Look up who runs a leak site and you will often see Cloudflare. It is tempting to think Cloudflare hosts the site. In most cases it does not.
What Cloudflare is
Cloudflare sits in front of millions of websites to speed them up and protect them from attacks. Visitors connect to Cloudflare, and Cloudflare connects to the server where the site really lives. That server belongs to a different company, the host.
What happens with your report
Cloudflare has an abuse form for copyright complaints. For sites it doesn’t host, it generally passes the complaint on to the site owner and the host, rather than removing anything itself.
Your details may be passed onRead what the form says about sharing your report before you send it. Use an agent or a separate email.
What works instead
- 01Send the notice to the siteThrough its own contact or form, first.
- 02Then to the real hostIf the site ignores you, the company that actually hosts it can act.
- 03Delist from searchGoogle and Bing removals work no matter who hosts the site.
- 04Keep watchingSites behind Cloudflare often move hosts or domains.
FAQ
Can Cloudflare remove a leak site?For sites it only protects, it usually forwards complaints rather than removing content.
Is it worth reporting to Cloudflare at all?It can help get your complaint to the host, but it is rarely the step that removes content.
How do I know who the real host is?It is not always visible. A takedown service can handle that part for you.
Does Google delisting work for Cloudflare sites?Yes. Search delisting does not depend on the host.
Written by the Lock Leaks TeamWe remove leaked content for creators and agencies every day. Every guide is based on real cases our team handles.
