# Disabled AI-driven vs monitoring mode

Monitoring mode and disabled AI-driven mode are different settings. In monitoring mode, ClickGuard keeps analyzing every ad click and shows the click fraud it finds, without blocking anything. With AI-driven mode turned off, its AI doesn't detect or block bad traffic at all, though your own custom rules still apply.

Source: https://www.clickguard.com/help/faq/disabled-ai-driven-vs-monitoring-mode
Published: 2026-10-01
Updated: 2026-10-01
Author: Nikola Pejic

Disabled AI-driven mode and monitoring mode are two different settings on the **AI Protection** page in ClickGuard.

## Disabled AI-driven mode

When you switch off **AI-Driven Threat Monitoring**, ClickGuard's AI stops detecting and blocking bad traffic on its own. It won't flag bad traffic coming from the website, so bots, click farms and other invalid clicks can reach your ads again, and you pay for them.

![AI-Driven Threat Monitoring switched off on ClickGuard's AI Protection page, with the Keep detecting clicks from your ad accounts option](/docs-media/ai-protection-ai-off.png)

To keep your custom rules flagging and blocking bad traffic while the AI is off, check **Keep detecting clicks from your ad accounts**. The website's ad spend then still counts toward your monthly usage.

Turn the AI off only for a short time, for example while you test something. We **don't recommend** leaving it off for long.

## Monitoring mode

In monitoring mode, the AI stays on: ClickGuard keeps tracking and analyzing every click on your ads and shows you the invalid traffic it finds in your dashboards, but it doesn't block anything. No IP exclusions or audience exclusions are added to your campaigns.

To use it, keep **AI-Driven Threat Monitoring** on and select **Monitoring only** under **Protective Actions**.

![Monitoring only selected under Protective Actions on ClickGuard's AI Protection page](/docs-media/ai-protection-monitoring-only.png)

Use it to see how much click fraud reaches your ads before you turn on blocking, for example on a new website or ad account. When you're ready, select **Block attackers and unwanted traffic**.

## In short

-   **Disabled AI-driven mode:** ClickGuard's AI doesn't detect or block anything; only your custom rules can still apply.
-   **Monitoring mode:** ClickGuard's AI finds click fraud and reports it, without blocking.

See also: [What is AI-Driven mode in ClickGuard](https://www.clickguard.com/help/glossary/what-is-ai-driven-mode).

## Related articles

- [What is AI-Driven mode in ClickGuard](https://www.clickguard.com/help/glossary/what-is-ai-driven-mode.md)