How Proxy Servers Differ from VPNs
At first glance, a proxy server and a VPN (virtual private network) seem incredibly similar. They both act as middlemen in establishing connections. Primarily, a proxy and a VPN do the same thing, which is to route internet traffic through a remote server and assign it a new IP address, one that is virtually anonymous. You can surf the web knowing that your IP is unknown. And both a VPN and a proxy give you an IP address from anywhere in the world, so you can access content as if you were located in that local region.
That’s about where the similarities begin and end. VPNs are configured at the system level, where encryption takes place, protecting sensitive data and providing that all-too-necessary extra level of security. When you use a VPN, no one from an ISP to a nasty hacker can track you online. While the main purpose of a VPN is to ensure that data is protected, bypassing content restrictions with various streaming services with individual use is a key aspect of VPNs.
Proxies, on the other hand, are not at the system level, but at the application level, where one of their intended uses is to help collect data from various websites. The action of a proxy is sometimes called data extraction, but is more commonly known as “web scraping”.
A proxy also works better than a VPN, because of the different levels of encryption. Usually, proxy servers offer a slightly faster connection.
Head of Product, IPRoyal.
The Security Difference Between VPN and a Proxy
In general, a VPN offers additional security over a proxy server, mainly due to the encryption that takes place at the system level before any data is sent to the VPN server. When it comes to accessing free Wi-Fi at the airport or other public places, be aware that there are security risks when accessing a free VPN.
Proxy servers behave very differently. And not all proxies are created equal, especially when it comes to security. For example, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) proxies don’t offer any additional encryption, so the expectation is that security other than masking an IP address is minimal. And what about Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)? You might think you’re getting more security than HTTP, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Some HTTP proxies support HTTPS, but you should not assume or rely on this as a more secure version of HTTP.
What is the value of a proxy server?
If you run a business, proxy servers are an indispensable tool. They can give you a competitive advantage by allowing you to gather important information from competitors’ websites and extract everything from various market research to prices for similar goods and services.
Unlike a VPN, a large pool of proxies makes access to web data virtually block-free, even if a large number of requests are generated from the same IP addresses. A proxy pool, unlike a VPN, can send multiple requests at once without fear of being blocked, allowing for seamless data collection.
Let’s say you’re a large retail chain looking to beat competitors’ prices to gain a competitive edge with customer loyalty and retention. By collecting data through a proxy pool, that data can be extracted without fear of being blocked and flagged.
Proxies vs VPNs for Web Scraping
Both a proxy and a VPN can be used for web scraping, but there are differences to consider. The right proxy for web scraping — the process of using bots to extract data and content from a given website — helps avoid the many limitations and obstacles that often come with VPNs.
Some of those restrictions include IP blocks and CAPTCHAs, a security measure known as challenge-response authentication. Multiple requests from a single IP address will most likely encounter obstacles, while using a proxy server pool allows for unlimited data collection from multiple IP addresses. Using a proxy server is a safer bet for web scraping, but which proxy is best?
The right proxy for the right application
Residential proxies are the most popular, as they give the user a specific IP address that corresponds to the chosen device. The advantage of a residential proxy is that the IP address comes from a household device and websites are less suspicious, knowing that the request is coming from a real customer.
Data center proxies are much more reliable (in the sense that a regular household appliance can be turned off at any time. Servers are usually never turned off) and faster (because they get business-grade internet instead of what the person bought themselves). But they are also easier to detect. If an ecommerce platform sees that a user is coming from a data center, they are at least a little suspicious.
What’s better, a VPN or a proxy?
While both offer anonymity by hiding your IP address and allowing access to data from anywhere in the world, there are major differences between the two. Proxy servers do not offer proprietary encryption, making them significantly less secure than a VPN for the typical consumer. VPNs offer increased security by encrypting incoming and outgoing traffic. For businesses and individuals who regularly work with sensitive data and need to keep their browsing activity hidden, a VPN is the best choice.
For data collection, social networking, and retail, there are benefits to using proxies. With data collection, proxies allow you to keep an eye on your competition while remaining completely anonymous, helping to level the playing field between businesses. Social media proxies essentially become the middleman between users and platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. These proxies provide their IP address and location, allowing users to manage multiple accounts without being detected. For retail businesses, bots and proxies are used to automate the purchasing process.
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