In this age of digital technology, online privacy and security has become a primary concern among many users. A growing number of internet users are now opting for residential proxies; however, it’s important to bear in mind that not all proxy services are created equal—it pays to be careful when choosing the proxy solution to use.
Using low-cost proxies can be disastrous
Like with most things, finding a proxy solution is always a case of “you get what you pay for.” With the myriad of proxy services available in the market today—with some even touting themselves as free and cheap—consumers need to be extra careful or risk getting targeted by third-party surveillance.
First, let’s talk about the important role that proxies play when it comes to internet privacy. Essentially, proxy services serve as a secure gateway for internet users, functioning as a middleman that provides a safeguard between the user and the websites they are accessing. Different proxy servers offer different levels of privacy, depending on the user’s needs and requirements.
The problem, however, is that many internet users prefer using cheap—if not free—proxy services. In developed markets like the United States and the United Kingdom, it’s estimated that up to 72 percent of users are still connecting to free proxy and VPN servers, according to an ENV Media report on internet privacy.
There are many hazards associated with the imprudent use of proxy services, especially if they’re “free.” These open, low-cost proxies do not really offer protection to those connected to their services; instead, the users run the risk of ending up being targeted by third-party surveillance, not to mention the excessive advertisements alongside potential malware and hacker activities.
Nothing is really ‘free’ especially on the internet
A Techradar piece on proxy services listed the dangers of using unethical proxies that market themselves as “free” solutions. Free proxies are not only very low quality, but they also come with the risks of exposing the users to hackers who might steal sensitive information and hijack the network as part of a DDoS attack.
Data center proxies, which are considered in the cheaper end of the spectrum, are good for mosTake anyIPt users that want to perform small scale web scraping or for simply bypassing blocked content. However, these cheap proxy services are not suitable for large-scale operations and carry a significant risk of being identified and blocked by websites or services.
Residential proxies are the best type of proxy that the money can buy—and given their high quality and demand, these solutions frequently come with a higher price for the user’s peace of mind. Veteran players in the proxy server business are one of the best options for internet users today. Case in point is anyIP, a proxy server solutions provider that has 15 years of experience providing fast rotating proxies with over 30 million IPs from more than 195 locations.
With so many proxy providers in the market today, it is challenging to pick the solution that is not only the most ethical, but also provides the best quality service. As the analysts at ENV Media warn, “Even when consumers are not conscious and knowledgeable enough on how to get quality proxy services, the penetration and popularity of the latter is only likely to grow, get more automated and possibly more user-friendly.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
