Ask HN: How do Chrome extensions bypass server-side paywalls?

1 pointsflerovium3y ago2 comments

The following chrome extension seems to accomplish the magic of bypassing a server-side paywall.

How? Server-side means the content isn't even sent to the browser. What can the browser do?

https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-chrome-clean

2 comments

2 comments · 2 top-level

ashu14613y ago

If you see this code

https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-chrome-clean...

It is a 5000 piece of if else conditions where the author has handled each website separately.

The author is few techniques like - redirecting to amp websites / mobile websites - checking google cache for the mobile data - removing paywall modals which might be coming

Just from the look of the couple of implementations, i don't think it will be able to render server side paywalls.

https://pastes.io/1sp8o1nsxm

Look at the implementation for medium.com, it is just about manipulating the dom. (I might be wrong :))

mikequinlan3y ago

For "soft" paywalls (where, for example, a certain number of articles a day/week/month are available for free), the extension convinces the server that this user is unique and hasn't seen any other articles yet.

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