It might seem that a proxy server is a complicated privacy tool used only by tech companies and tech-savvy professionals. While it’s true that many of their use cases are pretty advanced, one of their most significant benefits is their flexibility for everyday tasks as well.

Tasks like anonymous browsing, bypassing geo-restrictions, and data collection can greatly benefit from proxies. Here, I will plainly explain what proxies are and how they work for everyday use cases.

Proxies and their benefits

Proxies are devices, usually servers or PCs, that act as intermediaries between you and the internet. Instead of connecting to the internet directly, you send your requests to a proxy server first, and then a proxy device surfs on your behalf. It might seem unnecessary for daily activities, but there are a few important benefits.

• Hiding your IP address. When you route your connection through a proxy server, the websites do not register your original IP address. It makes it more difficult for your activity to be tracked by corporations or the government.
• Bypassing location restrictions. Each IP address is tied to a specific location, which is used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and web platforms to limit access to certain data. Your proxy server can be set up anywhere in the world to bypass it.
• Extra security. A proxy server acts as an additional layer of security between you and the internet. All the data sent to you can be filtered by a proxy server first, so it is more difficult for bad actors to infiltrate your network.

These functions can be achieved by other means as well. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are, perhaps, the most popular choice for daily tasks. They require less knowledge from the user but can be heavy on your hardware and are hard or even impossible to integrate with different software.

Proxies stand out because they can be used for daily tasks just as well as for advanced ones. In fact, one could argue that proxies are a better choice because they provide more transparency and flexibility in their use cases. It all starts with the possibility to choose from multiple types.

Types of proxies

The main categorization of proxies comes from the origin of IP addresses. That’s the most important factor since it determines how proxies work and for what purposes they will achieve best. Providers source IP addresses from three primary sources.

• Physical devices with ISP-verified IPs in residential areas are used to create residential proxies.
• Virtual IPs on powerful servers with commercial internet connections are used to create Datacenter proxies.
• Mobile devices with a connection from cellular towers are used to create mobile proxies.

Residential proxies are generally considered to be the most legitimate proxy type since it’s nearly impossible to differentiate them from other visitor IPs. Datacenter proxies are less reliable for anonymity, but they are the fastest type due to their superior setup.

Mobile proxies have grown more popular in recent years since they can be faster than residential ones while having the same level of anonymity. Additionally, they are the only ones to provide you with access to mobile services and mobile website versions.

All these proxy types can be further supplemented with IP rotation. It simply means the IP address is automatically changed after a certain period or for every different task. Datacenter proxies most commonly come with rotation since their setup can handle it best without performance issues.

However, in some other cases, using a residential static IP can be more beneficial. For example, when bulk purchasing on ecommerce shops, you might need to spend more time on a website with one IP. The IP address must blend in well and be kept for long.

It’s also worth noting that the performance of proxies highly depends on how many users can access them. Private proxies are the fastest but most expensive choice. You will be the only one to use the IP address but will need to cover the costs yourself. You can save some money with shared proxies.

Everyday use cases for your proxies

Anonymous Browsing

The most common use case of the internet is web browsing. Proxies can enhance this experience by concealing your IP address and making you anonymous. Websites won’t be able to track you and target ads. Even your ISP will only see that you are connecting to one proxy server and nothing more. 

You can easily switch to another if one proxy type doesn’t work for the needed website. All it takes is to set up a proxy on your operating system or browser. Every popular browser supports proxy integration, and browsers like Firefox even have multiple proxy extensions to make it easier.

If you want to take it up a notch, you can even use an anti-detect browser. These are special tools that conceal and spoof your browser fingerprint to help you stay anonymous. Proxies are essential for them to work.

Accessing geo-restricted content

The Internet started as a free place to exchange information, but copyright rules and commercial strategies have minimized this potential. Almost any website you visit today has some geo-restrictions in place. It’s common to collect the IP addresses of visitors, determine their location, and adjust what they access accordingly.

It can be something useful as language settings, but more often than not, websites are changing prices and access to video or audio files. It’s not only unfair. It goes against what the Internet is. We can fight back by using proxies, changing our location to a needed one, and accessing the content anyway. 

It might not seem like an everyday use case, but platforms like Netflix implemented geo-restrictions. Nowadays, even watching your favorite show after work requires a proxy to change your location.

Conclusion

These two use cases are the basis for the everyday needs of a typical internet user. Since proxies can supply IP change for them, you can be sure they will be effective for everything else.