Proxy Types
A proxy is an intermediary between your device and the internet that allows you to modify and control your connection. It can hide your real IP address, provide anonymity, bypass blocks and filters, and offer additional features such as data caching or content filtering. Proxies are widely used in various fields, including security, marketing, web scraping, and network traffic management.
There are several main classifications of proxies:
- By protocols used
- By hosting type
- By degree of anonymity
- By availability of addresses to other users
Let’s take a closer look at each type.
Classification of proxies by protocols used
Undetectable browser supports the two most popular protocols:
Classification by hosting type
Residential Proxies
Residential proxies (also known as home proxies) are proxy servers based on real IP addresses of live users. These proxies allow you to mask your real IP address by connecting to the internet through another user’s IP address. Residential proxies usually offer a high degree of anonymity and are a good choice for various tasks such as data scraping, account automation, or accessing regionally restricted content. However, due to their popularity and limited number of available addresses, residential proxies can be more expensive and require constant updates to maintain their effectiveness.
Mobile Proxies
Mobile proxies are proxy servers based on mobile networks. They use mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets to relay network traffic. These proxies allow you to exchange data through various mobile IP addresses, providing increased anonymity and the ability to bypass blocks and restrictions associated with specific networks or regions. Mobile proxies can be particularly useful for those involved in social media marketing, data parsing, or testing applications with a mobile audience.
Datacenter Proxies
Datacenter proxies are servers located in data centers. They are inexpensive but often end up on blacklists due to their popularity.
Classification of proxies by degree of privacy
Anonymous
Anonymous proxy services hide all user data but indicate that they are proxies.
Elite
Elite proxies do not disclose that a proxy is being used and do not transmit the user’s real IP address. This is the safest option, as websites and services can only block proxies if they are aware of them.
Transparent
Transparent proxies transmit all user information and cannot be used as a means of anonymization or data concealment. They are usually used for speeding up work or filtering corporate traffic.
There are also distorting proxies that transmit false IP address information to the server. They allow the server to determine part of the user’s real IP address. This is enough to determine information about the client’s provider and location.
Public and Private Proxies
Public proxies are proxy servers that are available to the public. They are usually offered for free and can be used by any user to bypass restrictions, ensure anonymity, or enhance security while working on the internet. Public proxy servers can be configured for various protocols, including HTTP, SOCKS, and others. They can collect traffic information (and resell it) and are often blacklisted by anti-fraud systems.
Private proxies are proxy servers that are only available to a limited number of users or organizations. They offer a higher level of security, confidentiality, and control compared to public proxy servers.
Choosing a Proxy
When choosing, rely on your financial capabilities and goals. For maximum anonymity, it is better to purchase private residential proxies with SOCKS5 protocol support.
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HTTP
The most common type of proxy. HTTP proxy is specifically designed to work with the HTTP protocol (mostly used for browsing web pages). It can control and modify request headers, filter content, and cache web pages.
This is a basic level of anonymity. It is suitable for accessing blocked resources, but it has some drawbacks as the protocol itself is outdated, and the connection often turns out to be slow.
SOCKS5
Today, the SOCKS5 protocol has become an unsurpassed means of information transmission.
In addition to TCP connections, SOCKS5 also supports UDP connections, login and password authentication, and the ability to make remote DNS requests. The SOCKS protocol does not interfere with the processing of HTTP headers and transmits information without changes. That is why SOCKS servers guarantee user anonymity.
By using SOCKS proxies, your IP address remains hidden from the websites you interact with. Websites will not be able to determine that you are using a proxy, and communication with them will be completely transparent, as if you were working directly. However, websites will see the IP address of the proxy, not your real IP address.
The SOCKS protocol supports all major protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP, making it a versatile tool for ensuring anonymity and security on the network.
Comparison of HTTP and SOCKS5
Making the right choice is impossible without conducting a comparison. One of the main differences between HTTP proxies and SOCKS proxies is their different methods of handling large amounts of data. When using an HTTP proxy, familiar schemes of processing and transmitting information are applied, including the use of a tunnel where data and network protocol functions are packaged into one component, as well as the use of a cache where information is stored in an intermediate buffer.
In contrast, SOCKS proxies provide anonymity by default and handle all network traffic without forwarding data back to the user. This significantly reduces data transmission to external networks, making it practically impossible to detect the user’s IP address.
Thus, comparing HTTP proxies and SOCKS proxies, it can be noted that the former use familiar data processing schemes such as tunneling and caching, while SOCKS proxies provide anonymity by default and allow processing all network traffic without sending data back to the user.