Cloudflare launches Precursor to track bot behavior throughout browsing sessions

According to Silicon Angle, Cloudflare Inc. has launched Precursor, a new bot detection system that monitors user behavior across an entire browsing session rather than just at the initial point of entry. This new system aims to provide a more robust defense against automated traffic, which Cloudflare estimates accounts for 57% of all web requests.Precursor operates within the user's browser, streaming interaction signals to Cloudflare's edge servers for real-time analysis. Unlike traditional CAPTCHA challenges that test visitors once, Precursor tracks a range of activities including mouse movements, scrolling, typing cadence, and page visibility. This data is used to build a behavioral profile, assigning a running Bot Score to suspicious sessions. The system is designed to detect inconsistencies, such as pointer activity when a page is hidden or typing events without active focus.Cloudflare states that Precursor records aggregate patterns and not the actual input, ensuring user privacy by not capturing typed characters. This launch expands Cloudflare's suite of bot management tools, which includes features for blocking AI scrapers and a marketplace for publishers to charge AI firms for content access. The company aims to fill the gap in bot detection between login and checkout processes.Silicon Angle Source: AI/ML Cloudflare launches Precursor to track bot behavior throughout browsing sessions (Adobe Stock) An In-Depth Guide to AI Get essential knowledge and practical strategies to use AI to better your security program. Get daily email updates SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news You can skip this ad in 5 seconds