What is a private proxy?

A proxy server is the intermediary between the Internet (and the data on it) and you.

When you browse the web, your connection goes through a proxy server: its role is to filter the data that passes between you and the servers that host the sites you visit. This is useful for data and device security, but also for sharing the network between machines (computer, servers).

A proxy server transmits your IP address to the servers hosting the websites, so that they can send the data from the pages to your computer and not to another. A private proxy is therefore a proxy server that belongs to you, an additional intermediary that serves several purposes.

Private proxies What for ?

First of all, having your own proxy server means that you can control the use of the Internet, whether in your home or in your company; it allows you to see which sites people are connecting to, but also offers the possibility of blocking some sites or unlock restrictions due to your country or school.

Facebook proxies are commonly use for by pass restrictions and unlock blocked account. 

Proxies can also be very effective for parental control, for example. Secondly, it can be used to save bandwidth by improving the management of requests to sites (page caching, bandwidth allocation, etc.).

From another point of view, it can have advantages with regard to the confidentiality of the data shared by your computer; proxy servers can modify your IP address.

For instance, with Instagram proxies you can keep enjoying sharing your awesome pics with 100% anonymous connection. 

Moreover, it also has a security dimension, since the request data between your computer and a server can be encrypted: even if a hacker has infected one or more machines, it will be (at least) more difficult for him to infect you.

Finally, buying a private proxy server is the possibility to bypass the blocking of your IP address by certain sites. Whether it is because your connection is blocked (company, parents, institutions, etc.) or because sites have detected suspicious activity linked to your IP, several reasons come into play. As we have seen, a proxy can change your IP address: once this is done, the sites that were blocking you can no longer detect you.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”, the VPN makes it possible to make the link between “distant” computers by isolating them from public networks. This type of network is often used to access remote computers as if the computer being used was on the same local network; practical for teleworking, for example. For the general public, it is above all the possibility of changing one’s IP address to be less easily identified and geolocated, as well as to encrypt one’s data. It is mainly used to access the foreign catalogues of the major videos streaming platforms.

What difference between Proxy and VPN ?

In reality, a VPN is more secure than a proxy. Indeed, it allows you to encrypt your data and hide your IP address by replacing it and locating it wherever you want. A proxy “only” changes your IP address. This is why when you are performing “sensitive” tasks such as entering a credit card or a password on a website, it is better to use a VPN.

However, for some tasks requiring low bandwidth, the proxy will be more advantageous. Moreover, in some countries the use of a VPN is not recommended or even forbidden, where the proxy is legal;

All this means that you cannot use both a VPN and a proxy server, in any case you will have to choose one of the two solutions. Fortunately, the use of one of these services can be coupled with the use of Tor, for a more secure browsing.

When talking about private proxy servers and proxy purchases, a distinction must be made between dedicated proxy servers and semi-dedicated proxy servers.

There are also free proxies or general proxies, which are to be shared between all users.

Dedicated private proxies are better than semi-dedicated ones

A dedicated proxy server implies that the IP address that will be granted to you entirely: nobody else can use it. In the case of semi-dedicated proxy servers, it is the opposite: the IP address is shared between several users. This means that the risks of blocking are greater, but also that these “semi-shared” proxies are not completely free.

A dedicated, truly private proxy is therefore more advantageous. The other side of the coin is that this solution is obviously more expensive than the others (but much better).

Private dedicated proxies are more customisable/manipulable

Proxy sellers obviously place restrictions on the uses of semi-dedicated private proxies. You cannot necessarily do web scraping, which is a technique that consists of using automated software to retrieve certain data online. This method is often detected and blocked by search engines and social networks in particular. This also means that semi-dedicated or free proxies are more prone to crashes; some malicious users break the rules that have been put in place. The purchase of a private proxy is then a more customisable solution, especially at the software level: the configuration can be more advanced and thus more secure, fast and stable.

As we have seen, you need to look at the many offers on the Internet to see if the proxy you are being offered is general, semi-dedicated or dedicated. Then you have to look at the basic characteristics, such as compatibility with your operating system (not all proxy software is compatible with Windows, Mac or Linux).

Last be sure that a support is fully available to help you adress some issues you might have. 

Cold Proxy sells high quality proxies and offer you premium support

An HTTP proxy is used for regular web browsing while a SOCKS proxy is used for torrenting.

When downloading torrents with a SOCKS proxy, performance is lower but still optimised for this use. If you want to buy a private proxy, you have to choose between these two types of proxy depending on your use: some allow you to have both possibilities.

The best private proxy is probably… the most expensive. It sounds silly to say, but the most expensive ones are often the most secure, the most reliable and the fastest.

At Cold Proxy, we sell best value money proxies, not the cheapest but highest performance and reliable private proxies for affordable prices

This is why when you are looking for a proxy, adapt your search according to the price you wish to invest but also to the use you will make of the proxy.

There are many online reviews, so don’t hesitate to check them out. Hav a look to Cold Proxy reviews, you’ll see that our worldwide customers are satisfied of our services and proxies. 

In addition to online reviews, you can consult the many comparisons that exist between proxy providers; this will allow you to understand the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each.