Bot detection software producer Distil Networks has acquired US-based online verification technology provider Are You A Human for an undisclosed sum, providing an exit to advertising holding company MDC Partners.
Are You A Human’s platform analyses mouse and scroll patterns and fingerprint metrics in real time to help determine if a web user is a human or a bot. Its technology and biometric interaction dataset will be incorporated into Distil’s Bot Defense Platform post acquisition.
Distil has launched a new plugin called Distil Bot Discovery that is underpinned by Are You A Human’s technology, enabling any website owner to see bot reporting directly for free using Google Analytics. It also intends to open an office in Are You A Human’s home town of Detroit.
Are You A Human had raised $5.2m in funding as of mid-2015 when it closed a $4.2m series A round, backed by MDC Partners’ corporate venturing subsidiary MDC Dream Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Foundry Group Angels and NCT Ventures.