Cloudflare is a network provider offering a reverse proxy, pass-through service. Apart from some terrible security practices, (for example even if you use SSL certificates [https://], Cloudflare can see your passwords), Cloudflare also does the following:
- Shields criminal webmasters by hiding their IP address from the public.
The example most on our minds at the moment is the massacre of worshippers at several mosques in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand by a white supremacist terrorist, who had used 8chan as a launch pad for his terror. Cloudflare, while fully aware of the activities that occur on 8chan, and even after this took place on their clients web platform, continue to offer them IP shielding, protecting the very existance of 8chan, allowing users free reign to plan, strategise and refine the tactics of their next mass shooting.
What can you do?
Check if your company or webserver uses Cloudflare and ditch them. They are not an essential service for 99% of their customers use their service more because of scareware tactics by the company.
How can I find out if my website is using Cloudflare?
Check to see if your domain name is in the following list of 10,078 websites that use Cloudflare:
If they are then if you are familiar with domain name DNS you can either log into your web service control panel and follow their instructions about how to disconnect the service, essentially resetting your domain name servers back to their original settings, or contact the help and support centre of your web service to request either instructions or their assistance to remove your support for this service.
Leave a Reply