Honeypot traps are employed by websites to enhance their security by luring cybercriminals to a place where they’ll be harmless. Unfortunately, these traps also end up catching users whose intentions aren’t malicious. For these users, Internet safely practices and a good rotating proxy server will add strong protection. Let’s talk about what else can be done to avoid honeypot blocks.

Don’t purchase email lists

If you’re in business, purchasing an email list may seem like a quick and easy way of reaching thousands of potential clients or customers. But quite commonly you’ll find a couple of rogue addresses, traps actually, on that list. You have no way of knowing where the addresses came from or what opt-in process was used. Also, many of the addressees will likely mark you as a spammer since they haven’t personally subscribed to your content.

Always check the link

On receiving an unsolicited email, always check any link it contains. Clicking on a suspicious link can land you on a phishing site. Sometimes the link’s only difference from a legitimate site will be a single character in a string that looks like a recognizable word. Even though such a link comes in an unsolicited email, it’s easy to pass over something that looks familiar. It’s best to double-check all links carefully. Make sure any links you follow come from verified sources.

Use a proxy server

Cybercriminals also use honeypots with the intention of getting as much of your personal information as possible. Maintaining your anonymity online is best practice for all of us. Fortunately, with a reliable rotating proxy server, you can browse while hiding your identity, keeping a layer of protection between you and the Internet.

Scrape with caution

Scraping is especially likely to land you in honeypot traps. That’s because, to prevent scraping for security reasons, websites use links that are hidden from normal users with standard browsers. So when building a scraper program, you need to assess websites for those hidden links. The extra time involved, making sure you can check CSS properties of links, is time well spent.

Beware of fake databases

Databases are a great resource, especially for web scrapers, yielding significant amounts of information. However, fake databases can easily be set up to lure web scrapers as well as malicious attackers. If you happen to fall into the trap, chances are you’ll find your activities blocked. It’s best to check the authenticity of any websites that you visit.

Wrap up

The rapid increase in cyberattacks forces websites to take extra precautions. Honeypot traps are a necessary part of website security strategies. As individuals, we also need to safeguard our data and avoid traps. Being vigilant about verifying websites, checking links, and using a good rotating proxy server will greatly improve your chances of avoiding blocks.