What Are the Three Types of Proxy Servers?

There are three types of proxies, each with different features. These include public proxies, shared proxies, and residential proxies.

Public proxies

Public proxies are free-to-use, open proxy servers that anyone can use. They do not offer the security and privacy of a paid service, but they can be an efficient way to browse the internet anonymously.

They can also be used to get around state or institutional browsing restrictions. For example, schools and governments often use firewalls to block access to certain websites.

The most basic type of proxy is a forward proxy, which sits in front of a group of client computers and intercepts their requests to the internet. It then communicates with web servers on their behalf, acting as a middleman.

Proxy server providers are also useful in companies to allow employees to access confidential data safely. They can be configured to block employees from accessing dangerous websites, monitor employee activities online, and request that they change their behavior as necessary.

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Shared proxies

Proxies are a great way to protect your privacy while on the internet. They replace your IP address with their own before taking you to the website, service, or app you want.

They're also a great way to avoid censorship or blockage from websites and companies. These proxies have been designed to be indistinguishable from genuine users, making them harder for online companies to track and profile.

Shared proxies are cheaper and easier to set up than dedicated proxies, but they come with a few drawbacks. They're slow to load because multiple people share bandwidth, and certain websites can block them.

They also run the risk of being hacked by spammers and hackers, which can be dangerous for your personal or business information. So, before you choose a shared proxy, be sure to research the company that provides it and make sure they're reputable. If they're not, you could find yourself with many headaches down the line.

Residential proxies

Residential proxies are real IP addresses that come from residential users. They are in high demand because they offer a range of benefits, reliability, and scale that many online businesses need to get more done in less time.

They also hide your true IP from servers, ensuring more anonymity when using the internet. For instance, if you're running multiple social media accounts from one machine or downloading torrents, residential proxies can help you stay anonymous without risking your account being banned.

These proxies route your internet traffic through an intermediary server that then changes the IP address of your connection request. Your real IP is then rerouted to the proxy address, and no one knows you're using a proxy.

Residential proxies are especially helpful when you're scraping a website or performing several consecutive search requests. This is because a search engine may have a limited number of queries over certain intervals, and you can easily get blocked if you perform these queries from the same IP.

Transparent proxies

Transparent proxies are server-side proxy that intercepts requests before sending them to a destination server. They do not require any client-side setup and are typically used by enterprises and ISPs.

These proxies can also be used to filter traffic, restricting access to websites based on certain rules. This is most common for networks that allow access to the Internet only after you agree to terms of service, such as public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Another use for transparent proxies is to help cache content on the network, which can significantly improve connection speeds and save bandwidth in places where bandwidth is scarce. This is especially useful when a large number of people are expected to open the same page at the same time.

In addition, transparent proxies can be used to protect a website from DDoS attacks by blocking junk packets. This is particularly important for websites that host large amounts of information, such as video or music.

Marvin Fry

Update 18 March 2023