What Is a Proxy Server And How Is It Different From a VPN

In today's digital world, the issue of anonymity and security on the Internet is becoming increasingly important. Many users are looking for ways to hide their IP address and protect their data, and among the most popular solutions are proxy servers and VPNs. However, despite similar functions, these technologies have key differences in operating principles and capabilities. It is especially important to understand the differences for those users who intend to use social media proxies to manage multiple accounts or bypass regional restrictions. In this article, we will analyze what a proxy server is, how it works, and how it differs from a VPN.

Why Do We Need Proxy Servers?

The main task of a proxy is to hide your real IP address and current location by replacing it with the IP of a proxy server. Ordinary users use proxies for anonymous surfing, and webmasters actively use them for traffic arbitrage, promoting accounts in social networks, parsing data, and many other professional tasks.

The main reasons to use a proxy server:

1. Bypassing IP blocking or removing regional restrictions when accessing websites.
2. Increasing the level of anonymity and private viewing of content on the Internet.
3. Strengthening online security. Protecting your network or devices from network attacks and fraudsters at the most basic level by hiding your IP address.
4. Logging on to the Internet from multiple computers under one IP address.

How Do Proxies Work?

Usually, the device sends a request directly to the site. In this case, the web page sees the user's IP, because it delivers the response to it. When a proxy server is added to the process, all incoming and outgoing traffic goes through it. Now the user's requests first go to the remote server, and then it passes them on to the site. Everything works the same way in the opposite direction. Due to the fact that when using a proxy, the site communicates with it, and not with the user's device directly, the web page does not know the user's address.

How Are Proxies Different From VPNs?

A virtual private network also acts as an intermediary between the user and the site and replaces the user's IP address. But in addition, a VPN creates an encrypted communication channel between the sender and the recipient so that no one except them has access to the transmitted information. Even if a fraudster, an Internet provider, or someone else steals the data, they will not be able to decrypt it. Some proxy servers also encrypt traffic.

Proxies work as browser extensions, while VPNs work as separate applications. Because of this, a proxy covers only the traffic that is transmitted through the browser.

Another difference between a proxy server and a VPN is in the methods of application. In addition to the basic function of IP substitution, a proxy can work as a load balancer. All external requests are sent to the proxy, and it divides the traffic between several servers so that each of them can handle the influx of incoming traffic. Proxy servers also cache user requests to speed up Internet surfing. To do this, the service saves the user's requests and, if they are repeated, gives a response without contacting the site. A VPN cannot cache messages and distribute the load, but through a virtual private network, companies or educational institutions filter incoming data. In this way, they protect the local network from hacker attacks.

Proxies by Type of Placement

The following types of proxies are currently popular:

1. Server proxies.

Server proxies are usually hosted on servers of large companies and are provided with a high-speed Internet connection. These can be thousands of IP addresses located in one data center, and therefore server proxies are the fastest, with a low ping.

2. Residential proxies.

Resident proxy servers are real computers of real people connected to the home Internet and have precise geolocation. The seller of residential proxies does not actually own them, but simply rents IP addresses and transmits traffic through them. Sites see such proxies as real users and therefore rarely block them. But it is important that proxy servers are dynamic and automatically offer a new IP if the resident's device is disconnected.

3. Mobile proxies.

This type of proxy represents real smartphones or tablets. They are connected to the mobile Internet and, like residential proxy servers, are used for remote access.

To ensure the operation of the mobile Internet, mobile operators provide subscribers with dynamically changing IP addresses. But since the pool of such addresses is limited, tens of thousands of regular users can sit on each IP address, so sites are afraid to block mobile proxy servers. Mobile proxies are often used for social networking tasks.

Private And Shared Proxies

A shared proxy is a proxy address from which several users work simultaneously. The only advantage of this method of accessing a proxy is its cost. For serious tasks, it is worth purchasing private proxy servers. They will cost more than shared proxies, but they are more secure, fast, and reliable, and this is what is most often required.

Choosing a proxy is finding a balance between quality and price, so first of all, you should focus on your needs and tasks.