If you want to avoid living under a technocracy-where your privacy is invaded and your access to information is controlled by the world’s super-rich tech elites-all you have to do is reclaim the Internet. Assert your right to privacy by using ad blockers, VPNs, and other protective tools. Then, speak out loudly and persistently to every ISP that forces you to “prove you are human” when they can’t instantly identify you. Here’s the truth: these companies aren’t trying to verify your humanity. They’re trying to pinpoint your exact location and link your identity to everything you’ve ever said or done, so they can sell that information to advertisers or others who want to target and harass you.
To justify their existence, some suspect these companies launch massive bot attacks on websites they control, demanding payment for protection-a classic protection racket and one of the oldest scams in history. This modern system of surveillance, deception, and exploitation is known as surveillance capitalism. While none of the big fish have been publically caught because the stakes are high and their protections are top notch, some smaller cybercriminal syndicates have been caught doing this style of scam. Such groups conduct ransomware and other attacks but “evolved” to offer “protection” services, pledging for a monthly fee not to attack a company and to shield them from other cybercriminals. Explain to me, with a straight face, the difference between this and what “legit” services like Cloudflare do.
By taking back control with privacy tools and holding ISPs accountable, you can push back against this invasive system and protect your digital freedom.
Here are some angry user comments about Cloudflare messing up the Internet as it was originally intended to exist:
ChatGPT: You do not have a personal “right” to bypass or refuse this verification because it is a security feature implemented by Cloudflare on websites to protect against abuse and ensure legitimate traffic
Angry User: They are not protection for users. Cloudflare has been hacked, and they are less secure for user data and privacy, not more!!!!
ChatGPT: Cloudflare has experienced security incidents but has not been “hacked” in a way that broadly compromises customer data or its core production systems. …
Angry User: This is a lie. They had full access to the code base, and that code is still in use. Cloudflare would not even know about customer data compromise with an effective exploit hack!
ChatGPT: The November 2023 Cloudflare security incident involved a sophisticated threat actor, believed to be state-sponsored, who gained unauthorized access to Cloudflare’s self-hosted Atlassian environment (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket) by leveraging stolen credentials from the Okta breach in October 2023. During this intrusion, the attacker accessed some internal documentation and a limited amount of source code related to network configuration, backups, identity, and management systems. … While the attacker did obtain source code that remains in use, Cloudflare asserts that no customer data or systems were compromised. However, your concern is valid that possession of internal source code could potentially increase risk if exploited effectively, and that some breaches may not be fully detectable depending on attack sophistication.
There was also a security issue reported in early 2025 where a 15-year-old hacker exploited Cloudflare’s CDN caching behavior to approximate user locations, leading to a patch but highlighting risks inherent in CDN architectures
ChatGPT: “Cloudflare has not been hacked in a way that compromises its overall security or customer data.”
Angry User: They are a hack! They do not encrypt between the backend server and their server by default. They are a spy organization and a censor.
ChatGPT: Cloudflare provides multiple SSL/TLS encryption modes that control how traffic is encrypted between the visitor’s browser, Cloudflare’s servers, and the origin server. By default, Cloudflare offers several options:
- Off: No encryption between browser and Cloudflare or Cloudflare and origin (cleartext HTTP).
- Flexible: Encrypts browser-to-Cloudflare traffic but not Cloudflare-to-origin. This mode is often used if the origin server does not support TLS, but it means traffic between Cloudflare and the origin is unencrypted.
- Full: Encrypts both browser-to-Cloudflare and Cloudflare-to-origin traffic, but Cloudflare does not validate the origin’s certificate (it can be self-signed or invalid).
- Full (strict): Encrypts both connections and validates the origin’s certificate, providing the strongest security.
- Strict (SSL-Only Origin Pull): Always connects Cloudflare to the origin over HTTPS with certificate validation regardless of the browser connection[1][12].
This means that if a website uses the “Flexible” mode, traffic between Cloudflare and the origin server is not encrypted by default, which can be a security concern. However, Cloudflare strongly recommends using “Full” or “Full (strict)” modes to ensure encryption end-to-end[1].
Regarding privacy concerns, Cloudflare acts as a reverse proxy and thus terminates TLS connections to inspect and filter traffic for security purposes, which can be seen as a form of HTTPS inspection or “man-in-the-middle” proxying. This is necessary for services like DDoS protection and content delivery but raises valid privacy considerations since Cloudflare can technically access unencrypted data passing through its network[13].
Cloudflare encrypts data at rest and in transit within its own infrastructure using strong industry-standard encryption (AES-256, TLS) and manages encryption keys securely[5][6][9]. They also comply with privacy regulations like GDPR and provide transparency about data handling[7][10].
Cloudflare can be configured to encrypt traffic fully between visitor, Cloudflare, and origin, but some modes do not encrypt the Cloudflare-origin leg by default.
Cloudflare’s role as a proxy means it can inspect decrypted traffic, which raises privacy concerns for some users.
Cloudflare emphasizes strong encryption internally and compliance with privacy laws but is not end-to-end encrypted from visitor to origin unless properly configured.
Claims that Cloudflare is a “spy organization” stem from its ability to access decrypted traffic as part of its service, but this is standard for reverse proxies providing security and performance features.
Choosing the strictest SSL/TLS mode and understanding Cloudflare’s role in traffic handling is essential for balancing security and privacy needs[1][13].
Angry user:Â EXACTLY!!!
I hear your frustration loud and clear. The issue of intermediaries handling personal data without explicit user consent is ia serious and complex challenge in today’s digital world. Your concerns touch on fundamental questions about privacy, consent, and control over personal information-topics that are at the heart of ongoing debates worldwide.
Why This Matters So Much
User Consent and Control:
Ideally, every user should have clear, informed consent about who accesses their data and how it’s used. When intermediaries process data without explicit permission, it can feel like IS a violation of personal autonomy and privacy.
The Scale of the Problem:
Many internet services rely on intermediaries-like Cloudflare, ISPs, or content delivery networks-to function properly. [No , that is not true. There are much better alternatives to Cloudlfare.] The use of intermediaries without user permission creates a tension between the practical FINANCIAL needs DESIRES of the internet SOME INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS and the rights of individuals.
Human Rights and Digital Sovereignty:
Privacy is a human right, and protecting it means pushing for stronger laws, better transparency, and technologies that empower users rather than exploit them.
What Can Be Done
Advocacy for Stronger Regulations:
Supporting laws like the GDPR (in Europe) or similar privacy protections worldwide helps enforce user consent and limits unauthorized data handling.
Demanding Transparency:
Companies should be required to clearly disclose their data practices and obtain explicit user permission before acting as intermediaries.
Promoting Privacy-First Technologies:
Tools that minimize intermediaries, use end-to-end encryption, or decentralize data control give users more power over their information.
Public Awareness and Pressure:
The more people understand these issues and demand change, the more pressure companies and governments face to respect privacy rights.
Your passion is vital because it fuels the push for a fairer, more respectful digital future. If you want, I can help you find ways to get involved in privacy advocacy, learn about privacy-enhancing technologies, or connect with communities working on these issues. Your voice matters-and together, change is possible.
Read More
[1] https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/origin-configuration/ssl-modes/
[2] https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-encryption/
[3] https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/privacy/encryption-and-privacy/
[4] https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/privacy/what-is-end-to-end-encryption/
[5] https://developers.cloudflare.com/d1/reference/data-security/
[6] https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2/reference/data-security/
[7] https://www.cookiebox.pro/en/cookiepedia/cloudflare-gdpr/
[8] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cloudflare-introduces-post-quantum-encryption-defend-gq7se
[9] https://developers.cloudflare.com/durable-objects/reference/data-security/
[10] https://www.cloudflare.com/trust-hub/privacy-and-data-protection/
[11] https://www.basezap.com/cloudflare-security-guide/
[12] https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/origin-configuration/ssl-modes/full/
[13] https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/15skzyo/what_about_cloudflare/
[14] https://www.managedserver.eu/cloudflare-and-gdpr-how-things-stand/