What are Private Proxies?

A web proxy is a tool that reroutes the traffic and web requests of a user through a proxy server in another location. As a result of the rerouting, the IP address associated with a connection request changes to that of the proxy server. In other words, the destination servers of the website or app view the connection as originating from the location of the proxy server and not the user. 

That little difference in the identification of user traffic confers advantages to online activities. For starters,it can help them access resources on the Internet even when their original IPs are banned from doing so.

However, for all their advantages, proxies also have some issues. In some cases, they might be security issues, and in others, they might be performance-related problems. Private proxies eliminate some of the problems of traditional web proxies. Read on to learn what private proxies are, the issues of conventional proxies, and how a reliable private proxy can improve your online activities. 

What is a private proxy?

A private proxy is ‘private’ relative to regular web proxies. However, to understand it, the following definitions and understandings of proxies are necessary.

• Public Proxy. The simplest version of the proxy defined earlier is a public proxy because the providers of the proxy service allow users to choose from an available pool of IP addresses. As such, everybody can use the IP addresses as needed. Public proxies are usually free and there’s no limit on the number of users. Hence, they are slow, and reliability or security issues might arise from interference in activity between multiple users.
• Shared Proxy. A shared proxy improves on a public proxy by putting a cap on the number of users that can utilise an IP address at any single time. For this reason, they are less prone to reliability and security issues. Additionally, shared proxies are usually provided by a proxy provider, at a relatively affordable price, and with systems in place to update and maintain them.
• Private Proxy. A private proxy may be called a premium proxy or dedicated proxy by some providers. This type of proxy is reserved for only the user that purchases them. Such a user can connect from the exclusive IP address for as long as their purchase remains valid, without risking any activity interference from other users. Therefore, private proxies are handy for sensitive data transmission and communication, and secure online activities. Logically, they are more expensive than shared proxies.

In addition to the privacy conferred on users of this proxy by their exclusivity, proxy providers also ensure that private proxies utilise the most secure protocols. As such it is not unusual for a private or dedicated proxy to be categorised as an HTTPS or SOCKS5 proxy. 

A SOCKS5 proxy operates at the transport layer (Layer 4) of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. They also don’t provide inherent encryption. However, they have better performance and reduced latency compared to HTTPS proxies.

HTTP proxies, on the other hand, operate the application layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model. In addition, an HTTPS proxy prioritises encrypted data transmission, which is the defining difference between HTTPS and HTTP protocols.

Due to the inherent security of private proxies, they are suitable for the following activities:

1. Web scraping and data collection. The major benefit of a private proxy to a web scraping exercise is that the activity of no other user can theoretically affect your access to a website. You can’t be blocked out of the site unless you violate the terms of the website or compromise the IP address yourself. Retail businesses leverage this advantage of private proxies to collect competitor data and conduct market research. 
2. SEO monitoring and analysis. Private proxies are even more important in this regard. Theoretically, an SEO professional may need to access hundreds of websites every month. A private proxy, with no other history or lingering IP bans, is perfect for the task. These professionals can visit any website and efficiently collect data on backlinks, keywords, or any other useful information.
3. Ad verification. Advertisers can use private proxies to monitor and verify the content, placement, and visibility of their ads across different websites and regions. platforms to ensure they are displayed correctly and reach the intended audience.
4. Creation and management of long-term accounts. Some platforms such as freelancer marketplaces and social media sites may restrict users to single account and employ IP-based detection to enforce it. The potential for long-term exclusivity of an IP address that private proxies provide could help relevant professionals bypass these restrictions. For example, social media managers can purchase new private proxies for every account they manage on the same platform.

There are many other use cases of private proxies. However, it is important to note that not all private proxies are equally reliable. The type of private proxy, the provider of the proxy, and the needs of a user also play a role in determining suitability and reliability. 

Types of Private Proxies

 

Dedicated proxies

A dedicated proxy is a private proxy allocated to a single user by the proxy provider or vendor. In other words, no other user can connect via the IP address when the proxy is dedicated to its buyer. For this reason, these proxies are more secure. Additionally, their relative lack of interfering traffic also makes them faster and more reliable than shared proxies.

Depending on the provider you patronise, such proxies may be referred to as premium proxies or other names denoting superior quality. These proxies are perfect for activities requiring more security and efficiency, such as corporate communications, access control measures, and managing social media accounts. 

Dedicated datacenter proxies

Dedicated proxies are a blanket designation. Within that designation, there are other more specific types of private proxies. One such type is the dedicated datacenter proxies. A dedicated datacenter proxy is a dedicated proxy that uses IP addresses associated with servers hosted off a server farm as opposed to residential addresses. Due to the efficiency of the server farm or data centre setup, these proxies are usually efficient and fast in addition to being private. However, their anonymity is not the best around, thus making them easily detectable by websites and apps. 

Dedicated residential proxies

The direct opposite of dedicated datacenter proxies, dedicated residential proxies are those that utilise IP addresses obtained from internet Service Providers (ISPs) as opposed to those of servers in a data centre. As such, their origin locations are residential addresses, granting them elite anonymity in addition to the privacy conferred by their dedicated proxy status. 

Some providers refer to dedicated residential proxies as static ISP proxies, static residential proxies, premium static residential, or ISP proxies, among others. Regardless of how vendors market their proxies, the combination of features in dedicated residential proxies makes them ideal for tasks requiring high anonymity and trust. Example of such tasks is data scraping. 

Unfortunately, the residential nature of the proxies means they are prone to the inconsistencies and performance issues of the ISPs supplying their addresses. In other words, they might not be as fast, may suffer from regular interruptions and downtimes, or may fluctuate in performance. 

Semi-dedicated (limitedly shared) private proxies

Semi-dedicated proxies make up the middle ground between private and public proxies. As such, they are also known as limitedly shared proxies. These proxies are not dedicated to a single user, but they are also not available in a pool open to all users. Instead, they are available to a small number of users who can simultaneously utilise it. 

Their nature means they don’t offer the same level of security and privacy, but they offer a balance of price, performance, and security. More so,  they are suitable for secure group tasks that do not require high-level performance but could benefit from the relative security of private proxies. Similarly, they offer individuals looking to benefit from private proxies a pocket-friendlier alternative to dedicated datacenter and residential proxies. 

Free private proxies

As the name implies, free private proxies come at no cost. It’s an attractive alternative but one that comes with significant issues. The first is a lack of maintenance which may lead to proxies that are significantly slower and more inconsistent than bad paid private proxies. Additionally, the developers of the proxy might create them for malicious purposes such as the planting of malware, and harvesting of user data among others. The reasons for issues with free private proxies stem from the fact that there’s no reputation to protect or brand to interact with. That said, there may be reliable free private proxies on the market. However, these are the exceptions and not the norm.

What are the Features of Private Proxies

Private proxies reroute web requests and traffic just like any other proxy. However, unlike public proxies, they guarantee better performance and security while doing so. Here are some of the features of private proxies that help them stand out:

Dedicated IP addresses

As the types of private proxies indicated, private proxies dedicate IP addresses to users rather than allowing them to select from a pool of publicly available addresses. These addresses may be dedicated to a single user, or shared among a small group of users. Regardless of which, they are more secure than public proxies and perform better because of fewer users.

Untainted Access

A problem with publicly available proxies is that the activity of users can interfere with one another. For example, an IP address that is banned on a website because of the activity of a previous user can affect the data scraping efforts of another user later on. Private proxies do not have the same problem because only a single user utilizes them. Even in limitedly shared desiccated proxies, the small group at least reduces the likelihood of such an incidence occurring.

Increased Security

The security advantage of a private proxy is simple. If the activity of another user cannot affect the reputation of your proxy, you are protected from the security consequences of whatever illegality they might be dabbling in. 

Faster Connections

Users don’t share private proxies with other users (except in the case of limitedly shared dedicated proxies). As such, the bandwidth provided by the proxy is all theirs to exploit. Consequently, their connections and downloads are faster because there are fewer users to clog things up. This feature of proxies makes them suitable for bandwidth-heavy tasks like streaming, online gaming, large-scale data scraping, etc.  

More Relaible Performance

Another result of a reduced number of users is better performance of the proxy. Furthermore, most proxy providers host private proxies on high-performing servers to back up their “premium proxy” status. 

Long-term Usage

One of the characteristic features of public proxy pools is that users cannot always guarantee connections from a consistent IP address, especially over long periods. Private proxies can allow long-term usage of a single IP address, making them perfect for access control uses, communication, etc.

How Do Private Proxy Servers Work?

Technically, all proxy servers work in similar ways. Here is a breakdown of how private proxy servers work.

The user sends a request to visit or access a website

The process of sending a request to a website is simply the technical way of referring to typing a URL and attempting to visit a website. The request is intended for the destination server of the website you wish to visit.

The private proxy receives the request

The proxy intercepts the request intended for the website and reroutes it through its server. As a result, the destination server perceives the incoming traffic as originating from the proxy server rather than the original location of the user.

The private proxy server receives responses from the website

The reverse transmission of responses from the destination server of the site also passes through the proxy server. In essence, the proxy mediates browsing on the user’s device invisibly because the process of connecting to and interacting with websites appears no different. 

How to Setup a Private Proxy Server

The process required to set up a private proxy server is usually unique to the operating system of the device. As such, the setup on a Windows device is different from that of an iOS device. That said, they have similarities, and here is a summarized process to set up a private proxy server, regardless of the device:

1. Select a private proxy provider. The ideal provider should be one that offers a service compatible with your device and operating system, meets your needs, and fits your budget. 
2. Choose a server. Depending on the type of proxy, providers allow prospective users to select the server they wish to purchase. Choose one that is geographically suitable for your activities and purchase a number suitable for your needs.
3. Install the relevant proxy software onto your device and configure the device. The device configuration varies from operating system to operating system but generally involves opening the network settings to input the proxy server details in appropriate fields. 
4. Testing and monitoring before trusting them for more serious tasks. Users employ some tools and websites to check the IP address of their internet connection. Alternatively, you can try accessing resources or content that are otherwise difficult to obtain. However, the latter method doesn’t indicate location, and thus can’t confirm the location of the proxy server.

Where to buy the best Private Proxy

Many proxy providers are supplying private proxies on the market. However, none matches Proxy Cheap premium proxies for value. We offer best-in-class private proxies at affordable rates and with pricing flexibility for prospective customers wanting more. The private proxies we currently offer are:

1. Proxy Cheap Static Residential Proxies
2. Proxy Cheap Datacenter IPv4 Proxies
3. Proxy Cheap Datacenter IPv6 Proxies
4. Proxy Cheap Mobile Proxies