If your website is receiving abnormal or suspicious traffic, it's essential to address the situation promptly. Such unusual spikes can be the result of various factors, including web scraping, DDoS attacks, or referral spam. Here are some steps you can take to identify and possibly mitigate the issue:
Analyze Traffic Source: Use analytics tools like Google Analytics to check the source of the traffic. Unusual spikes from unfamiliar referral websites or a significant number of hits from a single IP address can indicate suspicious activity.
Check User Agents: Bots and scrapers often use specific user agents. Analyzing the user agents of the traffic can help identify if they are from known bots.
Filter out Spammy Referrals: In Google Analytics, you can set up filters to exclude traffic from known spammy referrers.
Use CAPTCHA: If you suspect bots are targeting your site, consider implementing CAPTCHA challenges on certain pages or after multiple rapid-fire page views.
IP Blocking: If you identify a specific IP address or range of addresses as the source of the unwanted traffic, you can block them. However, be cautious with this method as blocking broad IP ranges can prevent legitimate users from accessing your site.
Check for Content Scraping: If someone is scraping content from your website, they might cause a spike in traffic. Tools like Copyscape can help you see if your content appears elsewhere online.
Monitor Server Load: If you're experiencing a DDoS attack, your server load will likely be very high. Monitor your server health and consider implementing DDoS protection measures if required.
Consult with Hosting Provider: Your hosting provider might provide insights or solutions to mitigate the impact of suspicious traffic.
Security Plugins: If you're using platforms like WordPress, there are security plugins available that can help limit the impact of certain types of attacks or unwanted traffic.
Stay Updated: Ensure all your website software, plugins, and themes are updated. Old versions can have vulnerabilities that bots or malicious users exploit.
It's crucial to identify the cause of the abnormal hits to implement the right solution. If you're uncertain or the problem persists, you might consider consulting with a cybersecurity expert or a web development professional.