Fast, reliable and ethical proxy servers

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. It allows you to access websites and services indirectly, by forwarding your requests through its own IP address. This helps to hide your original IP address and provides additional security and privacy.

What is a proxy server?

When you request a webpage or any online content, your device sends the request to the proxy server. The proxy server, in turn, relays the request to the destination server, fetches the content, and transmits it back to your device. This entire process enables you to access the content while keeping your IP address hidden, bypassing geo-restrictions, concealing scraping patterns, and evading bot detections.

Yes, using proxy servers is legal in most countries. However, the legality may vary depending on the specific usage and jurisdiction. It is important to respect the terms of service of websites and services you access through proxy servers. Additionally, using proxy servers for illegal activities, such as hacking or accessing copyrighted material, is strictly prohibited.

SOAX provides a variety of proxy servers, including HTTP proxies, HTTPS proxies, and SOCKS proxies.

a. HTTP proxies are commonly used for web browsing and are well-suited for basic text-based websites. They are great for general online activities.

b. HTTPS proxies can do everything that HTTP proxies can, but they go a step further by also handling HTTPS-encrypted traffic. This makes them perfect for accessing secure websites like Facebook and Gmail.

c. SOCKS proxies operate at the network layer, enabling them to manage a wide range of TCP/IP traffic, including web, email, messaging, and more. They offer superior versatility and can handle various types of traffic while providing advanced security and fine-tuned control, making them ideal for diverse traffic types.

When choosing a proxy server, consider factors such as your specific use case, the level of security and privacy required, the location of the server, and the reputation of the proxy provider. Additionally, ensure that the proxy server supports the protocols and features necessary for your intended applications.

For instance, if your use case is web scraping pricing data from eCommerce sites across Europe, important criteria for choosing a proxy server would be:

1. Use Case - Web scraping at scale requires stability and speed to gather pricing data quickly without disruptions.

2. Security - Obscurity is less critical since you are scraping public pricing data. But you need to avoid blocks.

3. Location - Requires residential proxies in Europe to scrape region-specific pricing.

4. Protocols - Need SOCKS proxies to handle scraping tools and tunnel any TCP traffic.

5. Provider Reputation - A reliable provider known for web scraping support and performance.

It is possible for a proxy server to slightly slow down your internet connection. The additional step of forwarding requests and retrieving content can introduce some latency. However, the impact on speed is generally minimal, and in some cases, proxy servers can even improve performance by caching frequently accessed content.

Yes, you can use a proxy server on your mobile device. Most mobile operating systems allow you to configure proxy settings either globally or on a per-app basis. By setting up a proxy server on your mobile device, you can enjoy the same benefits of privacy, security, and access to restricted content as on a computer.

There are several key differences between VPNs and dedicated proxy services:

a. IP Anonymity - VPNs often use shared IP ranges, which are relatively easier to detect and block. In contrast, proxy servers offer millions of IP options, making it challenging to trace their usage.

b. Speed - VPN speeds are generally slower due to bandwidth sharing among multiple users, whereas proxies are optimized for fast speeds on dedicated infrastructure.

c. Location Targeting - Proxies allow for precise location targeting, down to the city or zip code level. VPNs typically only offer server location targeting.

d. Usage Limits - VPNs may have restrictions, such as device limits. Proxies, on the other hand, enable almost unlimited simultaneous connections and usage scale.

e. Customization - Proxies provide highly customizable server setup, configurations, and targeting options, whereas VPNs often come with preset plans.

In summary, while VPNs are suitable for general privacy protection, proxy servers offer scale, granularity, and customization. They are ideal for activities like large-scale web automation, data extraction, ad verification, and targeted geo-content access.