Both VPNs and proxy servers were developed to help users stay anonymous on the Internet and access sites that are blocked for certain regions. If you want to buy Brazil proxies, you can do it at an attractive price on soax.com. But first, you need to understand the difference between these technologies to choose one of them. We will help you with that.
What is a proxy server?
A proxy server is an intermediate link between your computer or other device and the Internet. It makes requests to sites, servers, and all kinds of Internet services on your behalf.
Pros and cons of using a proxy
Using a proxy server for local connections has the following advantages:
- you can hide your IP address during basic verification;
- you can hide your geographic location;
- depending on how proxy servers are configured, they can enhance your security by blocking sites distributing malware;
- proxy servers can be used to access geographically restricted services;
- there are many free and paid proxy servers in the public domain but the paid ones are usually better and more reliable.
On the other hand, using proxy servers for local connections also has some disadvantages:
- proxy servers do not encrypt your Internet traffic;
- neither your IP address nor your real location is hidden from more advanced detection methods;
- when using a proxy server, your Internet traffic goes through it, and a malicious proxy server can see and control everything you do on the Internet (this is the danger of using free untrusted proxies);
- if you access a secure encrypted site or an Internet service through an improperly configured proxy, it may transmit unencrypted data to your computer.
Now you know the pros and cons of using proxies and can make the right decision.
What is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure network between your computer and a VPN server on the Internet. All network traffic that passes through this connection is encrypted, so only your computer and the VPN server know what resource you visited and used.
Pros and cons of using a VPN
The advantages of VPNs are the following:
- all network traffic between your device and a VPN server is encrypted, making it almost impossible for third parties to see what sites you visit;
- VPNs hide your real IP address and geographic location;
- you can bypass geographic restrictions.
Virtual private networks also have some disadvantages:
- VPN servers must encrypt all traffic passing through them, and this can affect performance and speed;
- when you connect to a VPN server, every bit of data between your device and the server is encrypted but this data is decrypted at the VPN server making your actions visible;
- reliable VPN services are usually more expensive than a good proxy server.
Each technology has its pros and cons, so focus on your needs and budget when choosing it.
