AntiBot Cloud
AntiBot Cloud is a Russian web application protection service that filters bot traffic, blocks crawlers and serves JavaScript challenges to suspected automated visitors. It processes visitor IPs, browser fingerprints and request metadata in Russia, which has no EU adequacy decision. While bot mitigation can rely on legitimate interest under GDPR, the international transfer to Russia and the use of cookies trigger heavy compliance obligations including a mandatory DPIA.
What does AntiBot Cloud do?
What is AntiBot Cloud?
AntiBot Cloud is a Russian operated bot mitigation and web application protection service that intercepts traffic to a website and filters automated requests using JavaScript challenges, IP reputation databases and browser fingerprinting. It is most often deployed on PHP and Wordpress websites to block crawlers, scrapers and credential stuffing attacks.
What data does AntiBot Cloud process?
AntiBot Cloud processes visitor IP addresses, User Agent strings, JavaScript fingerprints, HTTP headers, navigation timing and request patterns. It sets first party cookies on validated visitors so that subsequent requests skip the challenge. The data is sent to AntiBot Cloud servers for risk scoring and may be retained for security analytics.
GDPR and ePrivacy obligations
Bot protection can rely on legitimate interest under Article 6(1)(f) GDPR with a documented Legitimate Interest Assessment. However, Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive still requires consent for non strictly necessary cookies. Cookies that are essential to deliver a service explicitly requested by the user (i.e. the bot challenge) may qualify as strictly necessary, but this must be assessed and documented.
Transfers to Russia
AntiBot Cloud processes data in Russia. Russia has no EU adequacy decision. Russian SORM legislation grants surveillance authorities access to communications without prior judicial control, which Schrems II made clear cannot be remedied by Standard Contractual Clauses alone. EU controllers must conduct a Transfer Impact Assessment and seriously consider whether the transfer can be justified at all.
Practical compliance steps
Document a DPIA covering the bot challenge processing, the cookie placement and the Russia transfer, conduct a TIA, sign SCCs with AntiBot Cloud, evaluate EU based alternatives such as Cloudflare Turnstile or Friendly Captcha, list AntiBot Cloud cookies and processing in your privacy policy and provide a fallback access path for users who do not pass the challenge.
AntiBot Cloud and the GDPR
AntiBot Cloud is classified as “Essential”. On a site that targets European visitors, it must only load after the visitor consents, and it must be listed in your cookie policy.
- Legal basis
- Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) for security and bot mitigation, with a documented Legitimate Interest Assessment. Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) and Art. 5(3) ePrivacy required for non strictly necessary cookies and for the international transfer to Russia.
- Risk level
- high
- Applicable regulations
- GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, NIS2 for security obligations, UK GDPR
Impact assessment (DPIA)
A DPIA is required because of the systematic processing of visitor data combined with a transfer to Russia, a country without adequacy. The DPIA should evaluate the risk of state access under Russian surveillance laws and consider EU based alternatives.
Sample text for your banner
This site uses AntiBot Cloud to protect against automated attacks. The service processes your IP and browser information on servers located in Russia. Please accept to enable bot protection or use the alternative access flow.
What AntiBot Cloud sets and contacts
- Tracking method
- JavaScript challenge based bot protection, IP reputation scoring, browser fingerprinting and behavioural analysis. Sets first party cookies to remember validated visitors and may serve a CAPTCHA challenge for suspicious traffic.
- Server location
- Russia (AntiBot Cloud is operated from the Russian Federation, antibot.cloud)
- Data transferred outside the EU
- Visitor IP, browser fingerprint and request metadata are processed in Russia. Russia has no EU adequacy decision and Schrems II considerations apply, with practical mitigation by SCCs being limited.
Cookies set (3)
| Name | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| bot_validated | first_party | 1 day | Marks the visitor as having passed the bot challenge so subsequent requests skip validation |
| abc_session | first_party | session | AntiBot Cloud session identifier used to correlate validated requests |
| abc_check | first_party | 30 minutes | Stores intermediate state during the JavaScript challenge |
Third-party domains contacted (3)
antibot.cloudcdn.antibot.cloudapi.antibot.cloud
Frequently asked questions about AntiBot Cloud
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What does AntiBot Cloud do?
AntiBot Cloud is a bot protection layer that intercepts incoming requests, scores them based on IP reputation, browser fingerprint and JavaScript behaviour, and either lets them through, presents a challenge or blocks them.
Does AntiBot Cloud require consent?
The cookies set by the bot challenge can in some cases qualify as strictly necessary under Article 5(3) ePrivacy. However, fingerprinting and IP based profiling combined with a Russia transfer mean that consent is the safest legal basis to rely on.
What is the legal basis for AntiBot Cloud?
Legitimate interest under Article 6(1)(f) GDPR for security and fraud prevention, supported by a Legitimate Interest Assessment. Consent is required to address ePrivacy obligations and to authorise the international transfer to Russia under Article 49.
Does AntiBot Cloud transfer data to third countries?
Yes. AntiBot Cloud is operated from Russia. Russia has no EU adequacy decision and Schrems II considerations limit the practical effectiveness of Standard Contractual Clauses. A Transfer Impact Assessment is mandatory.
Is a DPIA needed for AntiBot Cloud?
Yes. The combination of systematic visitor profiling, cookie placement and a transfer to Russia produces a high risk processing operation under Article 35 GDPR. A DPIA is required before deployment.
How do I implement AntiBot Cloud compliantly?
Run a DPIA and TIA, sign SCCs, configure a fallback access path for blocked users, document the LIA, list the cookies in your privacy policy, and provide a clear notice that data is processed in Russia.
What are EU based alternatives to AntiBot Cloud?
Cloudflare Turnstile, Friendly Captcha (Germany), hCaptcha (with EU region), Imperva Cloud WAF (with EU residency) and Sqreen (now Datadog) provide bot protection with EU residency or stronger transfer guarantees.
How do I update my cookie policy for AntiBot Cloud?
List the AntiBot Cloud session cookie, its purpose (bot challenge validation), its duration, the data controller contact, the processing location (Russia) and the lawful basis. Link to the AntiBot Cloud privacy notice.
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