Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2022.  Read them in this 14th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.

Bots Go Mainstream in 2022

By Sam Crowther, Founder and CEO, Kasada

As we wind down 2021, it’s always good to take a look ahead and see what the developments of the past year will mean for the next one. Over the course of 2021, bots went from a silent adversary, to being talked about in sneaker reseller communities, to full on being the (unfortunate) star of the 2021 holiday season, representing the ire of parents looking for PS5s and other in-demand gifts.

With this in mind, I wanted to share some predictions for the coming year:

1.  Mainstream Usage of Bots – The crossover of three trends will push the usage of bots even further into the mainstream in 2022:

• The first trend is the “everything shortage” that the world has been experiencing, where the supply chain is clogged and consumers have had trouble finding the basic goods they want to buy.
• Secondly, bots have been tremendously successful in aiding resellers of wanted goods (such as PS5s, sneakers, tickets, graphics cards, etc.). These successes have gained mainstream publicity, increasing overall awareness of bots themselves.
• Bots have moved from the Dark Web to the mainstream internet, becoming easier to find and easier to use. Just searching for a sneaker bot on the internet brings you many different, user-friendly choices to choose from. Bots can be used by anyone, as evidenced from anecdotes from parents that have resorted to downloading and using them to ensure a happy Christmas morning for their children.

Because it is so difficult to find desired goods, in 2022, even more mainstream consumers will turn to bots to get items that are unavailable on store shelves. This, plus how easy they are to use, will push bot usage beyond high-end, limited edition goods to basic goods. There will be louder consumer outcry against bots, which will in turn increase the urgency of retailers of all types in investing in solutions that can stop bot usage.

2.  Attackers are Getting Younger – and Will Face Consequences – The average profile of an attacker is getting younger and younger. High school and college students are using bots to acquire goods and resell them, or are developing and providing bots and related services to make some extra money.

These younger, newer entrants to the bot game are often unaware of the potential legal ramifications of these actions, especially as they move from buying sneakers to stealing gift cards and more. In 2022, we will see many of these newer entrants to the bot game learn the hard way about the consequences of committing fraud, as there will be an increase in arrests.

3.  Law Enforcement will Become More Involved – With the increased attention on bots – and their negative impact on retailers and consumers, it is inevitable that law enforcement will become more involved.

While the use of most bots currently lies in a legal gray area, we expect that will end sooner than later (there’s already legislation being discussed in the U.S.). Powerful retail brands – fed up by the negative publicity, the detrimental impact on their brand reputation, and the expense of trying to stop bots on their own – will put pressure on government and law enforcement agencies to get involved and criminalize bot usage.

The mainstream awareness of bots – and the advantages they give those who use them – grew dramatically this past year. But the ramifications of that increased awareness will reverberate throughout 2022, especially as retail and e-commerce businesses start gearing up for the 2022 holiday season. The memory of the bots that ruined the 2021 holidays will come roaring back, and public pressure will be put on companies to prove they’re doing all they can to stop bots from giving some an unfair advantage.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam Crowther is an entrepreneur with a passion for cybersecurity. The Kasada founder got his start in the industry as a high school student when he joined the cybersecurity team of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). From there, he moved to a red team role at a global investment bank, an experience that inspired him to start his own company. With funding from leading U.S. and Australian investors, Crowther launched Kasada in 2015 to provide innovative web traffic integrity solutions to companies around the world. Based in New York and Sydney, Crowther loves creating simple technical solutions to complex problems and is motivated by challenging preconceived ideas and beliefs in order to have a positive impact on the world.