A proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a user’s device and the destination server of the resource or website they hope to access online. When a user tries to connect to the internet while using a proxy, the proxy server sends the request and receives responses on their behalf. As a consequence of this, it masks a user’s IP address, assigning to their traffic and web requests the IP of the proxy server instead. 

However, all proxies are not the same. There are different ways of classifying proxies, including based on the source and nature of their IP addresses, the internet communication protocols they employ, the number of users capable of employing them simultaneously, and the level of anonymity they provide. According to the latter classification, one of the types of proxies is an anonymous proxy. Read on to learn what an anonymous proxy is, how it differs from other proxy types in its class, and when you can use them.  

What is an Anonymous Proxy Server?

Every day, hundreds of millions of people (maybe billions of people) carry out some activity on the internet. It may be checking social media accounts, completing purchases, or just communicating with friends and family. Regardless of the specific activity, the use of the internet proves that it is arguably one of the most important resources of the 21st century.

However, the internet is not the safe space it’s made out to be. There are online trackers monitoring people’s activity and collecting information on them. Why? Because data is also arguably one of the most important resources of the modern world. Businesses want to be data-driven, and casual web visitors want to be informed. Then, there are people that want to enjoy all the benefits of the internet, without leaving crumbs for people to leverage into targeted ads or some other mildly invasive, convenience-promising, excuse for promoting consumerism. 

The answer for such people is anonymous proxies. An anonymous proxy is what hides users’ activity, and makes it difficult for websites and trackers to attribute data collected to the right person. It hides user identity, in such a way that the IP address and location associated with your activity changes, making you a new person online. Because of this, it can mean different things to different users, ranging from an instrument for gaining and controlling access to a security tool.  

Levels of Proxy Anonymity

As implied earlier, proxies are classifiable according to the level of anonymity they provide users with. The three types of proxies according to this classification, are transparent proxies, anonymous proxies, and elite proxies. 

Transparent Proxies

In terms of anonymity, transparent proxies provide none, hence the name. They forward requests and receive responses on behalf of users, but they do not mask IP addresses. As such, individuals craving online privacy rarely turn to these types of proxies.

They do have an advantage, though. They cache frequently visited web pages, thus reducing loading times on subsequent visits. Their activity in this regard also reduces the strain on hardware components and web servers. That’s why websites may use these proxies on their end to distribute the load on their servers and enhance the experience of visitors. Other uses of a transparent proxy involve filtering content, controlling access to resources, logging and monitoring internet activity, etc. 

Anonymous Proxies

Anonymous proxies are an improvement over transparent proxies in providing anonymity for their users, and they also perform all the other functions of transparent proxies. In essence, they are an upgrade.

Also known as distorting proxies, they hide the user’s IP address from the destination server of websites and apps, but they still betray the fact that they are proxies. In other words, they mask a user’s IP but the website or platform you are visiting, knows you are using a proxy to hide your actual identity.  

As a result, anonymous proxies produce basic anonymity. They can help avoid trackers, but only if the website isn’t intentional about stopping proxy usage to access their resources and content. 

Elite Proxies

Elite proxies are also known as high anonymity proxies. These proxies are the gold standard for providing anonymity. They mask users’ IP addresses without revealing their status as proxies. These proxies, thus strive to be as authentic in the connections they facilitate as possible. They want their users to appear under new online identities and be truly anonymous. 

When used, the website or platform visited sees the traffic as originating from the proxy’s IP address with no hint that it’s an intermediary. Due to their characteristics, they are utilized for tasks requiring high anonymity like secure communications, controlling access to corporate resources, and accessing content from anywhere in the world without restrictions. 

How Do Anonymous Proxy Servers Work?

Cyber-attacks are a daily occurrence on online platforms. So much so, that global cybersecurity budgets continue to rise year on year, and are expected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. That said, you still cannot depend on websites and applications you frequent to secure your data and information. Proxies are one of the many tools that people turn to for bolstering their online security. They shouldn’t take the place of conventional security tools like antiviruses, encryption tools, and firewalls, though. With that in mind, here is how anonymous proxy servers work to exert their influence on your online activities:

1. Initiating a Request to an Anonymous Proxy Server. It is the first step. The user’s device attempts to initiate a connection to a website by sending a request to its server. Proxies, however, create a link with the user and receive the request. The same happens when the device tries to connect with or use an application or other online service or platform. 
2. The Proxy Server Redirects the Request. After receiving the request, the proxy redirects it to the destination server of the website the user wishes to access. During this redirecting or rerouting step, it may make changes to the user’s web request. It modifies headers or other parameters to protect the user’s identity. Transparent proxies do not modify the request, but anonymous and elite proxies do to varying extents. The most popular modification is to change the IP address of the traffic so that the website sees that of the proxy server and not the actual user initiating the request. 
3. Receiving the Response from the Website. After the website processes the request and generates a response for the user, it sends it back to the proxy server. The proxy server receives the response and may modify it as well. Modifications to the response will be in accordance with predetermined criteria for access control, control filtering, and other potential security or productivity-boosting measures. 
4. Sending the Response to the User. After modifying the response in line with its functionality, the anonymous proxy server. From the user’s perspective, the connection with the website or platform appears direct. 

 

Anonymous Proxy Popular Use Cases

Ad Verification

Ad fraud is a more common occurrence than most people think. The content and placement of an ad might not align with the agreement you had with the platform providing the ads. Additionally, there are cases where engagement and impression numbers with the ads are fabricated to present an image different from reality. Anonymous proxies allow users in the marketing and advertising fields to assess all these elements of their ads, thus monitoring and safeguarding their investment.

Business Safety

Businesses can benefit from anonymous proxies as well. For starters, a business can use these proxies to control access to their resources and preclude unauthorized users. Similarly, they can use the proxies to control what sites and resources employees can access on their network. By doing so, they can prevent access to malicious sites and online resources.

Accessing Content Without Restrictions

Anonymous proxies come in handy when trying to access content ordinarily out of one’s reach.  They can mask IPs and spoof locations to help users expand their virtual borders. Examples of proxy use for this purpose are streaming music and movies from platforms, visiting websites localized to other regions and countries, etc. 

Web Scraping

Web scraping utilizes multiple HTTP requests in a pattern that scarcely resembles normal human behavior. The activity of scraping tools can also put a strain on server resources. Due to this, websites seek to prevent such automated activity by employing rate limits, banning the IP addresses of offending users, etc. Anonymous proxies help to avoid problems and measures by changing users’ IP addresses. Proxies with automatic IP rotation are much better because of their enhanced anonymity.  

Avoiding Censorship

In some parts of the world, freedoms are taken for granted, and governments might impose online censorship to control the access of citizens to resources and platforms where they can express themselves. In regions where this happens, anonymous proxies can help users bypass the censorship attempts to some extent. 

Secure Research and Testing

Businesses and researchers can use anonymous proxies to anonymize their online surveys, research efforts, and data collection. Businesses particularly employ them for secret market and competitor research. Researchers on the other hand may employ them for secret activities that do not have any data privacy concerns or risks. 

Social Media Management

Marketers and social media managers can use anonymous proxies to create and manage multiple social media accounts. Normally, social media platforms prevent this by using IP-based mechanisms to detect such users. The proxies allow for simultaneous management by helping their user associate each account with a dedicated proxy server. 

Gaming

Gamers may use anonymous proxies to reduce latency, improve their online security, and access games that are region-locked. They can also use them to play on servers located in different regions. By connecting through a proxy server closer to the game server, they reduce latency and lower ping times. The security benefits, however, come in the ability to rotate proxies to evade DDoS attacks and prevent doxxing, swatting, or similar pranks.  

How to Set Up an Anonymous Proxy

Setting up an anonymous proxy on your device is easy. All you need to do is change the network settings of the device and fill in the proxy details in the appropriate fields. If you are using a proxy extension, you should configure the extension with the proxy details if need be. We have a comprehensive guide for setting up proxies on different operating systems for interested users. Besides setting up the proxy, though, users need to select the right proxies. With that in mind, here is a simplified breakdown of how to set up an anonymous proxy.  

• Choice. First, you must decide what type of anonymous proxy you want to use. There are various options available, including free and paid proxies. Consider your needs, such as speed and level of anonymity, before choosing one. Finding a service that offers privacy is important. Then, download and install the software to connect to the anonymous proxy.
• Connection. After selecting a proxy, you need to establish a connection. It often requires configuring your device or software to route Internet traffic through the proxy server. You may need to enter certain proxy server information depending on the selected proxy server.
• Update settings. Finally, regularly review and update your proxy server settings as needed. Proxy servers and configurations can change over time. Therefore, updating your settings ensures your anonymity and constant access to the Internet without problems.

Why You Should Use Anonymous Proxies

When it comes down to it, the reasons for requiring anonymous proxies are simple. Here they are:

1. Anonymity. The proxies hide your identity and help you surf the web while leaving a limited digital footprint traceable to you.
2. Security. They evade trackers or rather fool them. The consequence of this is that data collected off your internet activity while under proxy use, doesn’t link back to you. As such, the targeted ads to dive into your pocket fall off the mark. Additionally, some proxy servers can even help block ads, malware, and other unwanted elements of internet browsing.
3. Content filtering and access control. This is a benefit of proxies that should prove helpful for parents looking to impose parental control on their children’s activities, and organizations wanting to improve the productivity of employees. Both can use proxies to control and filter out access to certain sites and resources on their network. 

Where to buy the best Anonymous Proxy?

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

• Proxy Cheap Static Residential Proxies, which offer elite anonymity to users.
• Proxy Cheap Rotating Residential Proxies, which offer automatic IP rotation and are perfect for scraping because of their improved anonymity on residential proxies.
• Proxy Cheap Datacenter IPv4 Proxies, which offer unrivaled performance using addresses from the Internet Protocol version 4 communication protocol.
• Proxy Cheap Datacenter IPv6 Proxies, which utilizes addresses obtained from the Internet Protocol version 6.
• Proxy Cheap Mobile Proxies, which offers similar anonymity to residential proxies using IP addresses associated with mobile device use in the location of your choice.

When using any of the above Proxy Cheap proxies, users can rest assured that they will enjoy:

1. Responsive Customer Support. We offer experience-specific onboarding to help prospective buyers facilitate purchases and 24/7 support to help users get the best out of our proxies.
2. Cost-Effective Proxy Solutions. Proxy Cheap offers quality IP addresses, free from damaging histories, and constantly updated to ensure activity and expanding coverage. Best of all, though, is the affordability of these proxies and the possibility of bulk purchase deals to sweeten things for users. Put simply, with Proxy Cheap, you get market-leading proxies at a reasonable price for the present and long term.
3. Broad Geographical Coverage. Proxy Cheap proxies provide access to 10M+ IP addresses in over 125 locations. We allow our customers to connect to websites and platforms from almost any country. 
4. User-Friendly Interface. Our friendly interface allows users to purchase, customize, and manage their proxies easily. This interface includes a proxy dashboard through which users can top up their accounts and view their purchased proxies, among other things.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are anonymous proxy servers legal?

Yes, anonymous proxy servers are legal. However, while using them, users should stay conscious of the terms of service of the website they are accessing, local laws regarding proxy use, and the legality of the specific uses of the proxy. 

Can I use an anonymous proxy for all online activities?

Yes, you can use an anonymous proxy for all online activities. Provided, you want to keep your identity safe or enjoy other benefits of proxies, you can use them. However, using them for anything illegal would still be punishable by law.

Do anonymous proxies slow down internet speed?

Whether anonymous proxies slow down internet speed depends on some factors like the quality of the ISP providing the IP address (if it is residential), the location of the proxy server, the quality of your ISP, and the particular task for which you are employing the proxies.