Proxy or VPN: which is safer
Security and privacy on the Internet are two fundamental aspects that every user or company working on the Web should take care of. Proxy and VPN are precisely the technologies that can ensure your security. But they work in different ways and have different specifics of use. Let's talk about it in more detail.
What is the difference between a VPN and a proxy
Consider the definitions of these two technologies:
- VPN is a virtual private network that redirects all incoming and outgoing traffic from the provider's servers to remote private servers controlled by the company providing the service. The client is given a new IP, corresponding to the region through which the traffic is redirected. All data is transmitted via a secure tunnel, and, in theory, this guarantees the user complete privacy and security – provided that the VPN service provider will not pass your data to third parties. In addition to security, a VPN provides another benefit – it allows you to bypass restrictions and blockages imposed in the user's actual region of residence. In terms of security, VPN is one of the best technologies available today, as no one will be able to trace your actions, and passwords and all other information will be securely protected from theft.
- A proxy is a privacy tool that hides your real IP address and spoofs your location on the Internet. Compared to a VPN, a proxy works more simply, it doesn't require third-party software to be installed on your computer or server. It is a kind of intermediary server that allows bypassing regional blocking by substituting the actual location of the user with a fictitious one. Proxy is used for caching data, compressing data, and anonymizing access to different resources, and it also protects the local network from external access. A proxy server can be configured so that local computers can only access the external Network through it. At the same time, it will be impossible to access computers on the local network from the external network – if the proxy server is configured accordingly.
In principle, the technologies are quite similar and their functions are often identical, but the VPN provides a much broader range of features designed to increase security and protect personal data on the network. Data transmission through a VPN takes place through a secure tunnel and all traffic is encrypted. A proxy does not use any encryption technology. And so here we answer the main question of the article – in terms of security, VPN is significantly better than a Proxy.
In conclusion
If security, anonymity, and bypassing regional censorship are your priorities, it's best to use VPN services. The only nuance: free VPNs will severely reduce the data transfer rate, which can have a negative impact on the user experience. As for paid VPNs, they are safer, more reliable, and faster than proxy servers in every sense. And they're much easier to set up - VPN service providers provide maximum convenience to customers, allowing one-click access to the Internet from anywhere in the world.