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How to deal with 403 / Access Denied when I extract data from websites?

Learn to bypass "Access Denied" or "Frequent Query" errors by simulating human behavior and implementing Proxy IP solutions for stable data collection.

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Written by Sophie
Updated over a week ago

Understanding the Obstacle: Why Access is Blocked

When automating web tasks, you may encounter messages like "Your query is too frequent" or "403 Forbidden." This indicates that the website's anti-scraping system has flagged your activity and temporarily blocked your IP address.

Core Strategies: Reduction vs. Rotation

There are two primary ways to resolve IP-based restrictions:

  • Strategy A: Simulating Human Behavior (Reduction)

    • Action: Insert random Wait instructions or simulated mouse movements.

    • Pros: Low cost and easy to implement.

    • Cons: Increases total execution time and may fail against strict security systems.

  • Strategy B: Using Proxy IPs (Rotation)

    • Action: Routing your requests through different proxy servers to change your visible IP address.

    • Pros: High efficiency; allows the bot to continue working even if one IP is blocked.

    • Cons: Requires a reliable third-party proxy service.

Practical Steps: Implementing Proxy IPs in Your Flow

To bypass rate limits effectively, follow these three steps to integrate a Proxy IP within your automation:

Step 1: Obtain a Reliable Proxy Service

Acquire a proxy package from a reputable provider that offers rotating IPs or a pool of static IPs.

Step 2: Configure the Proxy in your Dedicated Browser

  1. Open the browser you use for automation (e.g., Chrome or Edge).

  2. Install the official extension/plugin provided by your proxy service.

  3. Log in and enable the proxy. Your browser is now communicating through a masked IP address.

Step 3: Call the Proxy-Enabled Browser in Octoparse AI

When using the Go to web page command:

  1. Go to the instruction settings.

  2. Select the specific Browser Profile where you installed the proxy extension as the target browser.

  3. The flow will now automatically route all web traffic through your proxy IP.

Summary and Best Practices

For maximum stability, combine both strategies. Use a Proxy IP to rotate your identity, but still include a 2–5 second random delay to mimic human browsing patterns.

Don't forget to always respect and adhere to the target website’s local data privacy regulations.

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