Proxy vs. VPN: What’s the Difference? Today, people spend so much time on the Internet. They use the Internet for work, pleasure and communication. This means that a lot of our private data is collected every time we go online which can lead to some unpleasant situations.
To prevent this from happening, more and more people are starting to use apps that hide their identities and keep them safe when they use the internet. Two of the most popular ways to use apps today are proxies and VPNs. These two terms are used so often in similar circumstances that most people think they are one of them.
In this text, we explain what proxies are, what are VPNs, and what are the main differences between them.
Proxy vs. VPN: What’s the Difference?
What is a proxy server?
Proxy servers known as proxies act as the intermediary when you are communicating with a website for example. As you can see, when you visit a website, it collects information about your IP address. The proxy prevents this by showing its own IP address to the site instead of yours.
It is important to say that the agent serves the work at the level of individual applications. The proxy server only works with the apps for which it is set and not for all the apps you use. While it hides your IP address, it does not encrypt your data.
Today, the three most common types of proxy servers are:
- HTTP Proxy Servers – This type of proxy server helps you to redirect your traffic to web page(s). This means that everything you send through the browser will pass through an intermediary.
- SOCKS Proxy Servers – This type of proxy can be used for other things along with web traffic. They can cope with more things than the ones we mentioned earlier but are also slower.
- Transparent proxy servers – This type of proxy is usually used by the owner of the private network who would likes to block certain websites or monitor users’ activities on the website.
As you can see, proxy servers can help you protect your data in many situations and this is one of the reasons for their popularity.
Proxy vs. VPN: What’s the Difference?
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network also known as a VPN is an application that allows people to reroute their traffic through different servers masking their IP address. This app works at the system level, which means that it works on all the apps that you use on the device on which the VPN is activated.
Aside from hiding your IP address, the VPN also encrypts the data you send and receive while online. This means that third-party programs cannot monitor your activities while you are on the Internet. For this reason, VPNs are the ultimate apps when it comes to privacy and security.
Are there downsides?
Both proxy servers and VPNs are a great way to hide your internet traffic, but you still have to be careful. Reputable proxies and VPNs will surely get the job done, but if you start using shady apps, it can have serious consequences. Instead of protecting your privacy, shady proxies and VPN can be used to collect your data and use it for fraudulent activities. So be sure that you search and choose only reputable people.
Proxy vs VPN
To summarize the main differences between proxy servers and VPNs:
A VPN can encrypt your traffic, while proxy servers cannot, VPNs also work at the system level while proxy servers work at a single application level. For this reason, VPNs are known to be slower (because they have more work to do). When it comes to the financial aspect, reputable VPNs usually get paid while proxy servers are free in most cases. Finally, you will have a more stable connection with a VPN.
Can I use a VPN when gambling online?
Well, it depends on the gambling operator. Nowadays, most gambling operators do not allow players to use a VPN because they cannot verify the country from which the player comes. For example, if you play, some sites will allow you to use a VPN but others can use this to block your account if you can verify your country of residence.
To prevent this from happening, the best thing would be to check the site’s terms and conditions and see if they allow players to use VPNs (or any third-party software for that matter). If you cannot find anything in the terms and conditions, you can ask customer support to provide you with more information about it.
conclusion
Both proxy servers and VPNs are a great way to be more secure while browsing the Internet. With this said, be careful to find reputable proxies and VPNs because suspicious ones can cause your data to be leaked instead of protecting it.
