Merge branch 'bnxt_en-3-bug-fixes': The Unseen Protection Measure Behind Every Website

Have you ever found yourself unable to access your favorite website, only to discover that it's been temporarily blocked by its administrator? You're not alone. In recent years, a growing threat has emerged in the form of AI-powered web scraping companies, which have made it increasingly difficult for websites to protect themselves against these malicious actors.

This is where Anubis comes in – a clever solution devised by website administrators to safeguard their servers from the scourge of automated scrapers. By implementing this technology, site owners can prevent their resources from being exploited and make them inaccessible to those who would misuse them.

Anubis works on the principle of Proof-of-Work (PoW), a concept commonly associated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. In essence, it requires users to complete a simple mathematical puzzle in order to bypass a challenge page. The idea behind this approach is that while PoW schemes are computationally intensive, they become impractically expensive at scale – which makes them unattractive to malicious actors who rely on high-speed scraping operations.

However, Anubis has its limitations and drawbacks. On an individual scale, the additional load it imposes may be negligible, but as more websites adopt this technology, the cumulative effect can become significant. Moreover, modern JavaScript features are required to operate Anubis successfully, which poses a challenge for users who rely on plugins like JShelter to simplify their browsing experience.

"Please disable JShelter or other similar plugins for this domain," advises website administrators. This requirement highlights the tension between user convenience and security concerns – as we all know that AI-powered scrapers are often headless browsers with advanced capabilities, making it increasingly difficult for these tools to fingerprint legitimate users without compromising their anonymity.

While Anubis offers a temporary solution to this problem, its creators acknowledge that finding a more comprehensive and user-friendly alternative is an ongoing challenge. The shift in the social contract around website hosting has led to this situation, where no-JS solutions are currently under development. For now, users must weigh their need for convenient browsing against the security measures put in place by website administrators.

In conclusion, Anubis represents a pioneering effort in the fight against AI-powered web scraping. While its limitations and inconveniences are undeniable, it remains an essential tool in protecting websites from malicious actors – as long as we continue to push for more effective solutions that balance user needs with security concerns.