Summary
Gibberish custom tags are predominantly caused by bots and spammers exploiting form vulnerabilities and insecure systems. Bots often use automated scripts and randomized data to probe for vulnerabilities, bypass security measures, harvest data, or conduct phishing scams. They may enter data through keyboard smashing, random strings, or hex values. Human error in data entry and compromised systems or APIs also contribute to the problem. A lack of input validation in forms and server-side code vulnerabilities allows for the injection of arbitrary and unsanitized data. Improving data attribution helps in identifying and suppressing problematic sources.
Key findings
- Automated Bot Activity: Bots use automated scripts and randomized data to fill forms, often including keyboard smashing and hex values.
- Security Exploitation: Spammers exploit form vulnerabilities and insecure APIs to insert arbitrary data.
- Inadequate Validation: A lack of input validation allows for the entry of nonsensical data.
- System Vulnerabilities: Compromised systems and server-side code vulnerabilities facilitate data injection.
- Data Attribution Importance: Improving data attribution can help in identifying and suppressing problematic data sources.
- Human Error Contribution: Data entry errors and system failures also contribute to gibberish entries.
Key considerations
- Bot Detection and Mitigation: Implement robust bot detection and mitigation techniques to prevent automated submissions.
- Security Hardening and Audits: Regularly audit and harden systems and APIs to prevent exploitation by spammers.
- Data Validation Practices: Enforce strict input validation to prevent the entry of invalid or malicious data.
- Data Sanitization Measures: Sanitize data to prevent the injection of malicious code and other vulnerabilities.
- Data Source Monitoring: Monitor data sources and implement attribution methods to track down and resolve the origin of gibberish data.
- Error Handling Procedures: Establish and test effective error handling procedures to avoid corruption of data.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
Gibberish custom tags are added to contacts primarily due to bots and malicious actors exploiting form vulnerabilities. Bots submit random data to test system robustness, conduct phishing scams, or harvest email addresses. Poorly designed forms lacking input validation, server-side code vulnerabilities, data entry errors, and compromised systems also contribute to this issue. Similar gibberish across multiple submissions suggests bot activity.
Key opinions
- Bot Submissions: Bots submit random data, including keyboard mashing, to test vulnerabilities or harvest email addresses.
- Form Exploitation: Spammers exploit form vulnerabilities to inject arbitrary data.
- Poor Validation: Lack of input validation in forms allows for the entry of gibberish data.
- Code Vulnerabilities: Vulnerabilities in server-side code enable attackers to inject unsanitized data.
- Data Errors: Data entry errors and automated system failures during import can lead to corrupted data.
- Compromised Systems: Compromised systems and unsecured APIs can be exploited to add unexpected data.
Key considerations
- Input Validation: Implement robust input validation to prevent arbitrary data entry.
- Security Measures: Enhance security measures to protect against bot submissions and form exploitation.
- Data Sanitization: Ensure data is properly sanitized to prevent the injection of malicious code.
- Error Handling: Improve error handling to prevent corrupted data due to system failures.
- System Monitoring: Regular monitoring for suspicious activities can help detect and prevent unauthorized data entry.
- Attribution: Improve the attribution of all the places data is acquired.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit explains that data entry errors, or automated systems failing, can lead to corrupted data and gibberish custom tags, especially when data is imported from external sources.
22 Jun 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view
Email marketer from Quora states that some poorly designed forms allow arbitrary data, including keyboard smashing, leading to gibberish custom tags, due to lack of input validation.
12 Jan 2025 - Quora
What the experts say
6 expert opinions
Gibberish custom tags are often attributed to bots that use keyboard smashing or enter random/hex values into forms. These bots and spammers use automated tools, exploit form vulnerabilities for arbitrary data insertion, and may leverage compromised systems or unsecured APIs to add unexpected data to contact fields. A key strategy is to improve data attribution to identify and suppress problematic sources.
Key opinions
- Bot Activity: Gibberish custom tags often indicate bot activity, including keyboard smashing and random/hex value entry.
- Form Exploitation: Spammers use automated tools and exploit form vulnerabilities to insert arbitrary data.
- Compromised Systems: Compromised systems or unsecured APIs can lead to unexpected data in contact fields.
- Data Attribution: Improving data attribution is crucial for identifying and suppressing problematic data sources.
Key considerations
- Bot Mitigation: Implement bot detection and mitigation strategies to prevent automated data entry.
- Security Audits: Regularly audit and secure APIs and systems to prevent exploitation.
- Data Source Analysis: Focus on data attribution to identify and resolve the sources of gibberish data.
- Vulnerability Assessment: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments to prevent the ability for form exploitation.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that form spam often includes gibberish data because spammers use automated tools that fill out forms randomly, or try to exploit vulnerabilities that allow for arbitrary data insertion.
10 Jul 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says the gibberish custom tags look like bots to him.
7 Mar 2025 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Gibberish custom tags are primarily caused by bots and botnets using automated scripts to fill forms with garbage or randomized data. This is part of their probing, data harvesting activities, testing system resilience, exploiting vulnerabilities, and attempting to bypass security measures. Insecure web applications with a lack of input validation are also a significant contributing factor.
Key findings
- Automated Bot Activity: Bots and botnets use automated scripts to populate forms with nonsensical or randomized data.
- Security Bypassing: Bots inject random strings to circumvent security measures like CAPTCHAs.
- Vulnerability Exploitation: Botnets aim to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications by submitting garbage data.
- Lack of Input Validation: Insecure web applications with a lack of input validation facilitate the injection of gibberish data.
- Evasion Tactics: Sophisticated bot attacks use randomized input to mimic human behavior and evade detection.
Key considerations
- Bot Detection: Implement advanced bot detection and mitigation techniques to identify and block automated traffic.
- Input Validation: Enforce strict input validation to prevent the entry of non-conforming or malicious data.
- Security Hardening: Harden web applications to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.
- Regular Security Audits: Perform regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
- Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to restrict the number of form submissions from a single IP address.
Technical article
Documentation from Imperva states that sophisticated bot attacks often involve randomized data input to mimic human behavior, resulting in gibberish custom tags, because they're trying to evade detection.
21 Apr 2022 - Imperva
Technical article
Documentation from Google reCAPTCHA shares that bots may inject random strings and characters into form fields, leading to gibberish in custom tags, because they're trying to bypass security measures.
31 Aug 2024 - Google reCAPTCHA
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