Fingerprinting and Proxy Evasion – How Websites Spot Proxies & How to Bypass Them

Websites Use Fingerprinting to Detect Proxies

Websites employ sophisticated fingerprinting techniques to detect and block users using proxies. These methods analyze multiple data points, such as IP addresses, browser settings, and behavioral patterns, to identify non-human traffic.

Understanding these detection techniques and implementing effective proxy evasion strategies can help scrapers avoid bans and collect data efficiently.

Use Case: Scraping a Competitor's Website Without Detection

A marketing analyst wants to track competitor prices but faces repeated blocks, even when using proxies. By implementing fingerprint evasion techniques—such as rotating IPs, modifying browser headers, and using residential proxies—they successfully collect data without being detected.

How Websites Detect Proxies

IP-Based Detection: Websites maintain lists of known proxy and VPN IPs, blocking access from these addresses.
DNS and WebRTC Leaks: Misconfigured proxies can expose the user's real IP through WebRTC requests or DNS lookups.
Behavioral Analysis: Unusual browsing patterns, such as high request frequency, can trigger detection systems.
TLS Fingerprinting: Websites analyze TLS handshake data to detect proxy usage.
JavaScript and Browser Fingerprinting: Websites track unique browser settings, such as screen resolution, installed fonts, and WebGL data, to identify automation scripts.

Techniques for Proxy Evasion

1. Use Residential and Mobile Proxies

Residential proxies mimic real users by routing traffic through legitimate home IP addresses.
Mobile proxies use cellular networks to appear as everyday users, reducing detection risks.

2. Rotate IP Addresses and User Agents

Rotate proxies frequently to avoid detection by anti-scraping measures.
Randomize user-agent strings to mimic different devices and browsers.

3. Prevent DNS and WebRTC Leaks

Use proxy-aware browsers or disable WebRTC to prevent IP leaks.
Ensure DNS requests go through the proxy to avoid revealing your real IP.

4. Modify TLS Fingerprinting

Use anti-detection browser extensions or tools like Puppeteer Stealth to modify TLS fingerprinting.
Leverage headless browsers that mimic real user traffic.

5. Simulate Human Behavior

Add random delays between requests to replicate human browsing.
Scroll pages, interact with elements, and use headless browser automation tools.

Implementing Proxy Evasion in Python

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

options = Options()
options.add_argument("--proxy-server=http://your-proxy-ip:port")
options.add_argument("--disable-blink-features=AutomationControlled")  # Prevents automation detection

# Launch browser with modified settings
browser = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
browser.get("https://example.com")
print(browser.page_source)
browser.quit()

Conclusion

Proxy detection techniques are becoming increasingly advanced, but by understanding fingerprinting methods and applying effective evasion strategies, web scrapers can avoid detection.

For a seamless scraping experience with built-in proxy rotation and fingerprint evasion, consider using MrScraper to optimize your web scraping workflows.