Privacy by Proxy: Why Proxy Services are Hotter than Ever

You try to access your favorite website but you’re hit with an unexpected “You cannot access this page“. Or, “This content isn’t available in your region” when clicking on a link shared on social media. One may think of proxy services to bypass content filters but it goes way beyond that. 

Proxy services are now an integral part of our online privacy. Individuals and business entities can benefit from proxy sites, apps, and services. This article will share what they are, how they’re used, and what the future holds for our right to use them.

What are Proxy Services?

What you see on the Web’s surface is a facade of the real nuts & bolts holding everything together. The Web is a mish-mash of old and new technologies. Deeply embedded in our online activities are tracking and filtering services.

We mostly skim the top-level of the Web known as the “common” or “surface” Web. Far below it, we find the deep Web and news buzzing dark Web. And down it goes to greater and greater depths. Web proxy services are intermediary nodes giving users unrestricted access to all layers of the Web.Your online activity is greatly sculpted by Internet Service Providers, workplaces, firewalls, and government. Proxy services let you reroute IP traffic through their nodes, providing access to servers and sites otherwise blocked by these organizations.

The TL;DR: Proxy services are an in-between for you and the Web.

Why People Use Proxy Services

People flock to VPN services like TorGuard and others for several reasons, many being personal while others are cemented in politics.

Reasons include:

Privacy

Funneling traffic through a proxy server displays the proxy as the source. This masks the original IP helping Web users stay safe when browsing and transferring files. Further protection is taken by using a proxy that is not recording log files.

Speed

It’s not uncommon to see ISPs throttle Web traffic (despite many saying they don’t). A proxy lets a user bypass data caps, letting them continue using the Web at their connection’s speed. Plus, this may prevent additional charges from going over the data cap limits. Proxies may also cache data creating a faster interaction.

Control 

Funneling through a proxy gives you better control of incoming and outgoing traffic. Experienced users can set up a proxy to block certain sites/files or open access to select users. This is very important within a business environment. It helps business owners to protect their intranet and important files that could potentially get leaked via unsuspecting, inexperienced users.

Bypass

Geoblocking locks users out of content, sites, and other data based on their physical location. Using a proxy tricks the destination into thinking the user arrived from a different location. This is helpful if there is Web filtering or firewalls prevent freedom of information. The user gets to visit whatever site they want without restrictions.

Balancing 

Proxies may also route traffic to prevent massive traffic spikes and data requests. Or, use data tracking to identify users going beyond their limits or security scope. This is helpful in a household with many computers and in a business environment in need of various degrees of user permissions.

The Future of Privacy and Proxy

As the Web becomes a more-and-more public utility, it’s no surprise that it is becoming regulated and sanitized. Whole countries, like China and Russia, have banned the use of VPN and proxy services citing national security as their bases for the ban.

Proponents of privacy and security worry about the future of these services, citing ISP consolidation and the removal of net neutrality regulations as two examples.

Despite the gloom, proxy services are increasingly becoming popular and normalized for everyday users. Mobile proxy services, smart routing, and encryption are leading the charge. How will the Web shape as it increases commercialization? Only time will tell.