A few days ago an American using Hostinger download a 5MB .pdf 180 times.
I'm sure it wasn't malicious therefore technically how could this happen?
thecoalman
10:30 pm on Jul 9, 2026 (gmt 0)
That's a host if it's not obvious, any request would be from server. Whoever controls it could be running scraper bot running amok or it's compromised and they are running scraper bot.
Is there anything on the page that could make the URL unique? e.g. example,com/file.php?id=12345&token=unique_string
Kendo
11:59 am on Jul 10, 2026 (gmt 0)
It could be a failed download and retrying. Why? Lack of write permissions on the folder it was being saved to, or a timeout.
RedBar
12:09 pm on Jul 10, 2026 (gmt 0)
Yep, I am aware of Hostinger, I mentioned it in case anyone else had a similar experience.
Is there anything on the page that could make the URL unique? e.g. example,com/file.php?id=12345&token=unique_string
Clean as a whistle, simply pdf/widget-product-name.pdf and guess what, it's not been downloaded since!
All other pdf downloads are normal.
RedBar
2:07 pm on Jul 12, 2026 (gmt 0)
And at 02.30 this morning a lock-on to a different pdf, 90 times at 3mb ... 180 the first time, 90 the second, the only outward connection is that they're both Italian widget pdfs, puzzling.
lucy24
5:14 pm on Jul 12, 2026 (gmt 0)
From the same IP, you mean? Why weren't they blocked the first time?
Speculating about robotic motivations is entertaining, but you only do it after you've done whatever you can to stop it from recurring.
