Privacy is among the top concerns of the 21st century. Ever since we have developed the technology to monitor and record ourselves and each other, and to share information, we also saw the growing need to protect ourselves from misuse of it.
Proxies are among the essential tools that allow one to protect one’s privacy online. And what other proxies could ensure privacy better than private proxies? Read on to learn how to find and buy private proxy servers and all you need to know about before using them.
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Defining a proxy server
Proxies have become a common lingo in business and personal online usage, especially in the era of cyber threat awareness. Often people have heard that proxies help with privacy and security. But how exactly do they do it?
Whenever you visit a website your device makes a request to the server that hosts that webpage. Thus, the information exchange is typically between the device and this server. Proxies come in the middle of this relationship to act as a middleman for your benefit.
When you are using a proxy service, every request and response from the server goes through a proxy first. By positioning themselves this way, proxies protect your actual identity, asking the website for the information you need and never letting it find out your real IP address or any other information. Think of it as a messenger who does your bidding while you are protected from the harm it might involve.
Distinguishing proxies in terms of privacy
Proxies are all about online privacy. However, not all proxy servers are created equal. Or, more precisely, not all of them are used equally. The way you acquire your proxy server and on what terms the service is provided makes all the difference.
In this sense, we can put proxies into 4 categories with each one being more private than the last until we get to completely private proxies.
- Free proxies. These are the proxies you can just find listed on some websites. They are the complete opposite of private proxies. If you can find such a proxy, then others can do it, too, therefore you are definitely sharing the IP address with someone else. Even worse, such proxies might be scams to steal your personal data instead of protecting it. Thus, in most cases, it is advisable to avoid using such servers.
- Shared proxies. Shared proxies are the proxy servers you share with other users. All free proxies are shared proxies for the reasons noted above. Paid proxies, however, are also often shared. This makes them cost less for the user but also reduces privacy and control of what happens with the server.
- Semi-dedicated proxies. This type of proxy IP is also shared, but only with 1 or 2 other users. Thus, you could not call them private proxies, but they do give more privacy than shared ones which have no limit to how many users can connect to the same IP.
- Private proxies. Finally, here we have the motherload of internet privacy. Private proxies are completely dedicated to one user. Thus, using this type of proxy server means that you and only you have the IP address provided and no one else can connect to the same server while the rights to it belong to you.
There are reasons why one might want to trade off privacy for lower costs of shared proxies. However, if you can afford it, buy private proxies as nothing beats them in terms of features and benefits.
Key benefits of private proxies
Private proxies are the best proxy services can offer at the moment. The main benefits of this type of proxy are precisely the features users tend to look for when turning to proxy services.
- Private proxies are completely safe. Since no one else is using them, dedicated private proxies from a trusted provider ensure unmatched safety and privacy. There is no other user or shady owner of the server that could eavesdrop on your activities.
- As fast as they get. Using a private proxy with unlimited bandwidth means that no other connections can slow down yours. Thus, you can enjoy the peak performance of the proxy and carry out your tasks as fast as possible while using a secure solution.
- Best user experience. Having a dedicated proxy from a reliable provider means that you will always be taken care of. You can use the proxy as you please in accordance with the terms of the agreement and whenever you need help, the provider will answer your questions or suggest custom solutions.
- Complete control over what happens. Sharing a proxy adds a risk that due to something another user does, the IP address will get banned across crucial platforms. Private proxies allow for avoiding such unwanted neighborhood effects. Businesses especially prefer this solution to ensure the contingency of essential tasks.
These pivotal benefits are the reasons why private users and firms alike buy proxies when they find they prioritize privacy and performance.
Finding a proxy to share with no one
Private proxies are at the top of what the industry can offer. Thus, how do you find that perfect proxy server just for yourself? It all starts with getting to know the proxy market and identifying a trustworthy provider from whom you could buy private proxies.
Some of the providers will offer a free trial. This exception that proves the rule is where you can actually make use of free proxies securely. Use it to find out if the provider is right for you.
Additionally, often a high-quality proxy vendor will be able to answer your questions and give advice on your particular use cases. Thus, do not shy off from contacting them.
Finally, at the end of the day, private proxies are for your private use cases. Thus, the best you understand the task at hand, whether business or personal, the best you can tell who has the means to your ends. Learning about how proxies work and what you can achieve with them does not hurt either.
