The blog post details a method for detecting and disrupting automated Chromium-based browsers, often used for malicious purposes like scraping or credential stuffing. The technique exploits a quirk in how these browsers handle JavaScript's navigator.webdriver property, which is typically true for automated instances but false for legitimate user browsers. By injecting JavaScript code that checks this property and subsequently triggers a browser crash (e.g., an infinite loop or memory exhaustion) if it's true, websites can selectively disable or deter unwanted bot activity. This approach is presented as a simple yet effective way to combat automated threats, although the ethical implications and potential for false positives are acknowledged.
Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, a towering figure of 20th and 21st-century literature, has died. The Peruvian writer, known for his prolific and politically charged novels, essays, and plays, explored themes of power, corruption, and individual freedom against the backdrop of Latin American society. His works, including "The Time of the Hero," "Conversation in the Cathedral," and "The Feast of the Goat," garnered international acclaim for their complex characters, intricate plots, and unflinching portrayal of societal ills. Vargas Llosa's influence extended beyond literature, as he actively participated in Peruvian politics, even running for president in 1990. His death marks the end of a remarkable literary career that spanned decades and left an indelible mark on the world.
HN commenters react to Vargas Llosa's death with a mix of appreciation and criticism. Some praise his literary contributions, particularly "The War of the End of the World," and his defense of liberal values. Others criticize his political stances, viewing him as too conservative, and some bring up controversial personal life choices. A few commenters note the irony of his death shortly after an erroneous obituary was published. Several discuss his Nobel Prize and his prolific writing career, with some recommending entry points for those unfamiliar with his work. A recurring theme is the contrast between his impressive literary talent and his sometimes questionable political and personal decisions.
Playwright-MCP provides tools to simplify testing and automation of Microsoft Control Plane (MCP) services. It offers utilities for authenticating to Azure, interacting with Azure Resource Manager (ARM), and managing resources like subscriptions and resource groups. The toolkit aims to streamline common tasks encountered when working with MCP, allowing developers to focus on testing their services rather than boilerplate code. This includes helpers for handling long-running operations, managing role assignments, and interacting with specific Azure services.
Hacker News users discussed the potential benefits and drawbacks of Playwright's new tools for managing multiple Chromium profiles. Several commenters expressed excitement about the improved debugging experience and the potential for streamlining complex workflows that involve multiple logins or user profiles. Some raised concerns about potential performance overhead and the complexity of managing numerous profiles, particularly in CI/CD environments. Others questioned the need for a dedicated tool, suggesting that existing browser profile management features or containerization solutions might suffice. The conversation also touched on the broader context of Playwright's evolution and its position in the web testing landscape, comparing it to Selenium and Cypress. A few users requested clarification on specific functionalities, like profile isolation and resource consumption.
A recently rediscovered play by Toni Morrison, Dreaming Emmett, written in 1986 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emmett Till's murder, offers new insights into her later masterpiece, Beloved. The play, centered on Till's ghost revisiting key figures in his life and the trial, grapples with themes of racial violence, memory, and the struggle for justice, all prominent in Beloved. Scholars see Dreaming Emmett as a crucial stepping stone in Morrison's exploration of historical trauma and its enduring impact, revealing how she developed her signature blend of realism and surrealism to give voice to the silenced. The play's emphasis on cyclical violence and the importance of remembering resonates powerfully with the themes of haunting and unresolved grief found in her iconic novel.
HN commenters discuss Toni Morrison's lost play, "Dreaming Emmett," and its influence on Beloved. Some highlight the play's focus on the cyclical nature of racial trauma and its exploration of Emmett Till's murder through different perspectives, including his mother's grief and the imagined responses of figures like Jackie Robinson. Others express excitement at the possibility of the play finally being produced and draw parallels between Morrison's theatrical approach and Greek tragedies. Several commenters also mention the poignant timing of the play's rediscovery amidst ongoing racial injustice and note the connection between historical trauma and present-day struggles. One commenter notes the irony of Morrison having called the play "unstageable" while others suggest that its experimental nature might have made it challenging for audiences of that era.
Summary of Comments ( 11 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43916622
HN commenters largely discussed the ethics and efficacy of the proposed bot detection method. Some argued that intentionally crashing browsers is harmful, potentially disrupting legitimate automation tasks and accessibility tools. Others questioned the long-term effectiveness, predicting bots would adapt. Several suggested alternative approaches, including using progressively more difficult challenges or rate limiting. The discussion also touched on the broader issue of the arms race between bot developers and website owners, and the collateral damage it can cause. A few commenters shared anecdotes of encountering similar anti-bot measures. One commenter pointed out a potential legal grey area regarding intentionally damaging software accessing a website.
The Hacker News post titled "Detect and crash Chromium bots" generated a modest discussion with several interesting comments. Several commenters focused on the ethical and practical implications of the technique described in the article (detecting and crashing Chromium-based bots by exploiting a quirk in how they handle oversized canvas elements).
One commenter questioned the ethics of intentionally crashing bots, suggesting it could be considered a denial-of-service attack. They argued that while the technique may be effective against malicious bots, it could also harm legitimate web scraping tools or accessibility software that rely on Chromium. This raised a concern about the potential for collateral damage and the responsibility of developers to avoid harming non-malicious actors.
Another user pointed out the potential for an "arms race" between bot developers and website maintainers. They predicted that bot developers would quickly adapt to this technique, finding ways to circumvent the oversized canvas check. This would lead to an ongoing cycle of detection and evasion, with both sides constantly trying to outsmart each other.
A practical concern raised by a commenter was the potential for false positives. They suggested that certain legitimate users with unusual browser configurations or extensions might also be affected by this technique. This could lead to a poor user experience for those individuals.
Several users discussed alternative approaches to bot detection and mitigation. These included using established bot detection services, employing CAPTCHAs, and rate limiting. The general sentiment was that while the canvas trick might be a useful short-term tactic, it was not a robust long-term solution. More comprehensive and adaptable methods are necessary for effective bot management.
One user noted the irony of using a browser vulnerability to detect and crash bots based on that same browser. They found it amusing that the very technology being used for bot development was also its potential downfall.
Finally, one commenter offered a more technical explanation of why this technique works, delving into the specifics of how Chromium handles canvas elements and memory allocation. They suggested that the oversized canvas triggers an out-of-memory error, leading to the crash.