Disadvantages of Proxy Server
- Proxy Server Risks: Free installation does not invest much in backend hardware or encryption. It will result in performance issues and potential data security issues. If you install a “free” proxy server, treat very carefully, some of those might steal your credit card numbers.
- Browsing history log: The proxy server stores your original IP address and web request information is possibly unencrypted form and saved locally. Always check if your proxy server logs and saves that data – and what kind of retention or law enforcement cooperation policies they follow while saving data.
- No encryption: No encryption means you are sending your requests as plain text. Anyone will be able to pull usernames and passwords and account information easily. Keep a check that proxy provides full encryption whenever you use it.
What is Proxy Server?
A proxy server refers to a server that acts as an intermediary between the request made by clients, and a particular server for some services or requests for some resources. There are different types of proxy servers available that are put into use according to the purpose of a request made by the clients to the servers. The basic purpose of Proxy servers is to protect the direct connection of Internet clients and Internet resources. There are many Proxy providers in the market that provide services to both individuals and businesses.
For example, Smartproxy has been offering unique solutions for online anonymity and web data collection since 2018. It has a 55M+ residential proxy pool that opens horizons for block-free web scraping and geo-targeting. They provide access to 195+ locations worldwide, including city-level and 50 US states targeting You can check out Smartproxy’s official website to uncover more of its unique features.
The proxy server also prevents the identification of the client’s IP address when the client makes any request to any other servers.
- Internet Client and Internet resources: For Internet clients, Proxy servers also act as a shield for an internal network against the request coming from a client to access the data stored on the server. It makes the original IP address of the node remain hidden while accessing data from that server.
- Protects true host identity: In this method, outgoing traffic appears to come from the proxy server rather than internet navigation. It must be configured to a specific application such as HTTP or FTP. For example, organizations can use a proxy to observe the traffic of their employees to get the work efficiently done. It can also be used to keep a check on any kind of highly confidential data leakage. Some can also use it to increase their website rank.