Four Must-Know Tips for Avoiding IP Blocks
The online environment requires careful navigation to avoid being blacklisted. But since websites need to protect themselves from illegal activities, IP blocks are sometimes necessary. To maintain a balance, the challenge is how to define the parameters of what’s legal and what is not. It’s unlikely that we’ll reach a consensus anytime soon. This article will show you ways to prevent IP blocks.
Use a proxy server
Using a proxy server is a great way to protect your privacy and avoid IP bans. By masking your IP address, a proxy allows you to use the Internet without revealing your true identity. Anyone attempting to track your activities will only see the proxy server address. You can choose a private proxy or a shared rotating proxy; both offer security and anonymity. Although you may find countless free proxies online, the service you get can be unpredictable and even harmful. A good paid proxy server will give you reliable service and help to keep you off the blacklist.
Scraping responsibly
Data mining carries the highest risk for IP blocking, which leaves you unable to work online. But you can avoid blocks by following a few simple scraping guidelines:
- Slow down your requests so you look like a human, such as using a randomized delay between requests
- Use common web browser user-agent headers
- Follow the website robots.txt
Obeying website rules and following certain protocols will enable you to scrape responsibly and effectively.
Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is another option to protect your IP and avoid blocks. With a VPN, the data from your device will pass through an encrypted tunnel to your ISP’s server. Essentially an intermediary server, it encodes your connection and masks your IP. Hiding your IP address and online activities makes it far more difficult to track you.
Leverage the power of Tor
Tor is a specialized browser designed for online privacy. This free network comprises thousands of server nodes run by volunteers. Basically, it functions by hiding both your starting point and the destination. By encrypting the data you send in multiple layers, Tor significantly enhances your overall security and anonymity. Also, the nodes are set up in such a way that even if an attacker intercepts your traffic, parsing the original IP is extremely difficult. Thus, it gives you a great tool to avoid IP blocks and keep your IP off of blacklists.
Browsing effectively
The internet is a resource rich in information. And whatever you need is often just the click of a button away. But even though data access is a lot easier these days, you can still find your IP blocked. Rather than risk landing on the blacklist, you can sign up for a good proxy service that offers support and security. And by scraping responsibly, you can do your online research with peace of mind.
