Feature request: Exclude by metric

[gitressa]

I installed the Tracking Spam Prevention plugin to block bots, but it seems to let many bots through, since they have gotten better at disguising themselves. So we may need new methods to detect and block bots from getting counted.

Proposal

1. Add new "Exclude Resolutions" option
   Since the resolution 800x600 seems to be mostly a bot (for now) adding a "Exclude Resolutions" option to the Tracking Spam Prevention plugin may work as a temporary band aid?

2. Add new "Exclude by Metric" option
   Even better, being able to combine metrics like below would be better, since some bot metrics seem to go together:

   • Country: USA -AND- Resolution: 800x600
   • Country: China -AND- Resolution: 3840x2160

See also:

• Matomo and Tracking Spam Prevention plugin get bypassed matomo#24406

[AltamashShaikh]

@gitressa Do you have any example of such bot requests ?

[gitressa]

Yes, before deleting the visits with the GDPR tool (/module=PrivacyManager&action=gdprTools) I saved copies of them by clicking "Export selected visits", so I have thousands of examples. Perhaps I can send them to your profile email?

PS. ~1500 new bot visits have been counted, since I last deleted sixteen hours ago :)

[AltamashShaikh]

@gitressa Thanks, we will share this internally so that our product team can check and prioritise this one.

[gitressa]

Thank you, I hope you received my email. If not I can try sending it again ...

I added some considerations in the Matomo issue:

It seems like we need new methods to detect and block bots from getting counted. The question is if this should be fixed in Matomo or the Tracking Spam Prevention plugin? Considerations:

• Short term: Add "Exclude by metric" Tracking Spam Prevention plugin as an immediate band aid.
• Long term: Bots are only going to become better and better at cloaking themselves, so the problem is probably best solved in Matomo. That way users don't need to install a plugin: Bots are blocked by default in a fresh Matomo installation.

[AltamashShaikh]

@gitressa Adding a blocking by resolution is not correct, bots can change that very easily, we might have to review this internally and see if more comprehensive check can be added.

[gitressa]

I agree, and that's why I also prefer an option, where the user can specify the metrics, if Tracking Spam Prevention plugin is where it will be taken care of ("short term, band aid solution").

Because preferably it can get sorted directly in Matomo, without need for a plugin, like I shared in the text, copied from the other issue.

I am still not sure if you received the log files I sent to you ... maybe you can confirm if you received them, or not?

Anyway, it sounds great that you can take a look at it, and that a comprehensive check might be added. Thanks!