In this article, we will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages offered by proxy servers. We will look at the pros and cons of proxies and also investigate how they can help you and your business.
Before we start – if you’re not 100% sure on how a proxy server works or what it even is then check out this excellent proxy server definition.
What Advantages Come With Using A Proxy Server?
- Hide Your IP Address
We have discussed previously in earlier articles that a proxy server can hide your real IP address and that the server that controls your target website will not be able to detect your actual address. However, in certain situation situations at some institutions, the servers can prevent individuals from accessing specific websites. When that is the case, a proxy can come in useful and allow you to visit the website. On a broader scale, there are countries that block the access of their residents to certain websites or even a great deal of online content. Having a dependable proxy service can help you fool the filters and surf the web freely.
- Filter Requests
Not only can a proxy be used for obtaining access to a website, but it can also be used to restrict access to certain websites to individuals who are using your network. Companies can use proxies to prevent employees from accessing websites that might damage your network or reduce their productivity.
- Protection
If you directly browse the Internet from your IP address (with no proxy acting as the intermediary), then your level of security is fairly low, and that leaves you vulnerable to hackers attacking you. The act that external servers do not know your IP when you use a proxy means you are a lot safer. There are some proxy servers that use a firewall as an added security measure, which provide you with double protection against potential hackers.
- Performance
Cached data is used by some proxies. However, that probably doesn’t mean anything to you and will leave you wondering what benefits are offered by a caching proxy server. There is a very simple answer to this. If an individual is using the same network that you are and wants to visit the exact same page that you did, the proxy server will not need to visit the target website. It can instead retrieve the information from its very own cached data. This improves the information transfer because it not only makes it faster but also reduces the loan coign from the target website server.
- Anonymity
If you want to remain anonymous online for any reason, using a proxy is the best option. If you think that it is just hackers who use proxies for that reason you are mistaken. Many users prefer that their IP, and therefore their identity, remain anonymous.
- Business Locations
International companies may want to display different content to a visitor depending on what country they are in. To do that you will need to use a proxy server. It can detect your website visitor’s location and load the appropriate pages for the specific local market where they live.
Disadvantages Of Proxy Servers
- Data Or Identity Theft
A proxy’s cache memory can remember sensitive information such as your passwords. That may not seem like something that is dangerous to you since you know a proxy can block an external server from getting this data. However, if somebody associated with the proxy servers you are using (such as an employee from your ISP company) is not responsible with how they do their job, things could go wrong. In that situation, somebody will malicious intent could easily get a hold of your sensitive information. For that specific reason, it is very important to only go through a reputable Internet Service Provider to purchase proxies from.
- Incompatibility
Although it is true that using proxy servers have many benefits, a problem could arise is a proxy is not compatible with your local network. These are separate systems that have their own configurations. There are two main options in this case – you can either get a proxy that totally fits your server or you can configure them so they match one another. That is another reason why it is important to find a good ISP that can provide you with the most user-friendly proxies. Like with any other service or product, using a proxy server has both advantages and disadvantages. However, after researching them, it is easy to see that you can receive numerous benefits from using proxy servers on our network which largely outweigh any disadvantages. In order to ensure that you only receive the advantages, be sure to only purchase reliable, high-quality proxies. That will give you all of the advantages you want and eliminate the disadvantages, to make your Internet surfing enjoyable and secure.
