There is one main difference between proxy and VPN. The proxy server only acts as a middleman between users and the websites they want to reach. It has an IP address of its own, so internet activities appear to be coming from somewhere else.
VPN, on the other hand, also changes users’ IP addresses but sends all traffic through an encrypted tunnel so that no one, not even the ISP, hackers, or government, can monitor what you do online, steal data, enforce surveillance, or hack devices. They can only see that the users are connected to the VPN server of their choice.
Is VPN a proxy?
Yes. A VPN is a proxy because it offers an intermediate server and changes IP address, but a VPN is also much more than that. A VPN can serve as a proxy, but a proxy can’t serve as a VPN.
Why is it important to hide IP address?
IP address is the digital address of your device. It contains your geographical location and ISP. Hackers can use it as a starting point for launching targeted attacks against your devices.
Changing IP address to one from another country can help bypass government censorship in countries where internet access is restricted.
Types of proxy servers
On the basic level, all proxies work on the same principle. Instead of contacting the website directly, your computer sends all traffic to the proxy first. The proxy forwards your request to the target website, downloads the information, and passes it back to you.
However, there are different types of proxy servers. The most common are:
Forward proxy
Forward proxy is the most common type of proxy. Users route their traffic through a forward proxy that masks their IP address.
Reverse proxy
Reverse proxy is a server that sits between clients and one or more backend servers, routing client requests to the appropriate backend server and delivering the server’s response back to the client. While forward proxy protects the client, reverse proxy protects the server.
SOCKS5 proxy
SOCKS5 is a proxy that uses Socket Secure version 5 protocol. This protocol facilitates communication between a client and a server through a proxy. It supports different types of traffic and authentication methods.
Transparent proxy
A transparent proxy, also known as an inline proxy, intercepting proxy, or forced proxy, intercepts all requests to the internet. Users are often unaware that their requests are being routed. It also doesn’t mask IP address, so a user’s actual IP address is made public in the HTTP header.
High anonymity proxy
High anonymity or elite proxy doesn’t inform the destination server that a proxy is being used. Instead, it looks like the user’s internet requests originate directly from their device.
Proxy chain
A proxy chain refers to a series of two or more proxy servers that are linked together. Each server in the chain only knows the IP address of the previous and next servers in the chain, but not the original user or the final destination, enhancing privacy.
Proxy vs. VPN: Security
Proxy servers don’t encrypt connections. With a VPN, all traffic is hidden from prying eyes, and there is no leakage from poorly configured apps. Proxy works only with a single app or service, while a VPN works on an operating system level and secures all your internet traffic.
End-to-end encryption of VPNs ensures that even if data is intercepted, hackers will not be able to use it since it needs decryption.
So, send sensitive details only through a VPN.
Proxy vs. VPN: Speed
Proxies, especially free ones, usually have bad infrastructure and support, resulting in slower connections. Also, proxies usually have many more users than VPNs, and their servers can be overloaded, which also slows connections.
On the other hand, top or paid proxy servers have decent infrastructure, and users shouldn’t have any problems with speed.
VPNs can be slower because they need to encrypt data before routing it further. Also, VPN servers far away from the user’s location can slow down connection speed.
To sum it up, top proxy and top VPN should have the right technology and maintenance protocols to minimize the decrease in connection speed.
Proxy vs. VPN: Price
Both VPNs and proxies have free and paid plans. However, a VPN service is generally more expensive than a paid proxy.
Proxy vs. VPN: Reliability
A VPN connection is more reliable, while proxy server connections drop more frequently. If the connection is lost, the VPN and proxy will disconnect, but the VPN has a kill switch and won’t reveal the IP address on disconnect but will disable the internet connection entirely. Also, proxies are easily detectable and can be disconnected, banned, or throttled.
Proxy vs. VPN: Features
While a proxy server just changes the IP address, a VPN service has a lot more features. The kill switch will terminate the connection if the VPN becomes disabled, thus preventing security leaks. Split tunnelling allows users to choose which applications will use a connection encrypted by VPN and which won’t. Multihop routes connection through multiple servers. Smartguard blocks ads, trackers, and malicious software.
Can I use a VPN and proxy together?
It is possible but not recommended. Setting up both a VPN and a proxy can be more complex and might require more technical knowledge to ensure everything works as intended without leaking your actual IP address. A VPN–proxy combo will add an extra layer of security but will also reroute the connection twice, slowing down speed and causing connection instability.
Here’s how to use them together:
Sequential Use
Connect to a VPN and then configure your browser or another application to use a proxy server. This way, your traffic is first encrypted by the VPN and then passed through the proxy server.
Parallel Use
In another scenario, you might use a VPN for most of your internet traffic but configure a specific application to use a proxy server. This might be useful if you want to appear to be in two different locations at the same time or if you want to bypass restrictions or filtering applied at the VPN server level.
Should I use a free proxy or a free VPN?
There’s an inherent risk with both free proxies and VPNs. Some may inject ads into your browsing experience, sell your data, or even expose you to malware.
Free services usually have limitations such as data caps, speed throttling, fewer server locations, and simultaneous connection limits.
Research and select services with good reputations, like hide.me VPN. Hide.me VPN invests heavily in its infrastructure and provides top-notch encryption. It offers a rich server base, the fastest VPN protocols, 24/7 customer support, and continuous service improvement. Also, hide.me VPN complies with no-log policies, and independent audits are used to ascertain the validity of these promises.
To summarize, if you want to use a free service, VPN is a better option because of enhanced security, but be careful to choose a reliable provider.
Which is Better: VPN or Proxy?
VPN is better in terms of security and reliability. If you want to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot or send sensitive information, a VPN is a must.
If you only need to mask your IP address from a single source and are concerned about the cost, you should use a proxy server. Proxy servers are also useful for personal purposes and smaller tasks if you do not care about security.
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