Cookies have long been the go-to method for tracking users, but their future is now uncertain. Fraudsters have mastered cookie manipulation, deleting, bypassing, and even stealing stored cookie data. At the same time, browsers are moving away from traditional tracking methods, and the demand for privacy-centric identification is on the rise. There's growing consensus that browsers will soon become cookieless. As a result, the fraud prevention industry is urgently looking for new, privacy-first solutions. That’s where the Vector Identifier steps in to tackle these challenges.
The Vector Identifier is a device identification solution that, unlike traditional methods such as cookies, creates unique identifiers that are resistant to browser data clearing and incognito mode usage. This approach recognizes users on a device without relying on tracking cookies or chase methods, so it ultimately offers a new way to detect fraud with higher precision.
To protect the entire user journey from sign-up to post-payments, we rely on thousands of in-depth user data attributes from various environments, including browsers. Fraudsters often create dedicated software to spoof the device's information by mimicking user browser elements, so device fingerprinting is key to detecting fraud and identifying users' real intentions.
We have been using device fingerprinting for many years, and we have identified the use of various fraud tools trying to spoof users’ attributes. Although our proven device fingerprinting mechanism has effectively detected fraud with high precision so far, our ongoing research into fraud tactics has led us to new strategies for fighting fraud. To align with industry discussions around cookieless browsing and to meet your ongoing needs in protecting your platform, we have decided that in addition to First Persistent Cookies and Device Hashes, the Vector Identifier is another valuable tool that can increase precision and strengthen fraud prevention.
Cybercrime-as-a-Service is a widespread phenomenon. To stay ahead of it, we continually research new fraud tools and tactics, adapting our own methods to stay relevant and combat fraud. More accurate device identification helps against fraud activities like multi-accounting, promo abuse, and account takeovers and also reduces false negatives and false positive rates.
Traditional methods face challenges when users clear cookies or cache, as this can make it seem like a new device is being used. Moreover, minor changes in device configuration, like OS and browser updates, often disrupt standard device hashes. However, by using vector similarity, the Vector Identifier provides a stable device ID that can handle such changes.
Lastly, fraudsters often manipulate device data. The Vector Identifier improves fraud detection by precisely identifying devices involved in schemes like account takeovers and duplicate accounts, even when data is altered.
Among the key benefits, we identify:
If you are already part of the Mangopay environment using our Profiler, you don't need to make any additional integrations. The new identifier is automatically computed from the existing data collected in each profiling session. You can start using it directly in the Rule Builder combined with Cookies for increased accuracy and consistency. Please reach out to your customer success manager for more information.
If you are looking for a fraud detection solution from user sign-up through checkout and beyond, please contact us. We’re here to help you protect your platform and users.