I’m having a really annoying problem with my web scraper. Some websites are catching it right away, even though I’m using different tricks to hide it.
What I’m currently using:
Stealth browser setup: Using a tool to make my automated browser look more real
from stealth_browser import StealthMode
await StealthMode.enable_stealth(browser_context)
Different browser signatures: I have a list of real browser user agents and switch between them randomly
Various screen sizes: My script picks different window dimensions to look more natural
Real browser headers: Added headers that normal browsers send
HTTP/2 turned off
Still missing:
Haven’t tried using proxy servers from different countries
Main question:
Do you think using proxies that match the browser’s supposed location would make a big difference? Or maybe there’s something obvious I’m forgetting that makes these sites block me so fast?
Any advice or tricks you’ve learned would be really helpful. Thanks for reading!
Detection systems spot browser automation through JavaScript execution traces in milliseconds. Your headers and proxies might be fine - the real problem is probably how your tool handles JavaScript timing and DOM manipulation patterns. Real users are messy. They scroll randomly, hover over stuff, click things that don’t matter. Your scraper likely follows the same path through the DOM every time. Took me months to figure this out with similar setups. Start adding realistic behavior between requests - random scrolling, clicking random elements, brief pauses. Some sites also track patterns across multiple sessions, so even if you pass the first check, they’ll catch consistent behavior later. Try switching automation frameworks entirely. Each one leaves different fingerprints in JavaScript execution, so a fresh framework might solve your problem.
cookies are probably causing this. people forget that sites track sessions across visits even with new ips. clear all cookies and localStorage between runs, or use incognito mode correctly. also, don’t make your requests too perfect - real browsers have failed dns lookups and slow connections sometimes.
yea, using proxies is definitely gonna help! but be careful with timing - adding random delays (like 2-8 secs) can help you stay low-key. also, make sure ur mouse moves dont seem scripted or you’ll get flagged too.
Canvas fingerprinting is probably what’s killing you. Most sites check your browser’s canvas rendering signature, and automated browsers create completely different patterns than real ones. Even with stealth mode, the canvas hash usually gives you away immediately. I had the same issues until I started spoofing WebGL renderer strings and canvas data. Also check if you’re leaking automation through the navigator.webdriver property - some stealth tools completely miss this. Proxies help but won’t fix detection if your browser fingerprint screams ‘bot’. Run your current setup through a browser fingerprinting test site first. You might find your screen resolution or timezone doesn’t match your supposed location, which instantly flags protection systems.
SparklingGem’s right about timing being crucial, but you’re overcomplicating this.
I used to waste weeks building scrapers with all those stealth tricks. Then I found automation platforms that handle anti-detection for you.
Why manage proxies, headers, and timing yourself when workflows can rotate browser fingerprints automatically? The platform does IP rotation, realistic delays, and CAPTCHA solving.
Last month I scraped some heavily protected sites. Instead of coding stealth features, I set up a workflow that:
Rotates proxies from different regions
Uses real browsers (not headless)
Adds human-like pauses
Handles retries when blocked
30 minutes setup vs weeks of custom coding.
Find a platform that specializes in web automation - they’ve already solved these detection problems. Check out Latenode, it handles anti-detection automatically: https://latenode.com