Yell.com protected against data misuse by ASSASSIN from Sentor - 6 June 2006
Yell.com at the forefront of counteracting misuse of online databases with investment in world’s first data piracy protection system.Yell.com, the UK’s local search engine, today announced that it has introduced ASSASSIN, believed to be the first data security network system of its kind, to help it counter the phenomenon of “data scraping”.
The introduction of the computer system, designed and installed by global IT security specialists Sentor, reflects a growing threat to businesses with high profile internet-based information services from systematic and illegal copying of their online databases. Yell.com, the UK online classified directory and advertising medium is part of Yell, the FTSE 100 international classified directories business.
ASSASSIN (Automated Assessment Anti Scraping Surveillance Network) helps rigorous monitoring of Yell.com’s database of more than two million classified UK business listings. These are accessible through the Web and mobile phones for consumers searching for a business or service. But when ASSASSIN detects systematic searches and downloads from the database - “data scraping” - a special blocking system is activated.
Nigel Ridgeon, head of analysis and information at Yell.com, said: “Yell’s database lies at the heart of Yell.com and is its intellectual property.
“As an online classified directory, Yell.com is available for users wanting to make online searches for a product or for service suppliers. However, we do not licence the data for commercial or users’ personal gain.”
“It is just such misuses, for example downloading of data that is then used for sales prospecting, that have prompted Yell.com in the past 12 months to step up our moves to counter ‘data scraping’. We need to ensure that our detection and blocking systems are as sophisticated as possible.
“Sentor’s solution, specially built for Yell.com, provides it with highly effective, 24x7 automated protection that is invisible to all our legitimate users.”
ASSASSIN analyses Yell.com usage patterns in real-time. Detection of any suspicious behaviour creates a scraping incident case. This is then investigated by operators at Sentor’s Security Operations Centre (SOC) in line with Sentor’s client-specific scraping response process. If the activity is indeed the work of a scraper, the operator issues a block order against that specific IP address – immediately ending the scraping attack.
Each incident creates a report which is presented to Yell.com within Sentor’s Security Management Portal (SMP). The SMP also provides comprehensive reporting to track scraping trends and keep metrics comparable over time.
Martin Zetterlund, Senior Consultant at Sentor, said: “Sentor identified scraping as a rapidly growing threat to online businesses, such as online directories, online travel and online dating. So when Yell.com asked us to find a solution to its problem we were more than happy to develop ASSASSIN and incorporate the service into our portfolio.”
He added: “We developed a leading solution for a client who knew they wanted to be the first in their market place. Sentor enjoys working with pioneers who want to provide the safest working environment for their customers and clients.”
