At some point, we all have been concerned about anonymity on the Internet. Watching hacker movies is often scary and anxiety-inducing, as some people seamlessly steal the data of regular users. However, we have some good news: there are affordable and easy ways to protect your identity online. Here we will explain the basics of Internet security.
There are two pretty similar at first glance tools that can provide you with Internet anonymity: the proxy Web UK coverage and a VPN. But you should note that they are pretty different.
What Is a Proxy?
A proxy is a network technology that lets you connect to a different server to change your IP address. There are server proxies and mobile ones. Both of them have their advantages, but the general idea is to make your Internet imprint untraceable, as your connection is let through a proxy server, and the location and IP address of the device is automatically changed to the proxy’s one.
Proxies are used by marketing specialists and software developers to collect and analyze data of the rival companies or start promotional campaigns from multiple accounts. The disadvantage is that the proxy connection might be less fast if the server is located far from you. Therefore, you should be considerate when picking a particular server so that it doesn’t affect your network speed. Changing your location will also require a new IP address.
What About a VPN?
A VPN is a virtual private network that works along with your Internet connection. When you use a VPN, you sign in to the network, and then all your data is being encrypted by it. VPN connections let you change your locations on a whim so that you can easily access websites that are banned in your country for some reason.
A VPN is also heavily protected, so any information on the websites you visit will not be available to your Internet provider. Your IP address and location are also untraceable. The disadvantage is that, upon connecting to a VPN, all users share the IP address, so it is easy to notice that you are using the VPN connection for Internet anonymity.
Which Differences Do They Have?
Even though both services allow you to freely browse the Internet, they have differences that are vital when working in a specific field. A VPN is considered to be more expensive than a proxy because the providers need more OS power to keep the network up.
Proxies usually have higher Internet speed and don’t put a lot of workload on your computer, plus they are considered to be more stable than VPN connections. Moreover, a proxy gives you an individual IP address, so upon buying several of them, you can work with multiple accounts. VPN address is easily spotted, so if you don’t want your provider to know about it, a proxy might be your choice.
Despite that, the VPN connection is encrypted, so any data leakage doesn’t happen while you are connected to the network. Any information of the user cannot be traced from the starting point to the finish. With a VPN, you can change your location effortlessly and ‘jump around’ different countries to avoid being banned.
What Should You Choose?
Both a VPN and a proxy will secure your Internet coverage but in different ways. When choosing a specific tool, you should consider these criteria:
- Do I want a fast connection but more vulnerable or encrypted but a little slow?
- Do I want a private IP address and location or shared?
- Do I need to change my location several times, or can I work from one IP address?
- How much money can I afford to spend on a service?
From there, you can decide whether it’s a proxy or a VPN. A proxy is widely used in the professional field of sales and development, while a VPN is more common in cyber-protection and IT services.
Take Your Time to Decide
Internet safety is a big question that always looms above us in the terms of the modern world. Everyone should be considerate when going online and make sure that their data is well-protected. Both a proxy and a VPN will secure your information, but there are some slight differences you should know about. Which service do you prefer more? Which other tips on Internet safety would you like to know? Share your opinion in the comments below.
