Tips and Tricks to Bypass IP Bans: Web Scraping Techniques

When users ignore a website’s terms of service (TOS), they can get banned from using their IP address. Sometimes, many users share the same IP. If one person breaks the rules, others sharing that IP might also get banned.

There are various reasons for your IP to get banned. In this article, we’ll show you what causes IP bans and give you tips to avoid them and continue your web scraping with ease! 

Causes of IP Bans

Anyone can get an IP ban, but certain behaviors and user types make it more likely. Here are some groups that face a higher risk of encountering IP bans:

Security-Related

• Brute-force attacks: Repeatedly trying to guess login details, often using automated tools.
• DDoS attacks: Flooding a website or server with traffic to disrupt its normal operation.
• Unauthorized access attempts: Trying to enter restricted areas or systems without permission.
• Virus or malware activity: If your device gets infected and joins in harmful actions, your IP might be banned.
• Spamming or phishing: Sending unwanted bulk messages or trying to trick users for personal gain.

Policy Violations

• Copyright infringement: Downloading or sharing copyrighted material without authorization.
• Hate speech or harassment: Using abusive or discriminatory language towards other users.
• Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else, especially for harmful purposes.
• Posting illegal content: Sharing material that breaks local or international laws.
• Violating terms of service: Ignoring the specific rules of a platform or website.

Others

• Excessive scraping or data mining: Gathering large amounts of data without permission or putting too much strain on a website’s resources.
• Sharing an IP address: If you use the same IP as someone who broke the rules, you might unintentionally get banned too.

Tips to Bypass IP Bans

Below are ways to bypass some of the most common IP bans:

1. Clean Your Computer’s Cache

Trying to get back into a blocked platform or app isn’t just about lifting the ban itself. Even after the ban, leftover program files and cached data on your computer can still cause issues. Here’s how to clean your system and improve your chances of regaining access:

1. Start by going to your computer’s search bar and pasting these locations:

• C:\Program Files (x86)
• C:\Program Files
• C:%localappdata%
• C:%programdata%
• C:%userprofile%\Documents\
• C:\Users%username%\AppData\Local

2. Find and delete files related to the program that caused your IP ban.

3. Then, open the registry by pressing the Windows key + R and entering Regedit.

Delete anything associated with the application or program that caused the ban you’re trying to bypass.

2. Change your MAC address

Some platforms might ban you based on your Media Access Control (MAC) address instead of your IP. If that’s the case, you’ll need to change your MAC address:

1. Go to your computer’s ‘Settings’.
2. Click on ‘Network & Internet’.
3. Navigate to ‘Change adapter options’.
4. Right-click on your internet adapter and select ‘Properties’.
5. Choose ‘Client for Microsoft Networks’ and click ‘Configure’.
6. Go to the ‘Advanced’ tab, then click on ‘Network Address’.
7. Use an online MAC address generator to create a new MAC address, then copy and paste it into the ‘Value’ box. Click ‘Ok’ and wait for a few seconds.

3. Uninstall the Program/Browser

The simplest method is to uninstall the application and reinstall it.

1. Navigate to Start > Settings > Apps & features.
2. Locate the program you wish to uninstall and click on “Uninstall.”

Conclusion

Bypassing IP bans while web scraping requires understanding the causes and implementing effective techniques. Users risk IP bans by violating website terms of service or engaging in restricted activities. Different actions, like excessive data scraping, increase the likelihood of bans.

To bypass IP bans, users can follow the tips above, as these methods help users avoid IP bans and continue web scraping activities with ease.