A proxy server is an intermediary between your device and the websites you visit. It keeps you safe by hiding your IP address – every time you use a proxy to go online, it guarantees you privacy. Nobody on the internet, including your ISP, should be able to see where you’re going and what you’re doing. This way, proxies ensure cyber safety, online privacy, and data confidentiality.
Of course, there are many types of proxy servers, depending on their origin, level of anonymity, and real-life application. Some are designed to shield company networks with thousands of devices. Others are used for streaming Netflix while abroad. Not all proxies are equally safe, and some are downright risky. The world of proxies is vast and meant for exploring.
To help you navigate the many proxy servers available to individual and business users, we’ve compiled a list of ten popular types that we think are useful and effective.
1. HTTP Proxy Server
This is the most common type of proxy with many subtypes. An HTTP proxy works as a web filter that encrypts and caches information. So, in addition to increasing your online privacy, this proxy also speeds up your connection. As a business, you can use it to monitor and manage your employees’ online whereabouts. An HTTP proxy also filters ads and bypasses geo-blocks.
2. HTTPS Proxy Server
An HTTPS proxy is also called an SSL proxy, but don’t let that confuse you. This type of proxy has a very straightforward purpose – to encrypt and decrypt all information between the client and the server. An HTTPS proxy is every type of proxy that uses an SSL protocol in addition to HTTP, thus adding another layer of anonymity. It’s used for protecting passwords and other sensitive data.
3. SOCKS Proxy Server
SOCKS is an internet protocol that facilitates – but doesn’t encrypt – the exchange of data packets between a client and a server. It’s a very versatile type of proxy, as it can handle any internet traffic, regardless of volume software or protocol. It’s a popular solution for downloading, uploading, and transferring large data packets, though SOCKS doesn’t offer data confidentiality.
4. Private Proxy Server
A private proxy server is also known as a personal proxy. As implied by both names, this type of proxy provides an IP address only to one user at a time. That makes it ideal for all domestic and office applications, from anonymous browsing and managing sensitive data to data scraping. Having your dedicated proxy server that you don’t have to share also means fast loading.
5. Public Proxy Server
Unlike private proxies, public proxies are open-source and available to anyone who needs to use a proxy for free. A public proxy is similar to public Wi-Fi – multiple users share them simultaneously, making them less effective and often dangerous. Many free public proxies are fake. Like phishing scams, they serve to trick users into sharing sensitive data.
6. Residential Proxy
Unlike data center proxies, which route your traffic through, well, data centers, residential proxies ensure anonymity by borrowing an actual IP address from a real device owned by a real user. It’s arguably the best proxy for achieving optimum obscurity while online, as it masks your identity in an authentic way. As such, a residential proxy is especially useful for web scraping.
7. Rotating Proxy Server
Perhaps as equally effective as a residential proxy, a rotating proxy server gives you a different IP address every time you make a new connection. This type of proxy is predominantly used for data scraping, as it keeps you from getting banned or blacklisted.
8. Anonymous Proxy
Though an “anonymous proxy” is not a specific type of proxy server, we must include it in the list as a reminder that not all proxies are anonymous – as you’ll see below. An anonymous proxy is every proxy that doesn’t disclose your IP address, but there’s a catch. While your IP stays hidden, you should know that the fact that you’re using a proxy is still very much visible.
9. Transparent Proxy
A transparent proxy doesn’t make you anonymous. So, what’s the point of it? The main purpose of a transparent proxy is to block or limit access to certain web pages for users who access the internet via public Wi-Fi.
10. Elite Proxy Servers
On the opposite end of the spectrum from transparent proxies are elite proxies. This type of proxy server hides your IP address as anonymous proxies do but also conceals the fact that you’re using one.
How to Choose the Best Proxy for You
If you’re overwhelmed by the options, ask yourself: “Why do I need a proxy?”. Your decision will be based on how much anonymity you desire and if you intend to protect your own data or gather public data online. Keep in mind that various types of proxies are not mutually exclusive, allowing you to combine capabilities with different anonymity levels.
Conclusion
Proxies provide a host of solutions for many environments and use cases. Choosing the best is not easy, but it is worth the trouble. While we can’t tell you which type of proxy server is the best pick, we must advise you to steer clear of free public proxies. In any unique application, a proxy should enhance online security – not compromise your safety.
