Propwire Secures Its Real Estate Platform From Scraping Attacks With DataDome

The Challenge: Scraping Bots Crippling Website Performance

Propwire experienced performance issues due to aggressive scraping attacks targeting its property search and auto-complete features. These automated bots were consuming server bandwidth, slowing down the site, and even causing outages. “For a platform with 200,000 users and around 30,000-40,000 active monthly users, these disruptions represented a potential business risk,” says Tyler Clark, CEO and Co-Founder of Propwire.

The development team initially tried to fend off the attackers using Cloudflare’s Web Application Firewall and custom rules. However, the scrapers grew more sophisticated, using advanced techniques such as VPNs, multiple proxies, and TLS manipulation to bypass their security measures. Tyler recalls: “It was tricky to effectively block traffic from certain countries or regions, as IP addresses can be passed around between registrars, and we didn’t want to risk blocking real users.” This not only compromised the user experience by making the site slow or unavailable but also strained the resources of Propwire’s small team, diverting them from core development tasks.

The Solution: Comprehensive, Quick-to-Deploy Bot Defense

Realizing that their current approach was insufficient to combat these sophisticated bots, Propwire sought a robust third-party solution. Tyler wanted a provider that could offer comprehensive protection for all their endpoints, including their website, API, and single-page applications. With user experience being a top priority, it was crucial to minimize false positives and reduce the need for CAPTCHAs. And as time was of the essence, Tyler needed a solution that could be implemented quickly without extensive integration challenges, at a cost-effective price.

They found DataDome and quickly determined it was the best solution to fit their needs—impressed by the initial call and the platform’s advanced AI capabilities.  “The seamless integration with our existing infrastructure—including Cloudflare—enabled us to deploy the solution in just a few days. And DataDome’s platform is great!” Tyler remarks.

The Results: Scrapers Neutralized, Improved User Experience, & Top-Notch Support

DataDome’s robust bot management has effectively neutralized the scraping attacks. In just one month, no fewer than 1.7 million bots, including 14 named attacks, were blocked. And all this without restricting users’ freedom, since less than one in 30,000 visitors encountered a CAPTCHA.

Tyler and his team appreciated the solution’s comprehensive data collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities. They enabled Propwire to gain insights into the various types of malicious traffic threatening their entry points, and to manually block specific IP addresses when necessary, thus retaining control of their security.

“The first time we had to call for support, it was on a Sunday afternoon, yet the issue was fixed within a couple of hours,” appreciates Tyler, adding that his technical team and DataDome support work great together.

Proactive support and advanced protection have stabilized Propwire’s platform and freed up valuable resources within their team. But above all, by eradicating scraping bots from the website, DataDome has enabled Propwire users to enjoy an exceptional browsing experience.