Technology is growing and evolving faster than we expect it to. Alongside this, the internet has become a birthing place and home to a host of activities. Unfortunately, some of them are fraudulent and deceptive.
It also bears noting that there are people who can navigate the virtual space better, and some of them can harm us and our assets. This is where proxies come in as they protect you from hackers and fraudsters. Therefore, choosing the right type that suits you can be a reliable form of protection for your server.
Today, we will discuss the importance of having a proxy server and how to choose the right proxy type for your needs. Let’s get started.
What is a proxy and why are people using it?
Basically, a proxy functions as a doorway that connects the user to the website. What happens is that if you type in a website in your browser, a proxy will send a request to the server. The proxy server is then tasked to approve or deny the request.
All this happens in seconds. You also can use proxy networks to access websites that are typically beyond the access requirements, as made evident by your IP address.
However, a proxy becomes essential when your information becomes accessible to unreliable virtual personas. You are provided with a unique IP address with a proxy so fraudsters and hackers won’t easily trace you.
Businesses also use proxies to improve speed and control the internet usage of employees. Companies can use it to deny access to various websites while using the company network.
List of main proxy types and how they differ
Generally, there are two main proxy types: residential proxies and datacenter proxies. Of course, there are other types of proxies that are widely used by businesses and individuals.
Residential proxy
Residential proxy carries unique and real IP addresses from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This is the reason why residential proxies are almost unblockable. They are rare and usually expensive. However, these proxies are a perfect fit for web scraping on a large scale and maintain anonymity.
Datacenter proxy
Datacenter proxies are created in data centers, meaning that their carried IP addresses are artificially generated. They are fast, stable, and usually cheaper than residential proxies. They are used for scraping smaller websites. However, their IP addresses are easily detectable and blockable.
Multiple users use shared proxies at the same time. Of course, shared proxies fit for many tasks online, such as access specific content or bypass geo-restrictions by using proxies from a given location. Also, usually, they are cheap and easily accessible. The main disadvantage of shared proxies is that they are slow. Moreover, shared proxies are considered to be less secure in comparison to private proxies.
Dedicated proxy
A dedicated proxy is an opposite version of a shared proxy. These proxies are dedicated to only one user, meaning they excel with superior speed and high performance. These proxies are more expensive than shared ones, but companies tend to choose them to be secure and exploit all the benefits of proxies.
Reverse proxy
Reverse proxies control and protect the server from external access. They ensure that users would not communicate directly with internal servers. These proxies are mainly tasked with authentication, decryption, caching, and load balancing. Reverse proxies help to ensure that internal servers won’t be overloaded.
HTTP proxy
HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. As the name implies, an HTTP proxy is made explicitly for HTTP requests. An HTTP proxy also works like an open proxy where it forwards HTTP requests. Also, it can examine traffic and identify any malicious content like spyware and malware. Generally, it works as a firewall. An HTTP proxy is among the most commonly used and popular choices.
SOCKS5 proxy
SOCKS5, the latest version of the SOCKS protocol, aims to be a proxy for broader usage, such as arbitrary forms of traffic. SOCKS5 proxy is often used for high-intensity tasks, such as video streaming, content sharing, video calls, and others. You can read more about SOCKS5 proxy in the article by one of the leading proxy providers, Oxylabs.
Conclusion
That being said, we can agree that each proxy aims to grant people more access to the internet without having their information compromised. However, each proxy takes on a different approach and has varying values on anonymity.
The most common types of proxies are residential and datacenter proxies. However, the most commonly used proxies will have to be an HTTP proxy as well. Shared, dedicated, reverse, and SOCKS5 proxies are also considered the most accessible to all users.
Nevertheless, the type of proxy you choose will depend on your personal or commercial use. We hope that you now know the different proxy types to select the most suitable one for your needs.