Protecting Websites from Bots: 6 Years of Traffic Filtering Practice

The article provides a detailed practical analysis of six years of experience dealing with automated traffic. The author describes the evolution of approaches to web resource protection: from implementing early behavioral algorithms and manual Cloudflare rules to developing a proprietary multi-level filtering system. Special attention is given to cluster analysis methods that effectively distinguish legitimate users from malicious bots. The material covers key stages in combating automated threats, demonstrating the shift from simple solutions to complex security architectures. The author shares accumulated insights that may be useful for cybersecurity professionals and developers facing high-load issues from botnets. The article emphasizes the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement of security tools in the face of an ever-changing cyber threat landscape.