If you want robust cybersecurity solutions to protect your online privacy, device network, and PC integrity from malware and virus infections, then learning about VPN and Proxy would be highly helpful for you. So, this write-up discusses these topics at a deeper level to help you understand everything thoroughly. After reading this article, you can choose the right solution for you. Having said this, let’s get started with the text now:
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network is an online data security and privacy protection tool that encrypts user data on the internet and protects personal information from malicious actors. It secures the data transmitted on the web server, simply encrypting it into unreadable codes. Only the authorized parties or destination servers can decode this information to respond to a user’s query or activity. No one else in between can intercept or decode this information and learn anything about your online activities.
The most important thing about a VPN is that it replaces the user’s IP address with the VPN server’s IP address, hiding your true location and device network connection. In this condition, when the web server gets any information access request, it thinks the request is coming from an unknown server location. No hacker, government agency, or internet service-providing agency can intercept or track down your online activities. It allows you to access region-restricted content hassle-free, keeping your identity and location completely secret from web servers in different countries. With the help of a VPN, you can securely connect to public WiFi and other internet services to do your online activities without the fear of privacy breach.
Benefits of using a VPN ( Virtual Private Network )
- It offers high-level security for the user's searches and device traffic by encrypting all information and rerouting it through a private server.
- Securely connect users to web servers, overriding third parties and interceptors to fetch information and deliver search results.
- Authorize the users before granting access to virtual gateways, ensuring only authorized users can access the private network.
- It hides the device's IP address without logging into any internet activity. This helps users avoid censorship and unwanted legal involvement
- Allows remote people to access the information from a remote location. Employees can use this feature to securely access a company's internal database to complete their work from home or any other place.
- Filter and evaluate information during transmission to maintain data integrity. This ensures that the information is exactly what was sent without any changes.
- It keeps your internet speed up to the mark when you are streaming videos, gaming, or downloading big files by hiding your activity types from the ISPs.
Common drawbacks of using VPN
Low Internet Speed: You may experience slow web browsing performance due to the resource-intensive activities of your Virtual Private Network, including encrypting and decrypting data and accessing distant servers from your current locations.
Compatibility Issues: You may face compatibility issues with some devices while using virtual private network services. This is caused by the limitations on the usability of such programs to browse the World Wide Web.
Security Risks: If you use a free VPN, you may face security risks. These free-to-use services can be tampered with by malware or logging functions that steal your sensitive data. Also, unsafe service providers collect and misuse your sensitive data. You should always use a certified platform to get virtual private network services.
Legal Restrictions: Some countries do not allow users to use VPN services to access restricted data beyond their borders. Along with this, there are websites that do not allow people any access to their content, specifically those that offer live streaming of the events. In such cases, you should avoid using virtual personal connections, or you may face legal complications.
Higher Cost: Reliable and premium quality VPN services charge higher costs to provide their services. Also, there may be some hidden costs to using special services and security features on your devices.
What Are The Different Types Of VPNs?
Four main types of VPNs are used for different security and privacy purposes. Whether it is personal use or commercial use each offers special security features and online privacy tools to safeguard connections. They are as follows:
Personal VPN
It is an ideal online privacy and internet connection tool for individuals to encrypt their device traffic and access internet services securely. It allows individual users to connect to a private network and access online content and resources remotely. Employees, remote workers and professionals can use this tool to secure privacy and access the content, files and apps from remote locations. Also, it allows the individual to access the geo-restricted data beyond national or local boundaries. When it encrypts your device traffic cybercriminals cannot hack or track your online activities.
Site-to-Site VPN
Site-to-Site VPN is designed to connect one network to the other. It is best for companies that use different networks to connect their different branches located on different sites. Using this highly advanced tool, a company can transfer data from one network to another and seamlessly access the information stored on the different company servers. Companies can connect to different databases located on different branches without the fear of leaking any information or privacy breaches.
Mobile VPNs
Mobile VPNs are specially designed tools for providing secure and seamless internet connections for mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. It encrypts mobile traffic, maintains connections, and protects individuals’ online privacy while they are browsing the internet. It is an ideal tool for those who keep moving from one location to another for work and business purposes. Using this tool they can easily access their remote files, workstations, and data on their mobile devices.
Remote Access VPNs
Remote access VPNs are specially designed for individual users to help them connect and access a private server from a remote location. Professionals working from a remote location can best use this tool to access and transfer data securely. It allows them access to the internal network of a company with complete security protocols.
What is a Proxy?
A proxy is like an internet gateway that provides secure access to the wider web networks, servers, and databases. It acts as an intermediary server between the user’s devices and the internet. When users look for something on the internet, a proxy server receives a request from the users` device and forwards it to the target server on behalf of the users. After that, the proxy server receives the response from the target server and sends it back to the user device.
In this whole process, a proxy works like a shield, hiding the device’s IP address, accessing geographically restricted content, and filtering and inspecting the network traffic for malicious threats. It also caches frequently accessed content to improve the overall online performance of the device network. This way, it works like a secure channel through which a user can get desired information without getting any malware infection or virus threat.
Benefits Of Using Proxy
Using a proxy is a highly beneficial and effective tool for dealing with cybersecurity attacks and safeguarding your online activities. It offers smart tools to secure and fortify your privacy and internet activities. Here are some key benefits of using a Proxy:
Hides IP Address: It conceals users` IPs from the destination server while searching and accessing information online. It works like an intermediary between the client and the web server.
Enhance User Privacy: It hides device location and online activities from the web server, ISPs, government agencies, third-party platforms, and most importantly active cyber criminals.
Manage & Compress Traffic: It optimizes incoming traffic by caching frequently accessed information and compressing the outgoing data to reduce the overall bandwidth and involved costs.
Provide Cybersecurity: It prevents malicious programs and threats such as malware, hijackers, trojans, and unsafe links from entering your PC. It filters incoming content and protects the network from viruses.
Access to Restricted Content: It can bypass the region-restricted networks to access data beyond borders and local web servers. You can access global web resources without any restrictions.
Prevents Data Breach: It uses secure connections HTTPS to secure data when moving from one point to another. Cybercriminals cannot intercept and steal any sensitive information during this transit.
Rotation IP Addresses: It rotates different internet protocol IDs to the device enabling the user to access unlimited access to the geo-restricted content without having the issue of IP bans.
Common Drawbacks of Using Proxies
Trust Issues: Many free-of-cost proxies are available online and are highly anonymous. These can be traps. Sometimes, black hats are used to trap innocent users and steal sensitive data from them. These free-to-use services come from unsafe platforms. It is highly recommended to use only trusted and certified resources.
Low Performance: Proxies slow down the online access speed of your web browser. It happens because your data traffic route through an additional server before reaching its destination. You also receive late responses to your queries because the replies from the other end of the server do not come directly to your PC. Rather, it passes through your proxy server, where content filtration, evaluation, and malware scanning are done. Additionally, multiple users use the same service to browse the web, which happens in the case of shared Proxy. Encrypting, decrypting, and modifying data is a highly resource-intensive task. As a result, you may experience low internet access speed.
Detection and Blocking: High anonymity and elite proxies hide your IP address and do not leave a clue to the web server. Some websites can detect this condition and successfully block such devices from allowing any access to their database. Websites automatically block your request and disable the restricted access to the information.
Can be Costly: Reliable and fitting proxy services are available at higher prices. Residential ones charge more than those of other proxies. This is because they use more resources and complex processes to run privacy and security functions for web browsing.
Privacy and Anonymity Limitations: Some network intermediaries, such as data centers and transparent and shared proxies, do not give your devices a higher level of anonymity. It poses a security and privacy breach risk to the users using these intermediary servers.
What Are The Different Types Of Proxy?
Different types of Proxy serve different purposes and functionalities in cybersecurity and device network protection. Some enable better performance and load management, and others are suitable for network configuration and accessibility. Different types of proxies serve different security and content control operations. So, the difference is based on special use cases and services in different environments. Let’s understand some common types of Proxies and how they work in different scenarios!
Forward Proxy
A forward proxy is like an intermediary between a group of users working in an organization, small company, or internal network. It processes the requests of the users working in the internal network for accessing the data on the websites or different internet resources. It examines the request to determine the validity, destination URL, and security appropriateness. After this, it moves on with the further procedure.
Forward proxy sends the request to the target server. The Target server responds to the request and provides the desired information back. Forward proxy evaluates this data and finally provides users with safe access. So, the forward proxy manages and facilitates the requests on behalf of users working in a restricted internal network they want to access. It can approve or disapprove the requests based on the prescribed rules and policies.
Benefits of Using a Forward Proxy
- Clients' IP addresses from the external servers, providing a layer of anonymity.
- It protects the internal network by filtering the content and blocking malicious sites.
- It reduces bandwidth usage and speeds up access time with the cached version of frequent websites.
- It records and monitors the internet activity of the users to help track the internet usage patterns and troubleshoot the compliance requirements.
- It manages controls and enhances internet access for the users working inside a defined network.
- It serves as a user gatekeeper, ensuring security, efficiency, and compliance with the usage policies.
Transparent Proxy
It is a covert proxy that works furtively, providing users hassle-free access to the internet while working in the background without giving any sense to the user of its operations. Also known as intercepting, inline, or forced proxy, Transparent Proxy intercepts, evaluates, and redirects user’s requests on the device network server without letting them have any idea about its activities.
It intercepts the outgoing data packets from the users` devices. During this, it inspects the data and forwards it to the destination server without modifying the request. When the destination server responds with the information packets, it intercepts this traffic, inspects it, and sends it back to the device server. During this process, it works transparently without showing any activities on the surface. The clients do not get any idea during this whole process of data interception.
Benefits of Using a Transparent Proxy
- Seamless Internet Browsing: It provides a seamless Internet browsing experience. Since they know how the proxy works, they do not have to configure their devices or apps to utilize this server tool.
- Easy to Deploy: Transparent Proxy is easy to implement in the local network as users are not required to change their device settings. Network Officials can easily manage their operations across the firm endpoints.
- Motoring Web Traffic: Using this amazing tool, organizations can easily monitor web traffic and enforce security policies without interacting with the company's users. It helps filter content, block malicious sites, and track online activities.
Anonymous Proxy
Anonymous Proxy is a user identity masker or device IP anonymizer tool that hides user identity and device information online during online activities. It makes users’ internet activities untraceable to the target servers and other entities active on the internet.
An Anonymous Proxy intercepts the user’s request to access information online and redirects it to the destination server. When the destination server receives the request, it cannot identify the real IP Address of the device from which the request is coming. The anonymous server strips the user’s identifiable information before it reaches the destination server. In this way, the online activities of the users are untraceable to the destination server.
Benefits of Using an Anonymous Proxy
- Online Privacy: It provides complete online privacy to the users by hiding the IP addresses and other identifiable details before they connect to the wider internet network to access any kind of information.
- Bypassing Restrictions: It enables netizens to access geo-restricted online sites, content, and specific platforms hassle-free.
- Security: It protects your device network from malware attacks, phishing, and online hijacking. Black hats fail to trace the real IP address of the device and user info, which stops them from launching cyber attacks.
High Anonymity Proxy
High Anonymity Proxy is an elite tool for masking the personal details of a user and device IP address on the internet. As the name suggests, this tool provides the highest level of anonymity, completely erasing the user’s information at the time of connecting to the target server to access any type of information. It does not leave any aspect of personal or digital footprint for the destination server or internet service provider to track the device or users on the internet.
High Anonymity Proxy server intercepts and modifies the user request to access a website. This process removes all the hints and traces of the user`s original IP address and other identifying information. After this, it redirects the request to the target server to fetch the desired information. When it receives the information from the target server, it processes the information and delivers it to the device server. During this whole process, it maintains complete anonymity of the device information and web surfers.
Benefits of Using a High Anonymity Proxy
- Maximum Privacy: Completely hides the netizen information, IP Address, and other identifiable information.
- Bypass Restrictions: Bypass geo-restricted servers to access desirable content on the internet.
- Security: It protects users from tracking, surveillance, and malicious cyber attacks, making it difficult for cybercriminals to track the device and netizen information.
Distorting Proxy
Distorting proxy is like a camouflage that acts as a proxy while connecting and redirecting the traffic to a website or internet server. Still, it distorts the real IP address of the device server. The target server can know that it is a proxy server, but it cannot understand or trace the real location or actual IP Address.
When a web surfer requests to access certain content or websites on the internet, a distorting proxy modifies the user request and adds a fake IP Address to the server. As a result of this, the destination website will know that a Proxy is being used, but it won’t be able to find the true IP address of the intermediary server. Distorted Proxy receives the information from the target server and brings it back to the netizen while keeping the anonymity intact throughout.
Benefits of Using a Distorting Proxy
- Location Masking: It masks the web surfer`s true location by presenting a fake IP address, making it look as if the user is browsing from another country.
- Enhanced Privacy: By hiding the proxy's true IP address, these proxies add an extra layer of security, ensuring that the identity of both the user and the proxy server remains secure.
- Flexibility: It enables the netizens to access geo-blocked content by bypassing regional restrictions. By assigning a fake IP address to the local network server, the user looks like he is accessing the internet from a remote location.
Data Center Proxy
A data center proxy is provided by a corporation through a data center. These types of proxies are hosted on physical servers located in data centers. They route the user’s internet searches to access the data on target servers. The target server sends the information back to the proxy server, which allows netizens to access the information. Data Center Proxy uses its own IP address while connecting to the internet and fetching the information from the person who requested access to the information.
Benefits of Using a Data Center Proxy
- Quick Response Times: It offers fast response due to the high-speed internet connections and powerful infrastructure in data centers.
- Cost-Effective: It is a cost-effective and cheap solution for a variety of online needs, such as market research and SEO monitoring.
- Efficient Data Harvesting: It is one of the best solutions for collecting information and harvesting data about individuals and organizations on a large scale.
Residential Proxy
A residential proxy is a type of server that uses an IP address provided by an internet service provider to a physical device such as a computer or mobile phone. This makes the device appear to be a regular netizen device. Residential Proxies have IP addresses that are from actual residential locations.
It follows the same process of fetching the information from the target server as other proxies use. That is, it directs the search to the target server and brings back the response to the end user, keeping the security protocols in view.
Benefits of Using a Residential Proxy
- Higher Trustworthiness: it is more reliable and trustworthy and less likely to be tracked and blocked because their IP addresses come from real ISPs, making them seem like legitimate users.
- Effective Ad Verification: It is ideal for running online advertisements, ensuring they are from authentic sources and not any fraudulent platform.
- Enhanced Security: It helps identify suspicious and unwanted ads to protect the netizens from potential threats that come bundled with malicious adware.
Public Proxy
Public proxies are freely accessible servers to anyone on the internet. Internet surfers can get IP addresses from Public Proxy that help them hide their IP and individual digital footprints from the target website or other platform servers. When a user connects to the public proxy, their internet traffic is routed through the public proxy server`s IP address. After this, all the traffic is managed through the proxy server. The user will get the request response from the target server, and the request will be rerouted back to the user device network. It provides an easy and quick solution to fetch the information from the internet without going through the long configuration and registration process. Users can hide their IP addresses and browse the web anonymously with the help of this amazing tool.
Benefits of Using a Public Proxy
- Free of Charge: It is accessible free of cost and allows users to connect to the internet quickly and access online information resources risk-free.
- Ease of Access: These types of proxies are easy to find online, and users can connect to them without needing registration or a fee.
Shared Proxy
A shared proxy provides a common IP address to multiple users. It can be used simultaneously on different devices to connect to the internet and access important information. During this process, the destination server will get the information request from a single location. As a result, the destination server issues an appropriate response to the search query, and the shared proxy will direct the information packets to multiple users at the same time. It keeps the information.
Benefits of Using a Shared Proxy
- Cost-Effective: it is an affordable solution as multiple users can use it to surf the internet under a single subscription.
- Access Geo-Restricted Content: it allows users to access content beyond national boundaries without leaving any trace on the server.
- Multiple Users: it allows multiple users to connect to the World Wide Web, encrypting their online activities from unnecessary third parties, government agencies, and Internet service providers.
SSL Proxy
A secure socket layer proxy decrypts and encrypts data between a user who is making searches using digital devices and a web server where search information is stored. It intercepts the data between the user and the webserver to evaluate, modify, and re-encrypt the information before sending it to the destination. The simple reason behind intercepting, evaluating, and modifying the data is to filter the content, detect the threats, and make sure it follows the online security protocols. It acts like an extra security layer between a client and the web server. It uses a proxy server to encrypt the user’s information and securely connect him to the destination server. When the information is retrieved from the web server, it filters and assesses the content and reverts it back to the client. It uses key server certificates to authenticate the identity of the destination web servers and ensure that all the transactions and exchanges are private and not fitted with any malicious content.
Benefits of Using an SSL Proxy
- High-End Security: It filters the online traffic and evaluates it for potential threats, such as malware, viruses, or data leakage.
- Better Search Engine Rankings: SSL encryption is considered a transparent and reliable tool for online traffic encoding. As a result, google favors this more. When you use an SSL proxy along with a website, it helps you enhance your search rankings on the internet and improve online visibility.
- Corporate Usage: big companies can use this tool to inspect the online traffic moving through their network.
