Think Twice Before Using A Public Proxy

Most readers are probably familiar with the basics of web proxies.

A proxy essentially serves as a “middleman” for Internet surfing and communications. Instead of connecting directly to a website or computer, you first connect to an intermediate server known as a proxy. The proxy then connects to your desired Internet destination on your behalf and forwards the information or response you’re seeking back to you.

You might think that introducing an extra connection into the mix would dramatically slow your ability to use the Internet. In reality, high-quality proxies introduce very little delay into your surfing or communication, while providing a wealth of benefits. They include:

• Privacy and Anonymity: The proxy hides your identity since the destination site sees the proxy’s IP address, not yours.

• Security: The proxy prevents any incoming threats or hacks from reaching your machine.

• Speed: This benefit seems counterintuitive, but good proxy servers cache frequently-visited websites, allowing them to load more quickly.

• Access to Blocked Sites: If a website uses geo-fencing to block connections from your home region, a proxy located in another region may allow you unimpeded access.

• Access Control: If desired, a proxy server can be configured to prevent connections to certain websites, helpful for homes with children or businesses with distracted workers.

You’d expect there would be a cost for all of this convenience, and there is. Private proxy services can be expensive, particularly since most customers are charged by the amount of data transferred.

One apparent workaround is to use free public proxies that let you connect directly to your destination websites at no charge. Before you go that route, though, keep reading. Free web proxies aren’t always the terrific deal they seem to be.

How Do Public Proxies Work?

Public proxies are usually available to any web user at no charge, with no signup required. A quick search will turn up huge lists of websites providing free public proxies, and most of them offer users a choice of proxy locations. That’s particularly helpful for those who want to connect to sites that are banned in their home country.

The basic features of a public proxy are similar to those provided by more-expensive private proxies. Connecting through a free intermediate server hides users’ IP addresses and allows them to bypass geo-fencing restrictions. Some may also cache popular websites to speed up connections.

Dangers are hiding behind those free services, though.

The Risks of Using Public Proxy Servers

A few public service-minded folks may run free proxies out of the goodness of their hearts.

However, even those who aren’t trying to make huge profits from their public proxies aren’t liable to provide the same level of service that a high-quality private proxy service delivers, and their cost-effectiveness may leave you exposed to all sorts of unexpected problems and dangers.

• Possible Risk to Your Privacy: Free proxy services may not take all of the precautions necessary to protect your identity. Most will safeguard your IP address effectively. However, some won’t, and that can let destination websites or third-party intruders track you.

• Possible Risk to Your Data: Free services generally don’t spend the money needed to “tunnel” secure traffic (via HTTPS) unimpeded through their proxies. That leaves your data unprotected when it’s sent via HTTP connections, and some unscrupulous operators take advantage. They may intercept your communications and steal your personal and financial data, or the login credentials for sites you access. Some even sell that information to third parties. Others inject unwanted ads, malware, or exploits. And even if the proxy provider means you no harm, your insecure data and security may be “up for grabs” to hackers.

• Likely Slow Connections: Free public proxies are popular – so popular that they often become overloaded with traffic. It’s common for free web proxy connections to take forever to complete, and then lag or break. Some operators deal with the heavy traffic in another way, by throttling users’ connections so severely that they become unusable. In a word, they’re unreliable.

• Possible Blacklisting: Since so many people use public proxies, popular destination sites often recognize the proxy sites and block connections from them. This is a very common problem if you’re trying to use a free web proxy to connect to porn or streaming sites.

Those who are simply trying to connect to a site that shows blacked-out sports broadcasts, or want to quickly check a website anonymously, may assume that there’s no harm in briefly using a public proxy. Think carefully first, though. Even if you luck into a solid and convenient connection, is it really worth the risk?

The Best Way to Use Proxy Servers

Smart users always opt for reputable private proxy servers or, as an alternative, a virtual private network (VPN). Private proxies can be expensive, but they don’t have to be; some providers offer limited, shared, budget options for prices as low as $10 per month, while you can find reliable, dedicated proxy services for $25-$75 per month.

If you’re going to roll the dice on a public proxy, however, here are some self-defense measures.

1. Spend some time searching the web for reviews and recommendations, and fully investigate any proxy service that you’re thinking about using.

2. Make sure to choose a public proxy provider that supports HTTPS tunneling that protects the data and information traveling back and forth on your connection.

3. Never use a public proxy to transmit or receive sensitive data, like login credentials or banking information.

4. Don’t keep using the same public proxy service; you’ll better protect your anonymity if you switch between different free proxies.

5. Ensure that your computer is protected with up-to-date anti-virus software, and be sure to run a full scan as soon as you disconnect from any public proxy.

This rundown of potential risks may have convinced you to avoid the use of free public proxies. If not, just hope you’re on a lucky streak. Once you’ve experienced the slow connections and frustrating unreliability that a public proxy delivers, you’re likely to decide that shelling out a few bucks for private proxies or a VPN is the smarter way to go.