There are numerous proxy types available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. But what sets apart anonymous proxies from private proxies, or static residential proxies from rotating proxies? Your choice of proxy can greatly impact your work.
In this article, we will discuss the most commonly used types of proxies, what they are, and how they can be useful to you. They can become your invaluable ally when you choose the right proxy for your needs.
First, you need to understand whats proxy means, a proxy, also known as a proxy server, is an intermediary between your device and the internet. When you connect to the internet using a proxy, the proxy server acts as a gateway for your requests, forwarding them to the target website on your behalf. This process can provide several benefits, such as improving online security and privacy, accessing geo-restricted content, and hiding your IP address.
Based On The Price Of Proxy Types
There are these proxy types to choose from: paid or free. For those with low usage needs, free proxies can be a good choice, but to get the most out of your proxy for work purposes, it's best to use a paid option.
Free proxies, also known as web proxies, are provided by websites that allow users to use their service for free. However, since there is no payment involved, the effectiveness of these proxies is limited. They often suffer from issues such as slow processing speeds, and can even cause problems for users when the websites they access install malware or store user data. It's important to use them wisely to avoid problems in the future.
Another type of proxy is the paid proxy. When you want to use them, you need to pay the proxy provider a fee corresponding to the functionality of the proxy. Because they involve payment, these types of proxies are much more useful than free proxies. Moreover, reputable proxy providers will always support their users in the best possible way and ensure that the proxies they provide work as smoothly as possible. Additionally, most providers allow you to use the paid proxy at a trial level before making your decision, so you don't have to worry about whether it's suitable for your work or not.
Based On Direction Of Traffic Flow Of Proxy Types
Similar to other forms of traffic, the direction of proxies can be classified as inbound or outbound, depending on whether they are configured on the client or server-side:
Forward Proxies enable customers to create a different IP address than their actual IP address, which helps users access blocked websites or browse the web anonymously to hide their identity.
Reverse proxies function in an opposite way to forward proxies by capturing all traffic sent to a server instead of directing traffic from a client's device. Their purpose is to enhance website security and conserve bandwidth. While forward proxies safeguard clients, reverse proxies protect servers by taking on client requests. Apart from security and caching benefits, reverse proxies also aid in load balancing. When managing multiple servers with similar purposes, the reverse proxy distributes traffic evenly to avoid any delays or lags.
Anonymous Proxy Types
Proxies can be categorized into three types based on their level of anonymity: transparent, anonymous (or semi-transparent), and elite proxies. The proxy anonymous determines how much information is forwarded in the headers sent with requested data. HTTP(S) protocol online requests typically send headers that provide information about the user's device, but proxy servers can modify these headers to either reveal or hide the use of a proxy. Anonymous proxies are a type of proxy that hides the user's IP address, making it more difficult to trace their activity.
Transparent Proxies are proxies that reveal to others that the user is connecting through a proxy IP and display the user's IP address. They are commonly used in public Wi-Fi networks to route traffic and control website access, as seen when connecting to an airport wireless network. They are the least anonymous type of proxy as they disclose the user's actual IP address in the X-Forwarded-For header and the proxy used in the Via header. Transparent proxies are typically used to restrict content or cache frequently visited websites, resulting in faster load times, as they are not intended to protect individual user privacy.
Anonymous proxies, also known as semi-transparent proxies, allow users to browse websites anonymously without revealing their IP address or location. However, headers are still included in these proxies that indicate the use of a proxy. Although these proxies can be easily targeted by those who want to limit proxy access, they are a good choice for those who want to maintain their anonymity online. While the X-Forwarded-For header does not contain the user's real IP address, the Via header still discloses the use of a proxy. Despite this, anonymous proxies are the most widely used forwarding proxy type, making them ideal for general web use, and when used with IP rotation, they become difficult to reliably identify.
Elite proxies are the top choice for users seeking the highest level of anonymity as they don't disclose any user or proxy information. Anonymous proxies hide the user's IP but reveal proxy usage, while transparent proxies display both. Apify Proxy, which combines datacenter and residential IP addresses, is a great option for web scraping. Elite proxy is often marketed as "anonymous proxies" by reputable providers.
Proxy Types By IP Address Version
Proxies are classified based on the type of IP address they use, which can either be IPv4 or IPv6.
IPv4 addresses are the more widely used protocol and consist of four sets of numbers separated by dots. However, there are only a limited number of IPv4 addresses available, making it difficult to find new ones. Despite this, it is still the preferred choice for most proxy users because all websites and applications support it.
IPv6 addresses are a newer protocol and consist of a longer string of numbers and letters. This allows for a significantly larger number of possible IP addresses, but they are not widely supported by websites and applications. In addition, datacenter IPv6 addresses are frequently banned in large numbers due to their availability. As a result, even though billions of unused IPv6 addresses are available, they are not commonly used.
Proxy Types By Source
The classification of proxies also depends on their source. Some proxies are obtained from data centers, while others are from real residential users.
Datacenter proxies get their IP addresses from servers located in data centers, and are more likely to be blocked compared to residential proxies because they are not associated with real-life devices. However, they offer fast speed and are relatively cheaper.
Residential proxies use IP addresses of real mobile and desktop devices, making them harder to block because they appear like real people. Residential proxies are ideal for accessing protected websites and location-sensitive information.
Mobile proxies also come from residential users, but use SIM connections instead of Wi-Fi. They are the most difficult to block as operators share the same IP among hundreds of people.
Static residential proxy combine datacenter and residential IPs, making them fast and stable, but they are often treated as datacenter IPs by IP databases.
Proxy Types By Exclusivity
Residential and datacenter proxies can be further categorized based on their exclusivity. There are three proxy types available: shared, semi-dedicated, and private.
Shared proxies are used by multiple users simultaneously. These proxies are less stable and have a higher chance of being blocked. They are, however, the most affordable type of proxy available in the market. Almost all residential proxies fall under this category since they use a common pool of IP addresses for all users.
Semi-dedicated proxies are similar to shared proxies, but fewer people use them at the same time. They offer a middle ground between shared and private proxies, as they are relatively inexpensive and more stable. However, since their use cannot be fully controlled, they may still be affected by the bad-neighbor effect.
Dedicated proxies, also known as private proxies, are reserved for one user or a specific domain. They are the most efficient among the three types but are also the most expensive.
By Rotation Of Proxy Types
The categorization of proxies can also depend on whether they have a fixed or dynamic IP address.
Static proxies have a fixed IP address and can be used continuously for an extended period. They are suitable for activities that require a consistent identity, such as managing social media accounts. However, they are not very effective for web scraping since websites can easily detect and block them. Most datacenter proxies are static by default, while residential proxies typically have dynamic IPs, although some providers do offer static residential proxies.
Rotating proxies have dynamic IP addresses that change with every connection request or after a set period, usually 10-30 minutes. They are highly useful for web scraping tasks since they have a low block rate. Every connection request comes from a unique IP address, so there is no need to worry about getting blocked. If one IP address gets blocked, the next one in the rotation will be provided automatically.
Proxy Types based on Protocol
The way you connect to websites or services on the internet is determined by the proxy protocol. At present, there are three main types of proxies: HTTP, HTTPS (SSL), and SOCKS proxies.
HTTP proxies are the most commonly used type of proxy. They use the HTTP protocol which is compatible with most websites. However, it sends all traffic in plain text, which makes it less secure. While it's still used for some proxy use cases, such as sneaker copping, you should avoid HTTP proxies when working with sensitive information.
HTTPS (SSL) proxies, also called SSL proxies, are the most secure type of proxies. They use the SSL protocol to encrypt data, which makes it much more difficult for unauthorized parties to gain access to transmitted information. Functionally, they are the same as HTTP proxies.
SOCKS5 proxies operate at a lower level than HTTP(S) proxies. They simply send your data without reading it, making them suitable for all types of traffic, not just websites. For example, you can use them for streaming, gaming, or torrenting. SOCKS5 proxies also support the UDP protocol, allowing for faster transmission of data-intensive traffic than TCP. However, they are not encrypted.
Proxy Types By Presentation
You can acquire proxies through explicit IP lists or gateway addresses.
Proxy lists provide a fixed list of IP addresses that you need to manage yourself for proxy rotation. This was the most common way to obtain datacenter proxies in the past.
Backconnect proxies utilize a gateway server to connect to a proxy network, providing you with a single IP address that automatically rotates proxies on the provider's end. Backconnect proxies are easier to manage than proxy lists, especially when you require IP rotation for web scraping and other tasks. Residential proxies usually utilize backconnect servers.
