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Rails Against the Machine What should a development team do when a few bad users threaten their application? Online businesses are plagued with trolls and bots. Learn how your team can leverage features from RoR and AWS to monitor and (secretly) segment bad actors using automation and behavioral triggers. By Brittany Martin https://twitter.com/@brittjmartin Brittany Martin works for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust as the nonprofit’s Lead Web Developer, where she is part of the team that develops, supports and maintains the Trust’s ticketing and festival web applications. Under her alter-ego, Norma Skates, Brittany plays and referees roller derby for the Little Steel Derby Girls. She tweets at @brittjmartin and is the host of the 5by5 Ruby on Rails podcast. https://rubyonice.com/speakers/brittany_martin
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In the video presentation titled 'Rails Against the Machine' by Brittany Martin at Ruby on Ice 2019, the speaker addresses the challenge of managing malicious users within online platforms, particularly in the context of ticket sales via a Ruby on Rails application. Martin, the lead web developer for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, provides insights on how to effectively identify and deal with 'bad users'—individuals who exploit systems for personal gain while masquerading as legitimate customers. Key points include: - **Identifying Bad Users:** Martin emphasizes the need for businesses to recognize patterns of negative behavior among users. Through collaboration with customer support and review of user personas, companies can better understand the profiles of bad actors, who may engage in practices such as ticket reselling, returning items fraudulently, or manipulating online voting systems. - **Case Examples:** Specific examples illustrate the issue, such as ticket resellers acquiring large quantities of tickets for resale at inflated prices and serial returners who exploit return policies by substituting product labels for profit. - **Mitigating Bad User Impact:** Martin outlines two potential strategies—actively banning bad users or quietly degrading their experience. She argues that temporarily allowing bad users to continue their activities while monitoring them often results in better long-term outcomes for legitimate customers. - **Automation and Tools:** Effective management of bad users can be achieved through automation, harnessing the capabilities of Ruby on Rails and AWS technologies. Martin shares her team’s approach to monitoring and flagging bad users via a CRM system, using background processing with Sidekiq, and sending alerts through Slack for efficient communication. - **Utilizing AWS Features:** She discusses the importance of using features like Amazon’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block known malicious traffic and prevent abuse. Through the application of WAF, her organization has automated the process of identifying and restricting access from problematic referral sites. - **Incentivizing Legitimate Users:** Martin highlights the significance of understanding user experiences and preferences, recommending that businesses incentivize legitimate users, such as offering exclusive benefits for early logins to encourage account creation. In conclusion, Martin urges Ruby on Rails developers to leverage available tools and automation to proactively defend against bad users, ensuring a better experience for their genuine patrons and maintaining the integrity of their online applications. The Q&A session following the talk allows attendees to engage further with her insights, where she encourages dialogue about user engagement and protection strategies.
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