5 Differences Between Proxies and VPNs
Proxy vs VPN is one of the most searched keywords on the internet and this is due to the fact
that both technologies work very similarly in protecting users while surfing the internet.
However, the basic thrust of this article is to explore some of the major differences between
proxies and VPNs. We’ll try to answer questions such as: Which is more reliable? Which offers
better security? Which is cheaper to use? These and more are what this article seeks to answer,
so let’s get to it!
What is a VPN and how does it work?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online security client that encrypts and secures your
browsing data while performing various tasks on the internet in order to protect your browsing
behavior from being accessed by cybercriminals or data stealers.
Simply put, a VPN hides your current IP address when browsing, downloading, uploading files,
or streaming media on the internet so as to make your connection more safe and secure.
Some of the benefits of using a VPN include:
- Safe and secure internet browsing
- Robust encryption
- Optimum anonymity
- The wide availability of extra security features
- Ability to unblock geo-restricted content
That said, below are some downsides of using a VPN:
- Relatively expensive
- It may slow down your network connection
- Some VPNs keep logs, meaning your data may be leaked to third parties like cybercriminals or
even the government
PROXY VS VPN: What is a Proxy and how does it work?
A proxy acts as an agent between your computer and the internet. What it does is conceal your
original IP address so that third parties will not be able to access or trace it when performing
various tasks on the internet.
When you are connected to the internet using a proxy, your real IP address will be hidden from
the websites you visit as they’ll only be able to see the fake address given to them by the proxy
itself. This is done to make your connection safer and more secure.
However, it is worth noting that proxies do not come with security and privacy features, unlike
VPNs. The only way they promote online privacy is by concealing your real IP address, which is
still not strong enough for secure and safe internet surfing.
Again, a proxy does not protect your system at large; it only protects the particular application
or browser you configure it on.
What the above implies is that a proxy will only hide your real IP address when you connect to
the internet using a configured application or browser. If you connect with a non-configured
browser, your IP will be visible to third parties, potentially including cybercriminals and data
stealers.
Benefits of using a proxy
- It can help circumvent geo-restricted web contents
- The configuration is pretty simple and easy
- It hides your real IP from hackers and other cybercriminals
Disadvantages of Using a Proxy
- Your real IP address is visible to the owner of the proxy server
- The connection is often unstable
- They are rarely encrypted, which means your data can easily be hacked or altered
- They can be blocked anytime
If you would like a look from a different perspective, check out this blog post by Oxylabs that
helps beginners understand what a proxy is.
PROXY VS VPN: What are the major differences?
The basic differences between VPN and proxy are highlighted below:
ONLINE SECURITY
To start with, a VPN will basically hide your real IP address immediately you connect to the
internet so as to protect your identity and data while surfing the web.
However, VPNs are more secure than proxies, and this is due to the fact that they are often
equipped with robust encryption [e.g. AES-256 standard], potent protocols [e.g. OpenVPN], as
well as military-grade privacy and security features like Killswitch, DNS leak protection, etc.
On the other hand, proxies in most cases are not encrypted, which means your identity and
browsing behavior is highly visible to online hackers and cybercriminals.
That said, in rare cases, some proxies use SSL-type encryption, which is less secure and reliable
for internet surfers.
INTERNET PRIVACY
You will get a satisfactory privacy level with a VPN because it encrypts all your inbound and
outbound data. This simply means that your browsing behavior will be inaccessible by either
your ISP or cybercriminals.
On the other way round, a proxy provides a lower level of online privacy due to the fact that
your data [both inbound and outbound] will not be encrypted. This exposes your internet traffic
to third parties like your ISP, the government, and data stealers.
That said, if you choose to use a proxy over a VPN, your entire browsing behavior will be
revealed clearly to the owner of that proxy, which might further expose you to higher risks.
ONLINE SPEEDS
Encryption is one of the things that may affect your internet speed. However, it will interest you
to know that proxies do not use robust encryption in most cases. This simply means that your
internet speed will not be slowed down when using a proxy.
Additionally, a proxy server might be very fast in loading websites provided it is cached in the
local network. The reason is that it will not be forced to interchange your requests, which will,
in turn, improve the loading speed.
More importantly, proxy servers may slow down your internet connection as there are a huge
number of people connecting at a time.
Talking about VPNs, you may get slower internet speeds because they often come with strong
encryption such as the AES-256 standard, and this may slightly slow down your online speeds.
In addition to the above, a VPN can also slow down your speeds if the gap between you and the
chosen server is extremely far. This is not usually noticeable though.
EXTRA FEATURES
VPNs will always be preferred to proxy servers when it comes to additional features. This is
because proxies basically do not come with extra features, unlike VPNs that are packed with it.
The advantage of these features is that they help improve your online anonymity so as to
ensure that your data is not accessible or readable by cybercriminals.
PRICING
Proxies might be free to use, except for the few ones that are priced. However, using a free
proxy might be very dangerous for you. The reason is that public proxies often expose users’
data on the internet and you might also be clogged with numerous unsolicited ads.
As for VPNs, you can get a Free VPN as well as a paid one. However, it is recommended you
shun the free clients and go for the trusted, premium ones.
Why? Free VPNs offer little or no security and privacy, while they can also keep logs and expose
your browsing behavior to third parties.
Going for a premium VPN from a trusted provider will provide you with a reliable, private, safe,
and secure internet experience.
VPN VS PROXY: Which is Right for you?
Based on the above comparisons and various experiments, choosing a VPN over proxies for
your online activities could be a wise choice since it provides a more secure, encrypted, and
reliable internet experience.
However, if you’re not a privacy-freak and you just need a tool that can help conceal your real
IP address or unblock geo-restricted contents, then choosing a proxy server could be great.