Competitor ads are the ad campaigns displayed on one of the competitor's websites. Your shoppers use tools such as web browser extensions and plugins to make the most of their online shopping. Shoppers download and use web extensions to find coupons and compare prices to save on their purchases. These prove to be of extreme use to the shoppers and make their online buying journey smooth and worthwhile. Malicious affiliates use such downloadable tools as Adware to inject competitor ads, insert affiliate cookies and collect users' personal information.

Once Adware gets downloaded in a user system bundled up with one of such browser extensions or plugins, the affiliates can then access the user's system, browsing history, personal data, and other confidential information.

Competitor ad fraud is displaying the ads from the competitors on the home page or product pages of a brand's website. These are advertisements for similar products or services that the user was looking for but from a specific brand. It entices the shoppers to explore similar product options offered by the competitors.