Fake-Shop Detector for Enhanced Online Security

• November 6, 2024
• admin

The Fake-Shop Detector contributes to cybersecurity while supporting the development of digital skills. It effectively combats online fraud, which particularly targets young people. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the tool identifies suspicious shops early and informs users in real time through a traffic light system, providing active protection during online shopping.

How to Use the Fake-Shop Detector

The Fake-Shop Detector can be used in several ways: online through the Shop-Check, as a plugin for computers and laptops, or integrated into the Watchlist Internet mobile app.

In the Shop-Check, users can enter an online shop’s URL directly to verify its legitimacy.

The plugin can be installed on popular browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge. It warns users in real time of fraudulent shops while they browse. The verification process has two steps: first, it searches a database of verified legitimate and fraudulent online shops, maintained by experts. If the site is unknown, a second step performs a real-time AI analysis.

The mobile app, available on both the App Store and Play Store, also provides real-time warnings against fraudulent offers.

Traffic Light System for Results

Results are shown via a traffic light system:

• Red indicates a high risk that the site is a fake shop.
• Yellow signals an ambiguous result.
• Green suggests a very low risk.
• Gray means it’s not an online shop (or that the Detector is still working).

Security

The Fake-Shop Detector does not store users’ personal data, offering a secure solution for avoiding online fraud while protecting user privacy.

Background

The Fake-Shop Detector was developed through a collaboration between the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), the Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (ÖIAT), and X-Net Services GmbH. It was funded by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism within the KIRAS security research program.

On May 14, 2024, the Fake-Shop Detector won the National Digitalization Award in the category “Lifestyle, Youth, and E-Sports.”

What Makes the Fake-Shop Detector a Good Practice Example?

The Fake-Shop Detector strengthens users’ digital skills by helping them navigate online shops more safely and recognize potential fraud risks. Regular use teaches users to critically evaluate websites and look out for warning signs. This active engagement promotes awareness of safe online behavior, making the Fake-Shop Detector a simple yet powerful tool for safer internet usage and digital skill-building.