How to Use ISP Proxies for Web Scraping Without Getting Blocked
Wiki Article
How to Use ISP Proxies for Web Scraping Without Getting Blocked
If you've ever tried web scraping, you probably know how frustrating it can be to get blocked just as you're pulling in valuable data. Whether you’re collecting product prices, market trends, or online reviews, getting blocked can make your job a lot harder. That’s where ISP proxies come in handy.
So, what exactly are ISP proxies? In simple terms, these are IP addresses hosted by internet service providers but run on data center servers. They combine the speed of regular data center proxies with the trust factor of residential IP addresses. This mix makes ISP proxies a smart choice for web scraping. If you’re curious to learn more, check out https://infatica.io/isp-proxies/.
Now let’s get to the good part—how to use ISP proxies the right way to avoid getting blocked.
1. Don’t Send Too Many Requests at Once
One of the quickest ways to get blocked is by bombarding a website with too many requests in a short time. If you start acting like a robot, most websites will treat you like one—and block you. Spread out your requests over time, and try to mimic what a real person would do.
2. Rotate Your IP Addresses
Even the best IP address can get flagged if you keep using it to visit the same website over and over. This is where rotating proxies come in. With ISP proxies, you can set up automatic IP rotation so each request comes from a different IP. This makes it much harder for a website to notice what you’re doing.
3. Use Realistic User Agents
Websites can tell what device and browser you’re using by looking at your "user agent" string. If every request you send comes from the same user agent (say, Chrome on Windows), that’s suspicious. Mix it up a bit—send some requests from Chrome, some from Firefox, maybe even throw in a few mobile browsers.
4. Handle Cookies Like a Real Browser
Cookies aren’t just for tasty snacks—they’re also a way websites track users. If you ignore cookies or don’t use them properly, websites might figure out that you’re using a script and block you. Save and send cookies just like a normal browser would.
5. Respect the Website’s Limits
Many websites offer public data but have limits set in place. If they allow 100 requests an hour, don’t try to send 200. Stick to what seems reasonable, even if they don’t mention official limits.
6. Add Some Random Delays
Humans don’t browse the web at lightning speed. We take our time, click around, get distracted. Adding small, random delays between your scraping actions can help your script look more natural and keeps you under the radar.
7. Monitor for Errors and Blocks
If a website starts returning errors like 403 or 429, it’s a sign you're being blocked or throttled. Make sure your script watches for these signs and adjusts its behavior—either slowing down or switching IPs.
8. Test Before Scraping the Whole Site
Before scraping a website from top to bottom, test a few pages first. This lets you fine-tune your approach and avoid running into unexpected blocks halfway through.
Final Thoughts
Web scraping isn’t just about grabbing data—it’s about doing it smartly. ISP proxies give you a solid base to work from, but using them with care is the real key. By spreading out your requests, rotating IPs, and making everything look as human as possible, you’ll be far more successful—and far less likely to get blocked.
So next time you set up a scrape, keep these tips in mind. Happy scraping!