The Internet has changed our lives in many ways, opening up new horizons and opportunities for every user. Basically, it opens the whole world of data and information, letting everyone put it to good use. However, such accessibility brings about security issues, as personal information is always exposed and can easily be tracked. The necessity to conceal sensitive data gave birth to numerous IT solutions, like proxy servers, which aim to protect the online presence of every user and provide their anonymity. Let’s clarify what the proxy servers are, and how to choose one when needing it.
What Is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server is a protective intermediary between the users and the global network. It works as a shield against cyber-attacks that can possibly enter the private network. The choice of the proxy service defines the qualitative performance of the user and one’s security. The choice of the proxy server needs to correspond with the client’s requests. The time-proven provider infatica proxies, can cater to all the technical needs and requests of the customers, providing a top-quality of service.
What Are the Benefits of Proxy Servers?
- Anonymous Browsing — the usage of a proxy helps to hide the IP address of the users and lets them surf safely.
- Web filtering — the usage of transparent proxies lets companies and organizations restrict certain websites from usage during working time.
- Security — implementation of proxies helps to protect the client’s resources from DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, malware, phishing attacks, MITM (man-in-the-middle) attacks, suspicious activities, etc.
- Web acceleration — proxy servers accelerate the speed of data exchange, and cache popular web resources, which makes data retrieval faster.
- Change of Geo-location — proxy servers allow to bypass restrictions related to location, which can stimulate Internet-based marketing activities (market research, web scraping, SEO, etc.).
How to Choose the Proxy Service?
Finding a proper proxy provider can be burdensome, as it is easy to get lost in the number of available options. The selection process should include a few major stages:
1. Defining the proxy type
Proxy servers serve different functions, so it is important to outline clearly the parameters. The are four types of proxies:
- Datacenter proxy — the IP addresses that are stored in datacenters. They are the fastest and most affordable because they have unlimited channels of IP supply, yet, they are the easiest to detect.
- Residential proxy — issued by ISPs (Internet Service Providers). They are assigned to real physical devices and they are hard to detect. They are slower than the datacenter proxies, yet cost more.
- ISP proxy addresses — a more advanced combination of residential and datacenter proxies, which provides a high speed of information exchange and high level of anonymity for users.
- Mobile proxy — the latest proxy type. The servers send traffic through mobile devices that are connected to networks of cellular network operators. Such IP addresses have the best reputation and can easily handle mobile-based websites.
2. Proxy pool size
The proxy pool is the number of IP addresses that exist within the network of a proxy provider. The pool size can be related to daily, weekly, and monthly unique servers. The bigger the pool is, the better, as it helps to cover more locations worldwide, helping to avoid location-sensitive issues.
3. User experience
The user experience is one of the most important features to consider, and it defines the comfort of every interaction with a proxy server. User experience comprises:
- Customer Service — the helpline is supposed to work 24/7, as the issues typically require immediate solutions. It is worth checking how responsive and helpful the assistants are before subscribing to one of their plans.
- Dashboard — a so-called management board, as it helps to monitor and control all the interactions with the proxy, the setting, statistics, active plans, etc.
- Proxy Management Tools — the most common tools are API, used by programmers to make adjustments to the functionality of the proxy, and the browser extensions.
- Documentation — the supporting documentation includes the start guide, integration instructions, FAQs and answers, guides for various programming languages, etc.
4. Testing
The performance of the proxy server should be verified first, as the marketing claims don’t always respond to the real performance. It is highly recommended to read the reviews online on Google, TrustPilot, or Blackhatworld, yet it is important to filter highly positive ones, as they may be sponsored. Besides, a lot of providers offer a free initial period, which can be used for testing as well.
5. Important Features
It is crucial to single out the features that will be actively used – IP rotation, location filtering, multiple account management, ad verification, etc. When discussing the list of features with the provider, it is important to be very specific, as every new characteristic adds up to the final price.
The Bottom Line
The proxy server is a key to a safe and secure online presence, it protects the users from cyber attacks and malware. The proxy servers establish the protective connection, encrypting all the data, thus, no one could intercept it. When aiming to create a safe environment for web browsing, the usage of proxy servers becomes a basic need for every user.
