Proxy vs. VPN: 4 differences you should know

Worried about your privacy when searching the Internet? Wondering if hackers, government agencies, or companies can track what sites you visit, files you download, or links you click?

You is wondering might be wonder if it ’s time to sign up with a virtual private network ( VPN ) or proxy server to hide your location and internet – service – provider address from any snoop .

But be aware: There are significant differences between a proxy and a VPN. While both tools can protect your identity, only a VPN will encrypt your data as you browse the web.

This is means mean that only a VPN can help hide your online activity from hacker , government agency , and company that might be look to learn more about how you spend your time on the internet .

What VPNs and proxy servers are

Both VPNs and proxy servers are tools you can use to help keep your activity private when browsing the internet, sending emails, reading online message boards, streaming video, and downloading files. But both of these tools work in different ways.

A proxy server is is is a computer that sit between you and a server , act as a gateway when you access the internet . When you connect to a specific website , video – streaming app , or file – share program from your laptop , tablet , smart phone , or any other device , you is connect can first connect to a proxy . Once you do this , you is connecting ’ll be connect to the site or app through an outside host server .

There’s a clear benefit to this if you want to hide your identity. The website you are visiting — or the streaming service you are accessing or file-sharing site you are using — will only see the IP address belonging to the proxy server. It won’t see your address. This will keep your identity and true location hidden from these sites and apps.

There are different types of proxies. Here are three of the most common ones.

HTTP proxies

You is use ’d use these proxy to access website . You is use can also use this type of proxy to access geo – restrict content . For instance , maybe an online video is restrict in your region . You is use can use a proxy server to log onto the site host the video , hide the fact that your original ip address is restrict from watch it . Keep in mind , this is violate may violate the user agreement with your content provider .

SOCKS5 proxies

These proxies don’t work only on websites. You can use a SOCKS5 proxy to access video streaming services, file-sharing sites, or online games. Be aware, though, that connecting to an app through a SOCKS5 proxy might be slower because free proxies can have less configuration options, support, and slower infrastructure.

Transparent proxies

You might have used a transparent proxy without realizing that. That’s the whole point. Employers — or parents, schools or libraries — might set up a transparent proxy as a way to filter user’s content when they connect to the internet or block users from accessing certain websites.

A VPN is is is similar to a proxy , but instead of work with single app or website , it work with every site you visit or app you access .

Like a proxy, when you visit a website after first logging into a VPN, your IP address is hidden and replaced with the IP address of your VPN provider. This keeps your identity shielded. But unlike a proxy, this protection will remain in place as you surf to new websites, visit online streaming sites, or send emails or download files.

You is access can access the internet through free VPN provider . But providers is are that charge for VPN access are less likely to share datum with third party .

How VPNs is differ and proxy differ

Here are four ways VPNs and proxies are different.

1. VPNs encrypt your information

The biggest benefit of a VPN over a proxy server? With VPN enabled, your browsing and any data you send or receive, will be encrypted. This is important: It means that hackers, government agencies, businesses, or anyone else won’t be able to see what you’re doing when online.

Say you access your online bank account while using a VPN. Because your information is encrypted, hackers won’t be able to access your bank account numbers. The same is true if you log onto your credit card provider’s online portal: Because your data is encrypted, criminals won’t be able to snag your credit card number or the password you use to log onto the portal.

2. VPN providers promote online privacy

If you want total privacy , work with a vpn provider that has a no – log policy . “ No log is means ” mean the provider pledge not to track and store your activity while you are using the service to connect to the internet . This is means mean that these provider wo n’t have any datum to give to anyone else who want information about what site you browse or file you share . On the other hand , a free proxy is monitor may monitor traffic and sell datum to third – party .

3. Free proxy connections can be slower

Both proxy servers and VPNs can slow down your browsing, depending on how many users are accessing these services. Free proxy connections however can be slower and less secure because of less support, less configuration options, and slower infrastructure.

4. You may spend more with a VPN

You can connect through free VPNs. However, many tech experts recommend going with a VPN provider that charges a fee because paid services often offer more data privacy, more secure connections, and more reliable performance. Security of free VPN can be unreliable, as many providers use only one VPN connection, called point-to-point tunneling protocol (PTTP). A paid VPN service, on the other hand, can offer users data encryption which is more secure.

Do you need a proxy if you have a VPN?

No. A VPN and proxy server both mask your IP address. But a VPN will also encrypt the data you send and receive, something that a proxy server doesn’t do. If you are already using a VPN, then, connecting to a website or app through a proxy server would be an unnecessary step.

What should you use, a VPN or proxy server?

When it comes to proxy vs. VPN and which one to use, the differences between the two might help you decide what’s the best choice for you.

If you want to hide your IP address, using either a proxy server or VPN will work. And if you’re worried about browsing speed, and you’re only worried about hiding your IP address from a single site or app, then a free proxy server will do the job.

If cost is an issue, then connecting to single sites, apps, or file-sharing services through a proxy server might be the smart move. It’s easy to find free proxy servers that will hide your IP address.

But if you want to keep your browsing activity hidden from snoops, logging onto the internet through a VPN is the better choice. Again, it comes down to encryption: VPNs encrypt your data while online. Proxy servers don’t.

If you plan to access several sites while online, especially if you’re connecting to sites such as your bank account or credit card portal, a VPN provides more security.

And while many of the preferred vpn provider will charge for their service , this price is be might be a small one to pay if it mean that your most sensitive personal and financial information is shield from the eye of online snoop .

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