Proxies act as an intermediary between your home server and websites that you visit online. They can help with online connections in many different ways, and there are also many different ways that proxies are configured. Both software and hardware are used, depending on which type of proxy you are after.
In this article, we’ll talk about all the different types of proxies, and how they can make a difference to your online connection.
The Different Types of Proxies
Residential Proxy
Residential proxies aren’t just at the top of our list randomly – they’re by far the best proxy option for all of your incognito online activity. This is because they are IP servers of physical devices.
This means that they look like an average user to everyone on the outside, while at the same time are impossible to detect. The only way that this could become possible is if you, as the proxy user, abuse what the proxy is meant for.
Using a residential proxy means that you can gain entry to data very easily, and avoid any restrictions based on geography. You can also get around a technique called cloaking, which is when websites provide false data to clients who connect through a proxy.
Datacenter Proxy
The next proxy on our list is slightly different from a residential proxy because they are a non-physical proxy. This means that they are made artificially through datacenters. This means that just one server can play host to hundreds of proxies.
However, the downside to a datacenter proxy is that they all share the same subnetwork, which can result in insecure hosting.
This means that the majority of the proxies on the server will be at risk of banning or cloaking. The biggest advantage of using a datacenter proxy is that they tend to be fast.
Anonymous Proxy
Anonymous proxies let you pass on connection requests without needing any information about the client. This means that they can connect directly to a target server as if it were acting alone. This is a great option if you need to remain anonymous online because it will hide your location and IP address.
You can use an anonymous proxy as a data center or residential proxy. All anonymous means in this context are that it will change the way that your server deals with a connection request, ultimately protecting your data.
Private Proxy
Private proxies are a bit confusing because the word ‘private’ actually refers more to a feature than the ability to keep your actions private. What it does mean is that the proxy can only be used by one person at a time, which is great to increase its security.
Private proxies can also be called ‘dedicated’ proxies. However, there are still differences between the two.
Dedicated proxies usually mean that the proxy is always used by the same person, whereas private proxies are proxies that can only be used by one person at a time, but that who that person is can change.
Yet another example of a private proxy is one that requires authentication. This is different from public proxies, which can easily be accessed by anybody.
Dedicated Proxy
This is the standard name for proxies that aren’t shared with more than one person. This means that just like private proxies, only one person can be on the server at any given time, and a lot of the time, that person doesn’t change.
Dedicated proxies are often used to make sure that an IP address doesn’t burn out, or get blocked because it’s being used too much.
A shared proxy is a proxy that is used by several different people or clients at once. Shared proxies are often the most affordable proxy option, especially because if there’s more than one person using the proxy at the same time, they can easily split the expense. Shared proxies are surprisingly powerful servers because they have to handle more than one connection at the same time.
While you may think that a shared proxy would be slower than a private or dedicated proxy, speed actually has more to do with reverse proxy and load-balancers. This means that you can have a fast proxy, even if multiple people are using it at once.
Public Proxy
Public proxies, as you may have guessed, are available to anybody online through proxy lists. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re a great option. In fact, they are one of the riskiest proxies to use.
They’re unreliable, and a lot of them are made by government agencies or hackers to steal people’s data. However, many people still decide to use public proxies because they don’t cost anything.
It’s still the riskiest proxy to use, because they can die at any moment, and someone could be out to steal your data.
The chance is extremely low of you finding a public proxy that’s worth your time.
SSL Proxy
SSL Proxies make the most of the SSL protocol so that they can transfer any data in a way that’s more anonymous and secure. This means that they can provide their clients with extra protection from things like hackers.
Most SSL proxies also support HTTP and HTTPS as well. Keep in mind, though, that HTTP proxies aren’t compatible with SSL protocol, so while they’re great for other specific tasks, they won’t be helpful in that context.
Proxy Servers
You may already realize that there are a number of different proxy servers out there that you can configure your proxies with. As you can imagine, the list is pretty long and detailed, so we’ll include an abridged version below to make things a little less confusing.
Rotating Proxy Server
This is the type of proxy server that can randomly change IP addresses. If the proxy server that you choose to invest in has a lot of different proxies in its database, then it has the ability to change servers often, which will keep your data safe. Their connection request will also be more incognito with this approach.
When you’re on the hunt for the best rotating proxy server, make sure that they have a lot of residential proxies.
Forward Proxy Server
A forward proxy is a proxy that stands between you as the client and the internet. Examples of forward proxies are datacenter proxies and residential proxies.
Transparent Proxy Server
This is the type of proxy that can authenticate you when you’re on public Wi-Fi, and while they do have their downsides, they’re still used a lot. It’s important to note that transparent proxies can’t give you any privacy or anonymity, and they can’t change your IP server, so there’s a higher risk of being detected.
Final Thoughts on Proxy Types
So, there you have it – all the different types of proxies, and what their main purpose is. The more you know about the different types of proxies out there, the more informed of a decision you can make when it comes time to choose which one is best for your needs.
At the end of the day, every proxy has its pros and cons, so it all comes down to your personal preferences.
