Using Zip Bombs to Defend Servers Against Malicious Bots

The article discusses the author’s experience with protecting servers from malicious bots using a technique known as a ‘zip bomb’. Bots are increasingly responsible for the majority of web traffic, with many of them being used for legitimate purposes like indexing or RSS feeds. However, others are malicious, engaging in activities like spamming or hacking. The author shares a personal experience of dealing with bots that exploited vulnerabilities, turning servers into botnets or causing service disruptions. To combat this, the author created zip bombs, small compressed files that decompress into enormous files, effectively crashing bots when they attempt to extract them. The process of creating zip bombs is outlined, along with safety precautions. While zip bombs are an effective defense against unsophisticated bots, the author acknowledges that they are not foolproof and can be circumvented by more advanced bots. The piece serves as both a warning and a guide for those seeking to protect their servers from malicious web traffic.