Why you Should Never Use a Free Proxy

Navigating the internet in 2022 is a very personal experience. Some users love the convenience and association of their real identity and location with their actions online, while advocates for online privacy and anonymity feel uncomfortable and terrified about the exposure of private information.

Even as we try to use modern smartphones and digital devices, initial hardware and software setups require association with private user data. Staying off the grid becomes impossible after the creation of social media and email accounts. As our messages, decisions, and even browsing habits are permanently logged, the knowledge about the ongoing information collection makes technically proficient internet users paranoid about the future of information technologies.

While the loss of anonymity online is unsalvageable, protecting important segments of private user information is essential to ensure a better browsing experience. In this article, we will discuss the most popular option for privacy preservation — proxy servers. We will go over the basic functionality of proxies, their types, and use cases, as well as warn users about the dangers of free, public proxy servers. With the help of legitimate providers, you can enjoy a stable service and its customizable features, either for casual browsing or for profitable ventures that depend on anonymity and other benefits provided by proxy servers.

How Proxy Servers Work

The information in an IP address shows third parties your approximate location and internet service provider. As HTTP headers reach their destination, recipients can use this information to alter the information transmitted back to you and change displayed ads, language, or even the whole layout of a page stored in a web server. Such control helps us set up the most convenient versions of a page based on user location, but it also allows page owners to choose which addresses or even entire countries and regions cannot enter the website.

In some countries around the world, governments enforce internet service providers to block off portions of the web. An average user rarely has a say in such manipulation and falls under the umbrella of restrictions.

This is where the benefits of proxy servers come in. With the help of a good provider, you receive an intermediary server in a location you have access to, and they deliver information packets to the final destination for you. This way, an HTTP header will no longer have your address therefore restrictions on both your side and the receiving and will not apply. Legitimate proxy providers have many proxies to choose from, and you protect a significant portion of private user data while using them.

Having an extra stop will affect your connection speed. You can also check used servers with a proxy checker to see the best options for you. The further the proxy is from your physical location, the bigger speed loss you will have to endure. If your current region has access to all websites you intend to visit, choosing a proxy near you will guarantee greater stability and speed without data exposure.

Everyone Needs Proxy Servers

Both big companies and freelancers use proxies to utilize geolocation changes and scalability obtained from using multiple IP addresses at the same time. For example, individuals seeking a profitable side hustle, use proxy servers to manage fake social media accounts without tying them to a single address or increase their chance of successful purchases of sneakers and other rare goods for reselling. Sneaker proxies are the ones getting much attention due to their unique benefits in this niche. Combined with extensive knowledge about the world of limited-edition sports apparel, sneakerheads choose sneaker proxies because they advertise as the best proxies for bots that automate checkouts and dominate limited sales online.

Proxies are More Versatile Than Vpns

Today, Virtual Private Networks (VPN) keep receiving publicity as the ultimate tool for online privacy. While their aggressive marketing keeps paying off, the intended use case for VPNs is the encryption of data packets while using a public network. In any other instance, proxy servers are cheaper and much easier to use while leaving room for scalability. When connecting to a VPN, your connection to the internet gets altered. With a list of good proxy servers, you can diversify your access to the web and use different identities for your connections.

Stay Away from Free Proxies

Public proxies lure in beginner users because they are free but gullible web surfers do not realize that there are not only disadvantages but also a hidden danger to your digital privacy while using them. Because most cases, there is no way of knowing about the third party behind the IP address your browsing session may be altered by additional ads and enforcement into unsafe connections. Public addresses are a highway to unstable internet speed, unknown locations, constant blacklisting, and interference from cybercriminals. Proxyway — a trusted community blog that provides valuable insights on the world of proxies, offers an annual list of the best providers, with extensive details on their strengths and weaknesses. Choose the right deal for you or the most affordable option for the current situation and avoid the uncertainty and danger of public proxy servers.