Poll Bots: Faking Poll Results With Bots

A “poll bot” is a software program or bot designed to automatically participate in online polls. These bots can be programmed to cast votes repeatedly in an online poll, usually to sway the results in favor of a particular option. Poll bots are often used in situations where the outcome of an online poll is seen as significant or beneficial to certain groups or individuals.

They can skew the results of a poll, making it unreliable as a measure of genuine public opinion or preference. In some cases, their use can also be illegal, especially if they are used to manipulate public opinion or for fraudulent purposes.

The technology behind these bots can vary, but they typically operate by simulating human interactions with a website, such as clicking on a specific option or filling out a form. Advanced poll bots might use techniques to bypass security measures like CAPTCHAs or IP address checks, which are designed to prevent automated voting.

Detecting if a poll bot has voted in an online poll can be challenging, but there are several indicators and methods you can use:

Unusual Voting Patterns: Sudden surges in votes, especially in a short time frame, can be a red flag. If a particular option in a poll receives an unusually high number of votes in a brief period, it might indicate bot activity.

Consistency in Voting Intervals: Poll bots often vote at regular intervals, which can be more consistent than human voting patterns. Look for patterns in the time stamps of votes.

IP Address Analysis: Multiple votes from the same IP address, or from IP addresses that are known to be proxies or part of a VPN, can suggest bot activity. However, sophisticated bots might use a range of IP addresses to avoid detection.

Geographical Inconsistencies: If the poll is intended for a specific geographic audience and you receive a large number of votes from outside that region, this might indicate bot activity.

Completion of a Hidden “Honeypot” Field: Honeypots are hidden fields that only bots see. Learn more about Honeypots.

CAPTCHA Effectiveness: If you have a CAPTCHA in place and still receive an unusually high number of votes, it might suggest that bots are successfully bypassing it.

Analysis of User Behavior: Bots often lack the complex behavior patterns of human users, such as navigating through other pages on the site or spending time reading content before voting.

Engagement and Interaction: Low engagement or interaction rates compared to the number of votes (like comments or shares) can be another sign of bot activity.

Consulting Web Analytics: Web analytics tools can provide insights into traffic patterns and user behavior that may indicate bot activity.

AI Analysis: Advanced detection might involve using AI and machine learning algorithms that can analyze voting patterns and identify anomalies that suggest bot activity.

The development of a poll bot varies for each platform, with unique software needed for different sites like Discord, Reddit, or other polling platforms such as Crowd Signal (formerly known as PollDaddy). For those interested in creating a poll bot, there are a few key components required:

1)  PollBbot Scripts:

There are several open source scripts on github and you’ll need a basic developer understanding to use these tools:

• • PollMommy is one you can use to vote on PollDaddy polls (now “Crowd Signal”). As mentioned ealier, PollDaddy’s polling platform is one of the largest on the market and used by major brands such as Forbes and the BBC.
  • Voter is a poll bot for use on Steam. We haven’t tried this ourselves as it’s an older script and you need to be logged in to use it, but it’s worth a shot.
  • AutoHotkey – This is software that can be used to program mouse movements to vote on polls. You can have it vote, then refresh the page, then vote again. Rinse and repeat.

2)  Proxies:

Proxies are crucial for the operation of poll bots. They provide anonymity, speed, and the appearance of a widespread voter base. By cycling through various proxy IPs, poll bots can cast votes from different locations, thus bypassing security measures that detect and block repetitive voting patterns.

3)  Accounts:

Certain polls restrict voting to one vote per user, necessitating unique accounts for each vote. This means creating multiple accounts with individual passwords, which can then be integrated into your poll bot script.