Plaid has launched Plaid Protect, a real-time fraud intelligence system that helps detect and prevent fraud from the moment a user interacts with an app or service. This system uses machine learning (ML) to generate risk scores and attributes based on a vast network of devices and financial services, making it difficult for sophisticated fraudsters to exploit blind spots. With Plaid Protect, companies can reduce fraud losses, improve conversion rates, and make smarter decisions from the first user interaction onwards. The system is built around the Trust Index (Ti), an adaptive ML-powered risk engine that generates real-time risk scores and attributes based on user context changes. It leverages network intelligence, bank account risk signals, consortium feedback, and advanced identity intelligence to detect fraud patterns. Protect also offers a dynamic risk-based onboarding feature, allowing companies to apply friction levels at the right time, improving security and conversion rates. Additionally, the system provides an investigative toolkit with intuitive tooling, making it easy to search, investigate, and take action against suspected fraud. Plaid Protect is now available in beta, and early adopters are already using it to fight fraud and improve user conversion.