How to bypass TLS fingerprinting

Web scraping often faces challenges with anti-bot systems, with TLS fingerprinting being one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Websites use this technique to detect and block scrapers by analyzing unique patterns in TLS handshakes.

This article explores two methods for bypassing TLS fingerprinting: The first method involves manually modifying TLS parameters using Burp Suite and the burp-awesome-tls extension. The second method simplifies the process with Scrapeless, an automated solution designed to seamlessly bypass TLS-based detection mechanisms.

What is TLS Fingerprinting?

TLS (Transport Layer Security) secures communication between a client (like a browser or scraper) and a server. When connecting, the client sends a "Client Hello" message with details like TLS versions, cipher suites, and extensions. These form a TLS fingerprint, which websites like those protected by Cloudflare or Akamai use to spot scrapers. For example, a Python scraper using OpenSSL has a different fingerprint than Chrome, making it easy to block.

Related recommendations: How to Bypass Cloudflare Protection and Turnstile Using Scrapeless | Complete Guide

For Scrapeless users, this means even with proxies or Captcha solutions, mismatched fingerprints can lead to failed requests. Let’s fix that.

Common Methods to Evade TLS Fingerprinting

Several techniques can help bypass TLS fingerprinting:

• Modifying TLS configurations: Altering client hello parameters to mimic real browsers.
• Using browser-native TLS stacks: Employing real browser TLS implementations instead of automation frameworks.
• TLS tunneling and proxies: Routing traffic through intermediaries that present legitimate TLS fingerprints.

Method 1:Using Burp Suite to Modify TLS Fingerprints

Burp Suite is a versatile proxy tool, originally for security testing, that can intercept and modify web traffic. Paired with the burp-awesome-tls extension, it lets you mimic the TLS fingerprints of browsers like Chrome or Firefox. This tricks anti-bot systems into thinking your scraper is a legitimate user.

Here’s how to configure Burp Suite and burp-awesome-tls to spoof TLS fingerprints. Each step includes a clear screenshot description.

Step 1: Install Burp Suite

1. Download: Get Burp Suite from the PortSwigger website (Community or Professional).
2. Install: Follow the setup instructions for your OS.
3. Launch: Open Burp Suite to confirm it’s working.

Step 2: Install burp-awesome-tls

1. Download: Grab the JAR file from the burp-awesome-tls GitHub page.
2. Add to Burp:

• Go to the “Extender” tab.
• Click “Add,” choose “Java,” and select the JAR file.
• Hit “Next” to install.

3. Check: Look for the “Awesome TLS” tab in Burp Suite.

Step 3: Configure burp-awesome-tls

1. Open Settings: Click the “Awesome TLS” tab.
2. Pick a Browser: Choose a fingerprint (e.g., Chrome) from the dropdown.
3. Tweak (Optional): Adjust settings like handshake timeout if needed.

Step 4: Set Up the Proxy

1. Activate Proxy:

• In the “Proxy” tab, confirm the listener is on (default: 127.0.0.1:8080).

2. Route Traffic:

• In your scraping tool, set the proxy to http://127.0.0.1:8080.
• Check that requests flow through Burp.

Step 5: Test It Out

1. Write a Script: Here’s a Python example using requests:

proxies = {
    'http': 'http://127.0.0.1:8080',
    'https': 'http://127.0.0.1:8080'
}

response = requests.get('https://example.com', proxies=proxies)
print(response.text)

2. Run It: Execute and watch the request in Burp’s “Proxy” > “HTTP history.”
3. Verify: Ensure the TLS fingerprint matches your chosen browser.

Method 2: Using Scrapeless for Bypassing TLS Fingerprinting

Scrapeless is a dedicated tool designed to circumvent advanced fingerprinting techniques, including TLS-based detection. Unlike Burp Suite, which requires manual configurations, Scrapeless automates the entire process, ensuring a seamless bypass of fingerprinting mechanisms.

Key Benefits of Scrapeless:

• Authentic Browser TLS Fingerprints: Scrapeless emulates real browser TLS handshakes, making it indistinguishable from human traffic.
• Automatic Configuration: No need for manual adjustments; Scrapeless handles everything internally.
• Stealth Mode: In addition to TLS evasion, it also bypasses other fingerprinting techniques such as JavaScript-based detection.
• Scalability: Suitable for large-scale web scraping and penetration testing.

How to Use Scrapeless for Bypassing TLS Fingerprinting

Step 1: Configure and Run Your Scraping Browser

1. Access the Scrapeless Browser Menu

• Log in to your Scrapeless account and navigate to the Browser Configuration menu.
• On the left side, configure your API Key and proxy settings.

You can create your Scrapeless API Key in API Key Management

2. Select a Framework and Copy Example Code

• On the right side, choose your preferred scraping framework (e.g., Playwright, Puppeteer).
• Copy the provided example code snippet. Below is an optimized example for bypassing TLS fingerprinting using Playwright:

const { chromium } = require('playwright-core');
const connectionURL = 'wss://browser.scrapeless.com/browser?token=YOUR_TOKEN_HERE&session_ttl=180&proxy_country=ANY';

(async () => {
    const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(connectionURL);
    const page = await browser.newPage();
    await page.goto('https://www.scrapeless.com');
    console.log(await page.title());
    await browser.close();
})();

3. Modify and Run the Code

• Paste the code into your IDE and customize it based on your scraping requirements (e.g., target URL, data extraction logic).
• Run the script to initiate the browser session. Scrapeless will automatically handle TLS fingerprinting bypass by using a real browser environment with randomized fingerprints.

Step 2: Monitor Browser Sessions in Real-Time

1. Access the Sessions Live Tab

• After running the script, go to the Sessions Live tab in the Scrapeless dashboard.
• Here, you can see a list of active browser sessions, including their status, IP address, and session duration.

2. View Session Details

• Click the "View Session" button in the Action column to access detailed information about a specific browser session.
• You can also preview the browser's real-time activity, which is useful for debugging and ensuring the scraping process is running smoothly.

Step 3: Analyze Logs for Debugging and Optimization

1. Access the Logs Tab

• Navigate to the Logs tab to review historical data from past browser sessions.
• Logs include details such as request headers, response codes, and error messages, which are critical for identifying and resolving issues.

2. Optimize Your Scraping Workflow

• Use the logs to analyze patterns, such as frequent IP blocks or TLS fingerprinting detection.
• Adjust your script or Scrapeless settings (e.g., increase session_ttl, rotate proxies more frequently) to improve success rates.

🔹 Try Scrapeless now to make your web crawling more efficient and more hidden!

➡️ Click here to get Scrapeless, easily bypass TLS fingerprint detection, and improve the success rate of crawling and penetration testing!

Key Tips for Bypassing TLS Fingerprinting with Scrapeless

• Use Randomized Browser Fingerprints: Scrapeless automatically rotates browser fingerprints, including TLS handshake parameters, to avoid detection.
• Leverage Global Proxies: Set proxy=WorldWide to distribute requests across multiple IPs, reducing the risk of being flagged.
• Monitor Session Health: Regularly check the Sessions Live tab to ensure your browser sessions are running as expected.

Scrapeless prioritizes ethical scraping:

• Follow robots.txt: Respect site rules.
• Rate Limit: Don’t overload servers.
• Privacy: Comply with GDPR, CCPA, etc.

Use these tools responsibly to scrape confidently.

Wrap-Up

Bypassing TLS fingerprinting is crucial for penetration testers, security researchers, and web scrapers. While Burp Suite and burp-awesome-tls offer a degree of control, Scrapeless provides a more reliable and automated solution. With its ability to mimic real browser TLS stacks seamlessly, Scrapeless stands out as the best choice for evading TLS-based detection mechanisms.

If you're looking for an efficient and scalable way to bypass TLS fingerprinting with minimal setup, try Scrapeless today and enhance your web scraping or security testing workflow! Visit the official Scrapeless website to get started.

Note: This guide has been thoroughly tested by our team at the time of writing. However, since websites frequently update their code and structure, some steps may no longer work as expected. We only scrape publicly available data and strictly prohibit scraping personal information, login-restricted data, or engaging in any actions that violate website terms of service. Please ensure that your data collection practices comply with legal regulations and website policies.