Proxy and VPN can be used to hide our identity on the Internet. Both have the same basic function. Hiding our IP address from the website we visit hides our identity from the end user. However, depending on our usage needs, it is decided whether to choose a proxy or a VPN.
Proxy server and its advantages, disadvantages
Although there are types of proxy servers such as HTTP, FTP, SSL, etc., here we are talking about Anonymous Proxy. A proxy server like this becomes an intermediary for a website we visit. When we provide a web address, the server accesses the relevant website and brings the data received directly to our screen.
In case our country is blocked by a website, we can access it very easily with a proxy server. There are websites that can be used without installing anything on the computer or phone. Examples are proxysite.com, proxysite.video, hide.me, free-proxy.com etc. When visiting these websites, we can easily access the blocked website by choosing which country should be represented for the website address we want to visit.
The website we are visiting thinks that it is connected to the selected country and allows us to access it. This method can be a bit annoying if you want to visit several websites at once. Because, every time you visit the respective proxy website, you have to enter by typing its web address. Because many web services load the respective website in iframes, sometimes a large number of advertisements are displayed around it, so it may be more difficult than accessing the respective website from the browser.
VPN is
VPN services also look very similar to proxies on the surface. Your data is sent to one server and through it the data is sent to the required website. You also get data through the intermediate server while receiving reply data. The primary difference between a VPN and a proxy server is the way our data is sent to the server.
When you use a VPN, you need to install VPN software on your computer or phone. When enabled, all data sent from your device will be encrypted. Then an outsider (eg your ISP, hackers, etc.) can’t see what data you’re sending. This is called Tunneling. While an outsider can see you while traveling on the highway of the real world, if you dig a tunnel underground, no one can see it. That name is used because this also works in the same way.
Not only to access the Internet, but many organizations also use VPNs to protect their internal network from external networks. Then they can protect their corporate sensitive data from hackers. Here we are talking about accessing the Internet.
Advantages and disadvantages of VPNs
VPN can be easily used to hide your identity online. It is easy to use after installation, although it takes time to install, and as another piece of software, it slows down the computer slightly. Unlike a proxy, here the connection from our computer to the intermediate server is also encrypted. Due to this Tunneling process, our Internet Service Provider (ISP) cannot see the websites we visit, so we can access websites blocked by the ISP.
The software has to be installed on the computer/telephone because this encryption process is done through it. But unfortunately, VPNs are not free. “So we installed this FREE VPN?” You will ask now. Yes, even if it is free in money, the freebies are collecting our important data instead. One such situation is that when such an App is installed on the phone, they can see a lot of data such as what other Apps we use and how long we use them. By using them, they get the opportunity to collect data needed to display advertisements. Also, some ads come every few minutes.
You may have seen cracked VPN software for computers, but it is not recommended to use them because there are malware that completely encrypts and destroys our data like Ransomware.
What is better?
In the event that a website is blocked in Sri Lanka (and some YouTube videos cannot be viewed from Sri Lanka), a proxy can be easily used instead of using a free VPN for that purpose by paying money or betraying data on the computer or phone. These are mostly free and contain minimal ads. Proxy websites cannot take over the power of our devices through software, so we can use those services without fear of the data inside the device.
However, when many websites are blocked by the ISP, using a VPN is very easy. It is better to install OpenVPN on your own VPS to avoid data mining and use it more reliably. But because it costs money, if you need a solution that can be taken for free, you can connect to the TOR network as we brought in a previous article. It allows you to browse the internet more securely and hide your identity well.
