Privacy and security are crucial factors everyone checks when surfing the internet. But it’s hard to achieve the recommended levels if you don’t have the right tools. Without them, the internet is just an open cyberspace with all the risks such as government surveillance, monitoring and tracking and also other threats such as Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks from cybercriminals. Apart from security and privacy, there are also other issues such as geo restrictions and censorships which strip away your internet freedom and digital rights.
To avoid the above internet injustices, tools such as VPNs and proxies are necessary. These tools ensure you reclaim your privacy and also security is not compromised when surfing the internet. Below are details on how VPNs and proxies work and also which is the best tool for the job.
VPN
VPN or Virtual Private Network is a service with an infrastructure that comprises a network of secure servers. These servers form an encrypted tunnel in which internet traffic passes between a client and the open internet.
How a VPN works
A VPN’s primary functions include privacy and security. A VPN accomplishes these functionalities by hiding your IP and through encryption. When you connect to a VPN, you are assigned one of the VPN’s server IP addresses – IP address is your unique identifier on the internet – and hence your real IP address is masked (not visible on the internet). In a nutshell, this is how a VPN achieves privacy and anonymity.
For security, VPNs use unbreakable encryptions such as the AES 256-bit and also secure protocols such as OpenVPN. Encryption ensures your internet traffic is scrambled and no one will be able to read it even if its intercepted. With this security, you’ll be safe from cybercriminals, government surveillance and even your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some VPNs have added functionalities such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection which ensure maximum privacy and security. Others have a zero-logging policy, and hence they don’t log any activity you do on the internet.
Some VPN Pros include;
- Impeccable security and privacy
- Helps you gain access to geo-restricted content
- Bypasses blocks and censorships
- High-speed servers
- Easy to use
Cons include;
- VPNs can be expensive
- Free VPNs can put your privacy at risk
Proxy
Proxy is a general term but, in this case, it refers to proxy servers. These are specialized servers that act as a medium connection between your computer and the services you want to access the internet.
How it works
When connecting to the internet using proxy servers, your IP address is hidden. Here’s is how; proxy servers use different IP addresses to service your request when accessing the internet, they then send the results back to your computer. By using proxy servers as your intermediary, anybody tracking you will land at the proxy server instead of your computer. This is how proxy servers achieve privacy. For security, some proxy servers may offer secure protocols and even firewalls to protect you against internet vulnerabilities and threats.
At times proxies may offer faster connections speeds when accessing certain web pages due to caching. Depending on the specs of the server, the connection can be slow or faster.
Pros of using proxies include;
- Compatible with any device that allows proxy address.
- Server benefits such as speed
- Gain access to restricted content
Cons include;
- Unreliability in terms of security
- You get accrued server cons such malware
- It’s hard to configure proxies
Comparing the above services, a VPN is a much better service as it provides excellent security and privacy, and that’s what is needed in the open internet. To avoid the hassle of looking for a VPN, we recommend using IP Burger VPN. With dedicated IP addresses, you can unblock geo-restricted content and bypass other restrictions. IP Burger VPN also provides top-notch security which ensures you’ll be private and secure when using the internet.
