I’ll let you know ahead of time that I’m not a very tech-savvy computer user, so this will not be an in-depth discussion of what the differences between VPN servers and proxy servers. However, there are some very basic differences in how they hide your IP address, what they can/can’t do, and what kind of user would need to use each one. That much I can handle. As an Internet user in China I’ve got to deal with a lot of blocked sites and the potential of Big Brother tracking my online activity on a daily basis. So here we go.
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual private networks are usually described as an “Internet within an Internet”. Placed between you an the website you want to visit, they assign you a virtual IP address when you sign in and become part of their private network. The advantage of doing this is that you can bypass normal restrictions of your current network – this could be at work or school, or in my case, China. Not only do you now play by the rules of your new favorite network, but all of your data that’s transferred to and from the network is encrypted so that only computers with the proper “keys” are able to decode it. Basically, its unbreakable security and the best way to be anonymous online. There are various types or “protocols” which work with different operating systems, but in general you can stick with L2TP for iOS and Android, IKEv2 for Symbian devices (Nokia), and OpenVPN for Mac, Windows, and Linux. There are many more possibilities, but for the basic user, I think its enough to know this much.
VPNs are great because they combine security with anonymity. Not only are you able to have a new identity on the Internet, you’re also able to protect your data from hackers and other tracking software. That’s why connecting to a VPN server is the best choice for users downloading torrents, living in areas that censor the Internet, businesses, and those that really do care about others not knowing what you’re involved in over public Internet.
Proxies
Proxies are probably more well known among your average Internet user – many kids find out about these as an easy way to bypass school restrictions and get on Facebook at school. A proxy server also stands between you and the Internet. However, instead of assigning you a new IP address to surf the Internet, the proxy server makes request for you. They can provide you with stored information from previous requests from other users, or make a new request for you. This is a convenient way to surf the Internet anonymously.
However, there are not security features of proxies, and very often, as in the case of open proxies (proxy servers open to public use), you’re taking the risk that the server you’re signed into is run by someone with malicious agenda. It is possible for administrators to track your IP address, monitor your activity, and either use that information himself or pass it on to other users.
Open proxies are just an IP and a port number that you can fill in the manual proxy settings of your Internet browser – it free, easy, and you can choose your proxy server location. Web based proxies are web pages that make use of proxy servers – also free, but don’t let you choose server location. The level of anonymity for proxies will vary. Some will allow websites to see your real IP address, others will not; some will reveal that it is a proxy requesting the information, and some will keep that hidden. Proxies are best used for strictly browsing, and will not hide the IP address of software that connects to the Internet.