Each time you connect to the Internet, a long number is assigned to your computer called an IP (Internet Protocol) address. This IP address is transmitted to any server that you visit and is registered on these servers, leaving a trace of your activity on the Internet.
Anonymous browsing is needed in order to circumvent technologies that allow people to track your activity on the Internet. Depending on your needs, an anonymous proxy server or VPN will likely suit you best.
Anonymous Proxy Server
One of the effective methods to hide your IP address from the web servers with which you are contacting is to use a proxy server. A proxy server is a “middle man”, which is located between the entire Internet and you. Each signal that you send first goes through the proxy server.
An anonymous proxy server replaces your IP address from any page with its own, thereby masking your presence. Simply put, when using a proxy server, you get all the traffic through the proxy system. The most popular type of proxy server is a web proxy. The user uses the web proxy as a platform for anonymous visits to Internet resources. To verify the anonymity of work through a proxy server, you can use a proxy verification tool.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that allows you to create a closed, high-speed private network on top of the Internet to ensure the anonymity and security of its users. Using a VPN, you can access the Internet through a server located in another country and gain access to content that may be blocked in your country. VPNs are represented by various paid and free services for various devices.
Thus, the VPN hides your IP address and encrypts all incoming and outgoing data. Currently, approximately 26% of Internet users rely on VPNs (or about 1.1 billion people). Therefore, it is safe to say that VPNs are more popular today than ever.
Which Method is Right for Me?
Both of these technologies allow you to maintain user privacy and bypass blocks. If you want to protect the transmitted data as much as possible, then VPN technology is more reliable and more advanced than a proxy. If you just need a simple way to access blocked sites without reliable data protection, then an anonymous proxy server is enough.
For all their merits, both of these services are not without flaws. Depending on the quality of service and viewing resource-intensive sites, a decrease in connection speed may occur.
You should know that these services keep records of the history of your anonymous life on the Internet. In some cases, this data can be transferred to law enforcement by court order depending on the laws of the country in which you live.
