The internet is fun and useful, no doubt. However, everything you do online leaves a digital footprint. Anyone anywhere can see your activities online. That sounds a bit creepy but it is what it is.
This vulnerability has exposed many individuals and businesses to cyber threats like malware, Denial-ofService (DoS), phishing and SQL injection. Unfortunately, these menaces are not going anywhere anytime soon, as in 2022 alone, there were 493.33 million ransomware attacks globally.
Now, there’s an old saying that for every pencil, there’s an eraser. Yes, the internet exposes you to intrusion but there are ways to protect your privacy. Proxies are one of these ways. They help you manage the invasive environment of the digital realm.
Sadly, not everyone is aware of proxies or how to harness them. Thankfully, you’re out of that league. By the time you finish reading this article, your eyes will be open to how you can navigate the digital waters with anonymity and privacy, smartly avoiding online sharks.
Contents
What are proxies
Remember those childhood fantasies we all had – where we went to strange lands with different identities and observed new people and their ways without anyone knowing who we really were? Well, someone took those fantasies a little more seriously and created proxies.
So, what is a proxy? A proxy plays the role of an intermediary or middleman on the internet. So, instead of using your Internet Protocol (IP) address to browse the internet, your proxy assigns your system a new IP address.
It’s like wanting to buy stuff from a store and instead of filling in your home address for delivery, you fill in your proxy address. The items get delivered to your proxy address and no one knows you don’t live there.
Now imagine someone planning to attack you in your home, based on the form you filled out at the store. They’ll be directed to the proxy address, not your real one. That way, you’d have protected yourself from harm.
With proxies, your true identity is protected and you have more anonymity and privacy online. You can carry out personal and corporate activities without leaving digital footprints or being hounded by cyber criminals.
Types of proxies
Veils come in different colors, designs and shapes. So do proxies, a form of online veil. There are many types of proxies and they serve different purposes. Here are some:
Residential proxy
Residential proxy providers offer you an IP address that can be traced to a particular residence and device in a different city and country. A residential proxy gives you access to websites only available to residences in certain cities and countries. This access lets you get data you would ordinarily not get using your original IP address.
Mobile proxy
With mobile proxies, the IP addresses are linked to mobile networks and devices. However, mobile proxies are not limited to mobile devices. Other devices can be used as long as it’s a mobile network IP that’s being used.
Public proxy
As the name implies, public proxies are open to everyone. As long as you’re an internet user, you can use them free of charge. They can be found on various proxy lists online. The shortfall of public proxies is unreliable security as their moderators are often anonymous, so you don’t know who has access to your browsing data.
Unlike public proxies that are free and open to everyone, shared proxies come at a cost, even though they’re cheap. A group of people come together to pay for a proxy service with some benefits like customer support. The moderators are not anonymous like public proxies, so there are terms and conditions.
Shared proxies are more secure and reliable than public proxies since you can put a face to your provider and hold them responsible for any data breach. One disadvantage of this proxy is the slow speed that occurs when subscribers are performing traffic-intensive tasks at the same time.
Private proxy
A private proxy is dedicated to you only. This exclusivity comes with faster speed and better security and reliability. However, it also comes at a huge cost. Also, using a particular proxy consistently for a long period reduces anonymity.
This list of proxies is not exhaustive. We have other types of proxies like static residential proxies, datacenter proxies, reverse proxies, transparent proxies, anonymous proxies and elite proxies. The one you choose will depend on your needs and budget.
4 Factors to consider when getting proxies
When you shop blindly, you make mistakes that could sometimes be irreversible. However, when you shop with an informed mind, you make smart purchases. In the same vein, knowing what to look out for in proxies before investing in one determines the benefits you’ll get. Find out which boxes the proxies you’re buying have to tick.
Your needs
The activities you intend to perform online will determine the type of proxy you choose. Therefore, getting a proxy provider that offers services that suit your tasks should be a priority. Do you want to shop or web scrape? Do you plan to do a business comparative analysis across regions? Ensure you analyze your needs before making a decision.
Security
One of the main reasons people use proxies is to protect themselves from malicious online elements. So, whichever proxy you’re choosing must have robust security features. It must be capable of shielding you from malware and other cyber attacks.
For example, public proxies are not for you if you’re big on security (and you should). They don’t provide adequate protection and using them will only make you vulnerable not only to internet sharks but to the providers themselves. Ensure you opt for a proxy with SSL encryption for data protection.
IP pool size
When choosing a proxy, a good question is how large the IP pool is. How many IP addresses does the provider control? The answer will determine if you’ll go for the proxy or not. For example, datacenter proxies are not the best for you if you need a large IP pool. They’re limited by their subnets.
Whatever your needs are, ensure you stay on the side of caution and buy the largest proxy pool your budget can accommodate. You might think this factor doesn’t matter initially, but as your business grows, you’ll be glad you opted for a proxy with a large IP pool.
Performance
Every service provider makes promises. What matters is that they keep the promise. Find out the performance level of the proxy you’re about to purchase. How fast is it? Does it cover the locations it promises to cover? Answers to these and other performance questions will inform your decision.
If the provider offers a free trial, use it to gauge performance. If not, scout for reviews from past and existing customers. This will give you an idea of how well the proxy performs and if it suits your needs.
4 Benefits of using proxies
There’s a reason proxies exist in the first place – they solve certain problems for users. So, what solutions do proxies bring to the digital landscape? Better put, what do you stand to gain from investing in proxies? Fetch your answers below.
Privacy
Remember where we started? Having your business out there for the world to access is not the safest or most strategic decision. Proxies solve this online privacy problem and help remove your business from prying eyes. Your IP address becomes invisible and your privacy, intact.
Protection from cyber threats
Proxies protect you from hackers and malware as you go about your business. Routing your internet connection through a proxy server gives you an extra layer of protection from dangerous cybersecurity threats. These threats are blocked before getting access to your network or devices.
Access to prohibited sites
With proxies, you avoid site blocking and content restrictions applicable to your IP address. Proxies give you a new identity that lets you bypass these restrictions and obtain resources you would ordinarily not have access to.
Filtration and control
Proxies allow you to filter sites visited, especially in a corporate environment. They let you monitor and control sites your staff visits. With this solution, you can block certain sites like social media during office hours for more concentration.
Get the best out of cyberspace with proxies
You can’t eat your cake and have it. Well, except you’re using proxies. It’s the only time you get to eat that cake and still have it. You get to carry out your business online without the side effect of privacy violations and cyber attacks.
The type of proxy you choose will depend on your needs, the security it provides, IP pool size and performance. Aside from giving you that cloak of privacy and keeping you anonymous, proxies also shield you from cyber threats, give you access to prohibited sites and let you filter and control sites.
Navigating the digital world just became less worrisome with proxies. These solutions douse your fears about privacy and security and give you the confidence to make the best out of the promising cyberspace. And the best part? It keeps getting better.
Moyofade Ipadeola is an SEO Writer, UX Writer and Editor. Witty, she loves personal development and helping people grow. Mo, as she’s fondly called, is fascinated by all things tech. She can be reached on Linkedin.
