How to bypass error 1005 'access denied, you have been banned' when scraping

When scraping websites protected by Cloudflare, encountering Error 1005 — "Access Denied, You Have Been Banned" — is a common challenge. This error signifies that your IP address has been blocked, usually due to Cloudflare's security mechanisms that aim to prevent scraping and malicious activities. However, there are various techniques you can use to bypass this error and continue your scraping operations.

In this guide, we'll focus on specific strategies and tools to bypass Cloudflare Error 1005, helping you to scrape websites efficiently without getting blocked.

Let's dive in!

Understanding Error 1005: Access Denied

Error 1005, often encountered when trying to scrape certain websites, indicates that your IP address has been blocked. This can occur for various reasons, including security measures by the website or network restrictions.

Below are strategies to bypass this error while maintaining compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Why Cloudflare Blocks Scraping Attempts with IP Blocking

Before attempting to bypass the block, it's crucial to understand why your IP address might be blocked. Websites often block IP addresses to prevent scraping, malicious activities, protect against DDoS attacks, or enforce regional restrictions. Identifying the specific reason can help in choosing the most effective solution.

1. Identified as a Scraping Bot: If your IP is flagged as a web scraping bot, it can be blocked to protect the website's data, prevent excessive server load, or maintain user privacy. This often occurs if the IP is associated with automated requests or unusual browsing patterns. Read our guide on how to scrape without being blocked and how to bypass Cloudflare when scraping .
2. Security Measures: Websites may block IP addresses that exhibit suspicious behavior, such as repeated failed login attempts or unusual traffic patterns. This is a common security measure to prevent unauthorized access or attacks.
3. Geographical Restrictions: Some websites restrict access based on geographical location due to licensing agreements or legal regulations. This is often seen in streaming services or content platforms.
4. Network Policies: Network administrators may block certain IP addresses to enforce organizational policies or prevent access to specific content.

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN can mask your IP address by routing your internet traffic through a server in a different location. This can help bypass geographical restrictions and access blocked content.

• Choosing a Reliable VPN: Select a VPN service with a strong reputation for privacy and security. Look for features such as a no-logs policy, strong encryption, and a wide range of server locations.
• Configuring the VPN: Once you have chosen a VPN, install the software and connect to a server in a location where the website is accessible. This will assign you a new IP address from that region.
• Potential Limitations: Some websites actively block known VPN IP addresses. In such cases, switching to a different server or using a less popular VPN service might be necessary.

Proxy Servers as an Alternative

Proxy servers function similarly to VPNs by routing your traffic through a different server, thereby changing your apparent IP address.

• Types of Proxies: There are various types of proxies, including HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxies. HTTPS proxies are generally preferred for secure browsing.
• Setting Up a Proxy: Configure your browser or device to use a proxy server. This can often be done in the network settings of your device or browser.
• Considerations: Proxies may not offer the same level of encryption as VPNs, making them less secure for sensitive activities. Additionally, free proxies may be unreliable or slow.

Advanced Solutions for Bypassing Error 1005 When Scraping

Utilizing Headless Browsers

Headless browsers are an advanced method for bypassing Cloudflare's Error 1005. These tools simulate real user interactions with websites without the need for a graphical user interface, making them ideal for automated tasks such as web scraping.

Headless browsers like Playwright and Selenium can execute JavaScript and handle complex web pages, which is crucial for bypassing Cloudflare's JavaScript-based security checks.

Advantages of Headless Browsers

• JavaScript Execution: Many modern websites rely heavily on JavaScript for rendering content. Headless browsers can execute JavaScript, allowing them to bypass Cloudflare's JavaScript challenges.
• Automation Capabilities: These browsers can automate a wide range of tasks, from filling out forms to navigating complex web pages, making them highly versatile tools for bypassing Cloudflare's protections.
• Stealth Operations: By mimicking human browsing behavior, headless browsers can avoid detection by Cloudflare's bot protection systems.

Employing Residential Proxies

Residential proxies are IP addresses assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to homeowners. These proxies are less likely to be flagged by Cloudflare as they appear to be legitimate users. By routing requests through residential proxies, it is possible to bypass Cloudflare's Error 1005 and access protected content.

This is easily the best solution for bypassing Cloudflare's Error 1005 when scraping, as it changes your IP address. We use residential proxies in our web scraping API. Get 1,000 free scraping credits and start bypassing Cloudflare's IP ban today.

Benefits of Residential Proxies

• High Anonymity: Residential proxies offer a high level of anonymity, making it difficult for Cloudflare to detect and block them.
• Reduced Risk of IP Bans: Since these proxies are associated with real users, they are less likely to be banned by Cloudflare compared to data center proxies.
• Access to Geo-Restricted Content: Residential proxies can be used to access content that is restricted to specific geographic locations, providing additional flexibility for web scraping operations.

Remember, the quality of your proxies significantly impacts your scraping success, making investment in a good proxy service worthwhile. Check out our comprehensive list of  rotating proxy providers .

Implementing Browser Fingerprinting Techniques

Browser fingerprinting is a technique used to identify and track users based on their browser and device characteristics. To bypass Cloudflare's Error 1005, it is possible to mimic legitimate browser fingerprints, thereby avoiding detection by Cloudflare's security systems. This involves replicating the HTTP headers, user agent strings, and other browser-specific attributes that Cloudflare uses to identify genuine users.

Steps to Implement Browser Fingerprinting

1. Analyze Legitimate Traffic: Study the HTTP headers and other attributes of legitimate traffic to the target website. This can be done using tools like Wireshark or browser developer tools.
2. Replicate Browser Attributes: Use the gathered data to configure your web scraping tool or browser automation script to mimic the identified attributes. This includes setting the correct user agent string, language preferences, and other relevant headers.
3. Test and Adjust: Continuously test the setup against Cloudflare's protections and make necessary adjustments to ensure successful bypassing of the security measures.

Leveraging Web Scraping API

If you want to scrape web data without being blocked by anti-bot measures and without having to manage proxies or complex scraping rules, consider using a web scraping API like ScrapingBee. This tool handles all the infrastructure and unblocking tactics so you can focus on extracting the data you need.

To get started, sign up for a free ScrapingBee trial . No credit card is needed, and you'll receive 1000 credits to begin. Each request costs around 25 credits.

After you log in, go to your dashboard and copy your API token. You'll need this token to send requests.

Next, install the  ScrapingBee Python client  :

pip install scrapingbee

Now, you're ready to use the following Python snippet to start scraping:

from scrapingbee import ScrapingBeeClient

client = ScrapingBeeClient(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

response = client.get(
    YOUR_URL_HERE,
    params={
        "premium_proxy": True,  # Use premium proxies for tough sites
        "country_code": "gb",
        "block_resources": True,  # Block images and CSS to speed up loading
        "device": "desktop",
        "wait": "1500",  # Milliseconds to wait before capturing data
        "js_scenario": {
            "instructions": [  # Automate interactions with the webpage
                {"wait_for": "#slow_button"},
                {"click": "#slow_button"},
                {"scroll_x": 1000},
                {"wait": 1000},
                {"scroll_x": 1000},
                {"wait": 1000},
            ]
        },
        # Optional screenshot settings:
        # "screenshot": True,
        # "screenshot_full_page": True,
    },
)

print(response.content)

This script utilizes ScrapingBee features to handle proxies, headers, and cookies, and to perform dynamic interactions with JavaScript-intensive websites. For more complex scraping tasks, you might also consider utilizing ScrapingBee with Scrapy .

Legal and Ethical Considerations

While bypassing IP blocks can be technically feasible, it's important to consider the legal and ethical implications.

• Compliance with Terms of Service: Ensure that bypassing the block does not violate the website's terms of service or any applicable laws.
• Respecting Regional Restrictions: Some content is restricted due to licensing agreements or legal requirements. Bypassing these restrictions may infringe on intellectual property rights.
• Avoiding Malicious Activity: Ensure that your actions do not contribute to malicious activities, such as unauthorized access or data breaches.

Preventive Measures

To avoid encountering Error 1005 in the future, consider the following preventive measures:

1. Avoid Using Free Proxies: Free proxies are often associated with shared, unreliable IP addresses that are frequently flagged and banned by websites. These proxies tend to be slow, lack security, and are commonly used for malicious activities, making them easy targets for blocking. Opt for reputable paid proxy services or web scraping APIs that provide dedicated and rotating IP addresses for a more reliable and secure scraping experience.
2. Regularly Check IP Reputation: Use online tools to check the reputation of your IP address. If your IP is listed on any blacklists, take steps to have it removed.
3. Stay Informed About Geographical Restrictions: Be aware of any geographical restrictions imposed by websites you frequently visit. This can help you plan alternative access methods if needed.
4. Educate yourself on what triggers bot detection: Check out our guide on how to avoid getting blocked while web scraping to learn about bot detection avoidance methods and techniques.

Conclusion

Cloudflare Error 1005 is a security measure designed to protect websites from scraping. While it can be frustrating, understanding the causes and implementing the strategies outlined above can help resolve the issue.

At ScrapingBee, we utilize and combine all of the mentioned strategies, which is why our web scraping API can handle thousands of requests per second without the risk of being blocked. If you want to avoid spending too much time setting everything up, be sure to give ScrapingBee a try 🚀