Behind the scenes of anti-detect browsers

Let's discover what anti-detect browsers are and why they're gaining momentum in the web scraping industry.

Mar 05, 2024

The partner of today's article is Kameleo, an anti-detect browser we’ve already mentioned in some articles in the past.
I’ve reached out to Tamas, CEO of Kameleo, to understand better what is an anti-detect browser and how they work under the hood.

What’s an anti-detect browser?

An anti-detect browser is a web tool designed to hide a user's online identity by manipulating digital fingerprints, offering a discreet way to navigate the internet. These browsers help users stay anonymous in different online situations, where keeping their digital fingerprint undetectable is really important. Using an anti-detect browser makes your browsing appear as if someone else is navigating the web. If you launch multiple browsers, this creates the impression of different real users from the perspective of websites.

Some businesses use anti-detect browsers to expand their online advertising reach through multiple accounts. Meanwhile, some companies use these browsers to smoothly handle several merchant accounts on various online shopping platforms.

They are also handy for writing multiple reviews on a service, and helping businesses with local SEO. These browsers not only make launched browsers look natural but also allow smooth web scraping without setting off anti-bot systems.

For example, you can seamlessly extract real estate prices from a website protected by an anti-bot system like Cloudflare without raising suspicion.

Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash

Understanding how anti-detect browsers work

An anti-detect browser works by concealing the digital fingerprint associated with a user's device, which contains details about the operating system, location, installed plugins, etc. Creating a consistent device fingerprint means ensuring these identifying characteristics remain stable over time and across online sessions. Traditional methods like changing IP addresses or using secure browsers often fail to fully mask this information, hindering true anonymity. Anti-detect browsers go beyond conventional approaches by allowing users to use regular browser features while simultaneously hiding their identity.

The significance of a consistent browser fingerprint

A consistent browser fingerprint results from the effective handling or spoofing of values that are characteristic of the device in use. It goes beyond a simple disguise; a consistent browser fingerprint is like dressing up convincingly as someone else online. It's not just about putting on a mask or changing your voice; it's like transforming your entire appearance, even in an X-ray. Regular tools can't do this.

Importantly, tools like Playwright were made for testing, not for web scraping. Cheaper add-ons, like Puppeteer Stealth, can't guarantee to keep up with major anti-bot systems. This highlights why having a consistent browser fingerprint is crucial—it ensures a more effective and sophisticated approach to your online activities.

An overview of Kameleo

Now that we know why anti-detect browsers are important, let's explore what customers should get in return for investing in a top-notch product like Kameleo. How does Kameleo address these challenges and what value does it bring to customers?

Cutting-edge browser technology

There are several benefits of having two different built-in browsers, which help browser profiles remain undetectable, but maintaining an anti-detect browser requires constant updates, a task handled by the anti-detect vendor as part of the program package. This is essential as popular browsers like Chrome update every 4 weeks, and continuous monitoring is necessary to stay up-to-date on changes.
The term 'built-in browser' means that the provider refines the core of the browser, modifies its native C++ code, and builds the browsers, which are shipped with the service.

In the case of tools like Kameleo and a few others, multiple browsers are included - like Junglefox or Chroma. The constant observance is required to track scientific publications, such as those mentioned in a recent Web Scraping Club article, to understand new technologies employed by anti-bot detection systems. A dedicated engineering team with years of experience ensures the browser remains compatible with all popular platforms used by users.

Diverse feature requirements

Affiliate marketers have specific feature requirements to streamline their work, such as reusable virtual browser profiles and collaborative tools for team efficiency. Solutions running seamlessly in the cloud ensure working comfortably with reusable profiles but maintaining a robust infrastructure is essential for this purpose. Providers must continually upgrade and develop new features, adding complexity to their work, but this ongoing effort ensures that the tool remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

Dedicated support services

Many users, whether arriving as web scrapers or affiliate marketers, may lack knowledge. With the help of highly skilled support team members, they can become significantly more efficient, leading to potential cost savings. Kameleo’s support team is consistently prepared to offer personalized assistance to individuals facing challenges.

Local API and unique automation feature set

Kameleo pioneered the market by offering the ability to manage virtual browser profiles through a local API and control launched browsers with Selenium, Puppeteer, and Playwright technologies - a unique feature set that sets it apart as the first to support all three technologies.

Due to these capabilities and the maintenance of Automation features, Kameleo is deliberately positioned as a premium product in the market.

Revolutionizing automation pricing: a new era of affordability

Recognizing the value of the anti-bot defeating browsers for web scrapers, Kameleo will introduce a more cost-effective package tailored specifically for them. In the new pricing structure, users pay almost exclusively for the browser itself, with no additional costs for features such as profile reuse. While some web scraping tasks require profile reuse (e.g., scraping marketplaces, where building a browser history and storing various logins are essential), others may not. The affordable package is designed for the latter, with no GUI included. The focus is on enabling users to perform standard web scraping tasks without encountering blocks from Cloudflare and similar platforms.

Exciting News: Exclusive 90% OFF Offer - Limited Time Only!

While the pricing update is in progress, we are thrilled to announce a special offer for WebScraping Club readers – a remarkable 90% discount. Act fast, as this incredible offer is available for a limited time only, with the promotion ending in just two weeks! This exclusive deal allows you to enjoy the complete automation package for just 19 EUR/month until the new package becomes available.

If you're curious and want to explore, feel free to give it a go. Setting up Kameleo is straightforward, especially for those who are familiar with Selenium, Puppeteer, or Playwright technologies. Making a few code adjustments might be all that's needed, and our support team is available, along with comprehensive documentation, to assist with any necessary modifications.

It's important to highlight that, as of now, Kameleo is exclusively available on Windows. However, it will be soon accessible on MacOS, expected to be available around May.

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to experience Kameleo's capabilities at a highly discounted rate. Feel free to use the code WS-CLUB-763Ax and delve into the world of seamless automation without breaking the bank.

Webinar Alert: delve deeper into anti-detect browsers

Curious about anti-detect browsers’ role in your web scraping business?

Join our one-hour webinar where experts delve into technology, challenges, and the value these browsers bring. Register here to secure your spot and gain insights from industry leaders on the: