A cybersecurity analyst in a modern, high-tech operations centre, surrounded by multiple glowing monitors displaying data, threat alerts, and security graphs. The room is dimly lit with a cool blue hue. The analyst looks focused, possibly interacting with a touchscreen interface. The mood is serious and professional, conveying vigilance against digital threats and bot attacks.
Chris Grant (he/him) August 20, 2025 A 4 minute read

Bots Are Getting Smarter – Here’s Why That Should Worry Your Business

Let’s be honest – most of us think of bots as annoying little things that fill out our contact forms or leave spammy comments. But they’ve grown up a lot, and not in a good way. These days, bots are behind some serious online mischief, especially when it comes to payment processing, government websites, and e-commerce.

Recent data from Google’s reCAPTCHA service shows just how widespread the problem has become, and if you run a website or handle any kind of online transactions, it’s definitely something to pay attention to.

13% of Activity on Payment Sites Comes From Bots

Yep, you read that right – 13% of events on payment processors and payment services websites are bot-driven. That’s more than one in ten.

These bots aren’t just testing the waters. They’re attempting to steal credit card details, carry out fraud, and in some cases, take over user accounts. It’s a serious threat to the trust people place in online payments, and if you’re running an online store or offering digital transactions, that kind of bot traffic can seriously undermine your business.

Over 1 in 10 events on payment websites are driven by bots. If you’re not protecting your checkout, you’re leaving the door wide open. #CyberSecurity #eCommerce Share on X

Government Websites – A Prime Target

Even government websites are struggling. A whopping 35% of all events on public sector sites are caused by bots. That means over a third of the traffic isn’t coming from real people, but automated systems likely designed to disrupt services, scrape data, or abuse online forms.

For any organisation that deals with sensitive information or public services, this is a huge concern. It slows things down, clogs up resources, and poses a major security risk.

E-Commerce Platforms and the Rise of Credit Card Testing

If you’re in retail or e-commerce, you’re probably already aware of the odd fraudulent transaction here and there. But did you know that around 1% of all transactions on these platforms are actually part of credit card testing attacks?

That’s when fraudsters use bots to test stolen card numbers on checkout pages. Once they find one that works, it’s used elsewhere for bigger fraud. Not only does this put your customers at risk, but it also increases your chargebacks and could lead to trouble with your payment provider.

100 Million Requests Using IP Rotation – And That’s Just What We Know

One of the sneakiest techniques cybercriminals use is rotating their IP addresses. By constantly changing their digital location, they avoid being blocked or rate-limited.

Google recorded 100 million of these fraudulent requests using IP rotation – and that’s only what was detected. Traditional methods of blocking based on IP just don’t cut it anymore. Bots have gotten smarter, and your defences need to catch up too.

Fake Signups Are a Growing Headache

Another growing issue is bots targeting sign-up and registration forms. You might have noticed an increase in dodgy accounts or fake newsletter signups – that’s often a sign of automated tools flooding your forms.

Why do they do it? To harvest promo codes, fill your system with junk data, or even create an army of fake accounts to use later for fraud or spam.

35% of traffic to government websites is bot activity. Malicious bots aren't just annoying anymore - they're a real threat. #WebSecurity #DigitalRisk Share on X

So, What Can You Do About It?

Here at O’Brien Media, we help businesses protect their websites from threats like these every day. Based on what we’re seeing and hearing from our customers, here are some simple things you can do to keep your site safe:

  • Use Layers of Protection – One tool isn’t enough anymore. Combine CAPTCHA (like reCAPTCHA v3), behavioural monitoring, and smart filters to make life harder for bots.
  • Keep Everything Updated – Whether you’re using WordPress, Shopify, or another platform, always keep your plugins and software up to date. A lot of bot attacks exploit outdated code.
  • Monitor for Strange Activity – Keep an eye on form submissions, traffic spikes, and login attempts. The earlier you spot a problem, the easier it is to stop it.
  • Consider Fraud Detection Tools – If you take payments, tools that flag suspicious transactions or patterns can be worth their weight in gold.
  • Ask for Help If You Need It – Not sure where to begin? That’s okay. We’re here to help. Whether it’s a one-off audit or ongoing support, we can help you lock things down without locking yourself out of your own site.

Final Thoughts

Bots aren’t just a back-office problem anymore – they’re a real threat to sales, customer trust, and the smooth running of your website. From spammy form submissions to targeted fraud attempts, the risks are growing. But so are the tools to fight back.

If you’re worried about your site or just want to make sure you’re protected, let’s have a chat. We can look over your current setup, give you practical advice, and help you stay ahead of the curve.

Want to tighten your website’s security?

If you don’t already have Google reCAPTCHA or another CAPTCHA alternative installed and correctly configured on yor site, or you need to move from reCAPTCHA v2 to reCAPTCHA v3 just drop us a line.

Call us on 01793 239239 or drop us an email at [email protected] – we’d love to help.