Digital dimension has penetrated every sphere of our lives, changing the ways everything performs. With the numerous benefits the Internet era offers to its users, there are obvious threats related to the privacy and security of personal data. Considering the vulnerability of personal information, there is a high demand for solutions that can protect users and provide them with trouble-free Internet navigation.
One of the best tools to offer is the usage of proxy servers, which behave like a protective wall between the user and the websites that are trying to collect personal data. Let’s learn what the proxies are, and how they can benefit online safety.
What are Proxy Servers?
A proxy server is an intermediary-like server between the targeted website and the user. It provides a required level of anonymity for every user, without revealing one’s location and IP address.
A proxy server offers a wide choice of real IP addresses, which are used instead of the customer’s real IP address. Such an approach helps to eliminate any restrictions regarding the work with web requests.
How to Choose a Reliable Proxy Service
1. Identify A Proxy Server Type
The choice of the right proxy server depends on the needs of the customer. According to the main features, there are several types to consider:
- Datacenter proxies — IP addresses that are issued by third-party companies and provide the users with private IP authentication and anonymity. Datacenter proxies are fast and cheap, however, as they are associated with servers and datacenters, they can be detected and blocked due to anti-bot measures.
- Residential IPs — a proxy network that is presented by real IP addresses, which are provided by ISPs (Internet Service Providers). Residential IPs are assigned to physical locations and registered in public databases. As long as residential IPs are taken as the individual ones, they are more expensive compared with the datacenters.
- ISP, or static residential proxies — these addresses are hosted by servers that are located in data centers, but recognized as real users. A server IPS proxy offers a pool of available IP addresses. When accessing it, it’s possible to change the IP according to the specific needs of the users.
- Mobile proxies – the servers allocated to mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. As of today, mobile proxies are the most advanced and efficient form to use.
2. Size of the IP Pool
The size of a proxy pool is one of the decisive features, as it determines the number of IP addresses that the provider is able to manage. An IP pool is a range of IP addresses within a specific proxy network. Each pool can be tied to a certain group of users. A small proxy pool offers a low diversity of IPs from the same subnet, and they can easily be blocked. Therefore, the user will need to purchase new addresses to cover the shortage.
The infatica proxy provider offers 10+ million IP addresses around the world, making network surfing and access unlimited for its users.
3. Main Features
A proxy service should be suitable to the customer’s needs. The basic characteristics to determine are IP rotation settings, location filtering options, and authentication methods:
- IP address rotation is the procedure of changing the IP address at scheduled intervals either after a certain number of requests or with every connection to the internet;
- Location filtering options help to target a particular country, city, or ASN.
- Authentication methods – define the way the devices of the clients undergo the validation when trying to access the Internet.
4. Testing
Before signing up for a proxy service on a permanent basis, it is important to test how their infrastructure works. It is always best to read the customers’ reviews, and market analysts, and sign up for free trials. When making the list of viable options, it is important to compare the success rate, response time, and the amount of load to handle.
5. Proxy Management Tools
As a rule, proxy services offer a dashboard, an API, and browser extensions:
- A dashboard is used to set up the proxy server and customize the settings, manage the statistics.
- API access is used by programmers to manage the performance of proxies.
- Browser extensions — help to encrypt the HTTP traffic, and change the IP, and the virtual location.
6. Customer Service
Proxy services require constant monitoring, as the issues may appear rather unexpectedly, disrupting the working process. Therefore, customer service should work 24/7 in order to help address the issues immediately, without letting them deteriorate the situation. The service should work through various channels, with a high level of response speed.
7. Pricing option
Pricing policies are important, yet not decisive, as proxy services aren’t cheap. The final price tag depends on the list of features required by the customer.
The Bottom Line
Proxy providers create the foundation of safe and secure network research without putting at risk the user’s sensitive data. It benefits both, regular users and businesses, taking their security to a new level. When choosing the proxy service, it is important to study the subscription plans and the opportunities they offer to make sure your needs will be satisfied. It is always best to communicate with the assistants of the company and see what they offer.
