3 ms·

No kidding. AWS's notoriously expensive data transfer is only $0.09/GB. Who's charging $2.50/GB? Are they running on a cellular SIM with no data plan?

mikeocool 2y ago
Sounds like they are running a web scarping business -- so maybe? Using a cellular connection would be one way to help not get immediately capcha-ed by every site using cloudflare.
- blitzar 2y ago
  They should really setup their scraper and (exfil the data) via regular connections.
ronsor 2y ago
Residential rotating proxy providers charge very high rates for data, on the order of $1 - $10 per GB. (These providers often do run their proxies through the cellular network, actually.)
- SteveNuts 2y ago
  Is this something where end users can get paid for doing nothing other than proxying some traffic through their ISP?
  - ronsor 2y ago
    That's probably where some of the proxies come from.
  - r1ch 2y ago
    The end user typically has their device compromised by using free apps where the developers were bribed $$$ to add the proxy "SDK". The botnet operator then rents out the bandwidth at exorbitant rates to anyone who will pay for it. Chrome extensions are also a huge source of this, they look for extensions with a large install base and then make an offer to buy it to turn all the users into proxies.
  - slt2021 2y ago
    end users install shady VPN apps/extensions to watch pirated content, and become part of residential proxy mesh/botnet
  - ipython 2y ago
    If by “some” traffic you mean botnets, sneaker and ticket scalpers, scammers, content scrapers, credential stuffers … generally scummy stuff, sure. Based on this blog post I would not do any business with Skyvern, if they indeed do business with this underworld of bottom feeders.
  - mrguyorama 2y ago
    Sure, if you want a whole bunch of legitimately malicious traffic to be attributed to your internet account.
  - floam 2y ago
    Yes. Google “honeygain”

mikeocool 2y ago

Sounds like they are running a web scarping business -- so maybe? Using a cellular connection would be one way to help not get immediately capcha-ed by every site using cloudflare.

blitzar 2y ago
They should really setup their scraper and (exfil the data) via regular connections.

ronsor 2y ago

Residential rotating proxy providers charge very high rates for data, on the order of $1 - $10 per GB. (These providers often do run their proxies through the cellular network, actually.)

SteveNuts 2y ago
Is this something where end users can get paid for doing nothing other than proxying some traffic through their ISP?
- ronsor 2y ago
  That's probably where some of the proxies come from.
- r1ch 2y ago
  The end user typically has their device compromised by using free apps where the developers were bribed $$$ to add the proxy "SDK". The botnet operator then rents out the bandwidth at exorbitant rates to anyone who will pay for it. Chrome extensions are also a huge source of this, they look for extensions with a large install base and then make an offer to buy it to turn all the users into proxies.
- slt2021 2y ago
  end users install shady VPN apps/extensions to watch pirated content, and become part of residential proxy mesh/botnet
- ipython 2y ago
  If by “some” traffic you mean botnets, sneaker and ticket scalpers, scammers, content scrapers, credential stuffers … generally scummy stuff, sure. Based on this blog post I would not do any business with Skyvern, if they indeed do business with this underworld of bottom feeders.
- mrguyorama 2y ago
  Sure, if you want a whole bunch of legitimately malicious traffic to be attributed to your internet account.
- floam 2y ago
  Yes. Google “honeygain”