and other businesses deal with scraping problems once and for all Sentor has developed ASSASSIN, a world unique managed anti-scraping service, completely dedicated to detecting and blocking scraping around the clock, 24/7, in real time.

With ASSASSIN you gain complete control over your data. We guarantee our clients that all scraping activity at their sites will be blocked within minutes from detection – before any real damage has been done.

Take action against scraping and data theft today

By contacting Sentor today you can take your first step towards a business free from the constant threats that scraping poses. We will answer your questions and try to help you in any way we can. Click here for contact information