The newer generation is confused about what to use for their security: Proxy or VPN.
There was a survey made in 2020 that reported that –
- 84% of individuals care about their online privacy and security.
- 80% of them are willing to act to protect it.
We already know that by using antivirus software applications, we can protect our system from getting infected by any malware virus. But what about your IP Address, location, and other sensitive data? These Data are not protected by antivirus software.
Knowing that while surfing the internet, sensitive data like IP Addresses are at risk, people started looking for different methods to protect their privacy. This is where these two terms become popular – Proxy and VPN.
While both offer the feature of masking the original IP address, which option is better?
In this article, we will try to find the answer.
What Is A Proxy?
A proxy server, or proxy, is a server located between the client and the server of the original website. Proxies have their IP address.
So, when someone uses a proxy server to access the main website, all the client’s data is subdued by the IP address of the proxy server.
By doing so, proxy servers enhance security, reliability, and speed and optimize the network for the safety of the client.
When a client requests the proxy, the proxy analyses the request and tries to find a relevant webpage in the cache data.
If there are no results, it sends the query to the internet, just like the Pirate Bay torrent website searches for relevant content.
What Is A VPN?
A VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is a private network configured within a public network. It creates an encrypted tunnel for your internet connection to pass.
The best way to visualize a VPN is like an encrypted tunnel. Your data travels through the tunnel, and all the data is encrypted during that process.
That means the user connected to the VPN service cannot be tracked.
Proxy Vs. VPN: Differences
Now that we understand VPNs and Proxies, let’s examine their differences.
1. Cookies
Today, people are concerned about how their data is stored on cookies and later used by the website for marketing.
GDPR is the new compliance in the EU business world. Because of this new regulation, websites need to ask for visitors’ permission before saving their data.
However, in the case of Proxy servers, that is not the case. The moment you use a proxy server to access the internet, you are allowing the proxy to use your data
2. Connection Speed
Another critical difference between Proxy and VPN services is their speed. Proxy servers are relatively faster than VPN services. This is because the Proxy server only redirects the traffic of one website.
On the other hand, VPN services will be slow because of the complex process behind the scenes. A VPN service encrypts every movement on the internet and takes its time. However, it is more secure than Proxy servers.
3. Cost
This is where Proxies seem to be winning the best. Even the most valuable Proxy servers on the internet are free. On the other hand, VPN services typically cost somewhere between $5 to $15.
While using a Proxy server to access content, you must know that the server has all your data and, thus, how they can make requests on your behalf. If you don’t want Proxies to have your data, ensure that you use SSL security.
Our Verdict
If we are talking about A VPN and A Proxy’s functionality, both help users hide their IP Addresses and bypass blocked online content. However, a VPN encrypts the whole network. While a Proxy only redirects the traffic to a particular website.
But because of the advanced functionality of VPN, it is comparatively slower than a Proxy. But then again, A proxy won’t encrypt your web traffic and leave you unsecured while surfing the internet.
