We’ve always valued privacy, regardless of the time of age. However, the rise of the internet has led to increasing concern about security. A quick google search will show you several technological advancements that offer privacy online and help protect your data.
Proxies remain a popular consumer choice, given their reliability and ease of use. Nonetheless, picking from a handful of options, from semi-dedicated to shared and private proxies, can be challenging.
A look into the benefits of each can make your search easier, however.
What Is a Proxy?
Proxies save your day when you aren’t willing to connect directly to a website, exposing your IP address. A reliable proxy server acts like an online middleman. It stands between the user and the internet, communicating on your behalf.
So, once you connect to a proxy and send your request, it passes via the proxy to the website. The website then forwards requests to the proxy, which eventually reaches you.
This way, it prevents the website from accessing your IP, keeping your connection private.
What does that give you? Anonymity, better security, a capability to bypass geo-restrictions, and much more!
The Difference Between 3 Major Types of Proxies
Proxies are helpful, but only if you choose wisely. More sensitive business tasks, for instance, require high security.
So, a proxy that only offers little privacy won’t cater to your needs. We’ll dig deeper into popular proxy types and outline their advantages to help you find your best option.
Semi-Dedicated
Several users can (generally around 3) connect to a semi-dedicated proxy.
Because a few people access the same IP, it compromises exclusivity. Not only does it affect the speed, but it also causes unwanted issues. However, they are budget-friendly, which gives them an edge over other proxy types.
Pros
- Semi-dedicated proxies share IP between a few users, which is still less than sharing with a large crowd.
- They are pretty affordable. You can split the costs between your friends or a nearby neighbor, making it a mutually beneficial deal.
- It supports SOCKS protocols and HTTP
- It lets you bypass geo-restrictions efficiently
Cons
- Because the bandwidth is shared between a few users, performance metrics are compromised for obvious reasons.
- Sharing IP addresses with other users risks the privacy
- Semi-dedicated proxies aren’t suitable for large-scale projects that rely on heavy-data
Shared
Shared proxies are used by many users (more than 3). In other words, if your business uses a shared proxy, you probably share it with hundreds of others. Hence, most technology experts do not recommend using shared proxies for data-sensitive tasks.
Pros
- Shared proxies are relatively cheaper. In fact, a few of them are free
- These proxies allow you to share the costs between different users
- They support SOCKS5 and HTTP service
- You can easily scrape valuable business data using shared proxies
Cons
- Hundreds of people using the same IP address risk your privacy
- You’re bound to encounter speed issues
- They aren’t ideal for large-scale business projects
Private Proxies
Private proxies use a dedicated IP that no one else can access but you. Hence, most professionals prefer using it for high anonymity. This allows you to capture essential internet information without experiencing potential challenges like other proxies.
If you’re curious to learn more about proxies, Oxylabs’ wrote a blog post on the topic – be sure to check it out!
Pros
- Since a single user is using a private proxy at a given time, private proxies are incredibly fast
- Security and stability are the biggest advantages of using a private proxy
- They are ideal for large-scale web projects that require heavy data acquisition
- You can gather unlimited business data without encountering unexpected challenges.
- It is challenging for hackers to access IPs on a private proxy
Cons
- They are slightly costlier than other proxy types
How to Choose the Most Reliable Proxy?
A quality proxy can level up your browsing and scarping experience. However, choosing a substandard proxy can do the exact opposite. They can negatively affect your projects and risk your data.
So, consider a few things to invest your money in the right direction.
- Identify your needs. If you’re a regular internet user who only wants to bypass geo-restrictions, investing in a private proxy and paying a higher price won’t make much sense. So, if a shared or semi-dedicated proxy can fulfill your needs, go for them!
- Consider speed. An average proxy must have a 1 GBS of speed. Anything lower than that would create trouble for you. In fact, large-scale business projects require an even higher speed.
- Pricing. Regardless of whether you choose a semi-dedicated, shared, or private proxy, do not forget to compare popular options. You’ll probably find a more affordable proxy after thorough research.
- Security. Security is primarily important when handling critical business tasks. So, it won’t be worth investing in shared or semi-dedicated proxies. Instead, private proxies offer the peace of mind you need to perform risk-free web scraping and related business tasks.
Conclusion
Proxies offer a quick way to mask your IP address and remain anonymous. However, which proxy helps us achieve that more efficiently is the question.
You can choose between shared, semi-dedicated, and private proxies. However, those willing to perform extensive business tasks without compromising privacy should go the private proxy route for obvious reasons.
