Ad Fraud
Ad Stacking — Definition & Explanation
A form of ad fraud where multiple ads are layered on top of each other in a single placement, so only the top ad is visible. All stacked ads register impressions, but only one is actually viewable.
How Ad Stacking Works
Fraudsters use CSS positioning or iframes to layer multiple ads in a single container. Each ad fires impression trackers while only the topmost creative is visible to the user.
Why Ad Stacking Matters for Publishers
Ad stacking damages advertiser trust and can result in publishers being blacklisted from premium demand sources. Stellor Media implements pre-bid IVT filtering to protect publishers from being associated with fraudulent traffic patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can publishers detect ad stacking?
Regular audits of ad placements, viewability monitoring, and IVT measurement tools can identify stacking issues on your site.
Can ad stacking happen on legitimate publishers?
Yes, malicious third-party scripts or compromised ad tags can cause stacking without the publisher's knowledge. Regular security audits help prevent this.
How does Stellor Media protect against ad stacking?
Stellor Media monitors for suspicious impression patterns and works with publishers to investigate and resolve potential fraud signals.
Related Terms
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