The Pros And Cons Of Using Proxy Server Services

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Nowadays, it’s believed that using proxy server services has become a very common practice amongst private individuals and businesses alike. 

Proxy servers are used to hide your original internet protocol (IP) address and replace it with another one. They’re also used to hide your location so that you can access geo-restricted content worldwide. However, there are some pros and cons associated with using proxy servers. Continue reading to learn more. 

Pros Of Using Proxy Server Services

Proxy servers are touted by experts as helpful tools for modern-day digital tasks. They offer the following advantages:

Unblock Websites With Proxy Servers Easily

Proxy sites are a quick and easy way to bypass the blocks your school or work might have put up. It’s also an excellent way to get around restrictions on websites such as Facebook and YouTube. You can even get American Netflix in Australia if you want to as well.

There are many different proxy server providers available online to help you unblock websites, but some of them charge for their services, and others don't work very well. 

Here's how to use proxy servers to unblock websites:

Step 1: Find a proxy server provider that works well with your browser.

Step 2: Setup your browser to use the proxy server you want to use.

Proxies Hide Your IP Address

The primary function of proxies is to mask IP addresses and let people surf anonymously online. This makes it more difficult for people to track your browsing activity and identity. Utilizing proxies also protects you against hackers trying to steal sensitive information such as credit card details or social security numbers.

Each proxy server has its unique IP address, which helps hide yours. This means that when a website tries to find out where you're located by looking at your IP address, it'll receive an incorrect response from the proxy server instead of yours, making it impossible for anyone else to know what country or city you're in.

Improved Web Browsing Performance

Proxy providers improve performance when browsing the web or downloading large files. When you access websites through a proxy server, your computer or mobile device sends requests through that server instead of directly contacting the website itself. 

One example is if the proxy server usually has faster internet connectivity than your computer or phone. So, if you’re downloading from a website in another country on the other side of the world and you have slow internet speeds at home, your download speeds will increase significantly when using a proxy server.

Cons Of Using Proxy Server Services

Although making use of a proxy server service offers a multitude of perks, there are a few disadvantages that you should know about. They include:

Proxy Servers May Pose Network Incompatibility

If you use a proxy provider, there's a chance that your network could be incompatible with the proxy provider. This can be a major hiccup if you’re just launching a new web venture.

The most common issue is that the proxy provider uses an outdated version of TLS, which is the protocol that encrypts data sent between two parties. Your network may not support this particular version of TLS. If this is the case, you’ll see an error message in your browser's address bar when you attempt to connect to the proxy.

If you're using a corporate virtual private network or VPN, contact your information technology (IT) department for more information about whether or not it's compatible with your proxy provider. Meanwhile, if you're using a personal VPN service, check its FAQs and contact customer support if necessary.

Your Connection Might Not Be Totally Encrypted

A proxy provider connection might not be encrypted and it's a very common situation. It happens because the proxy provider doesn’t have an SSL certificate installed on their server, which means that all data being sent from your computer to their server isn't encrypted. It can also be an issue for some users because when you connect to an unencrypted server, your data can be intercepted by third parties along the way.

Proxy Providers Can Keep Track Of Your Activity

A proxy provider can keep track of your activity and will know what sites you visit. They also know what you search for online and can monitor your online activities. This is why choosing a proxy provider with strong privacy policies in place and protecting your data from being sold to third parties is important. 

A good proxy provider will also offer private proxies that don't keep logs of their users' activities, but they cost more than shared proxies.

Final Thoughts

Many still discuss the pros and cons of using proxy server services. Some believe they're a great way to protect your privacy and anonymity on the web, but others think the risks outweigh the benefits. It's important to consider the pros and cons of using proxy server services before you commit to using one. It's up to you to decide which side you fall on, but after reading this post, you now have some insight into what proxy servers are and how they work.

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