Black Hat 2019: Majority of Security Experts Would Use Bots to Gain an Unfair Advantage

Black Hat 2019: Majority of Security Experts Would Use Bots to Gain an Unfair Advantage

A PerimeterX survey of 304 security experts at Black Hat regarding their understanding of bots reveals the majority would use bots to gain an unfair advantage.

Key findings include:

• 32.4% were  unaware that in the US it is legal to use bots to purchase all of the stock in an online flash sale – as most notably happens via ​sneaker bots​ every time Kanye West releases a new model of his Yeezy sneakers.

• ​33%​ of respondents identified that it is ​illegal​ to use bots to purchase concert tickets and ​27%​ correctly answered that it is illegal to use them to sell the same concert tickets. The real answer is “it depends.” It’s illegal to surpass purchasing limits posted on event ticket sites and illegal to resell event tickets bought in violation of the law with the knowledge of the seller.

Regarding how the security industry feels ethically about the use of bots to purchase consumer goods or events, findings are:

• ​Over half – 56% – admitted that they would use bots to get a good deal during a flash sale, and nearly​ 20%​ said they had already used bots for these purposes.

Black Hat 2019: Majority of Security Experts Would Use Bots to Gain an Unfair Advantage