Proxies have been the best way to take care of your cybersecurity and protect your data from getting stolen or damaged. Whether you are an online business owner or an individual who uses the internet daily, keeping your data safe and secure while browsing the internet is essential.
With the rise of cybercrime in the last couple of years (or since the COVID-19 pandemic started), we have encountered many new ways in which our security may be in danger. Luckily, proxies are here to help us and keep our identity hidden as much as possible.
Today, we will talk about proxies, some of their main features, and how you can use them with various browsers.
What is a proxy?
A proxy can metaphorically be described as a box that stands between you (the user of the internet) and other parties that use the internet as well. Whenever you are browsing the internet, you are assigned a specific IP address that acts as your location on the internet. When a third party accesses your IP address, they can have an insight into your internet activity and your personal data.
To prevent this, a proxy will assign a new IP address to you and your smart device, thus making you disconnected from your internet location. Your data will be stored away from your location, so if someone finds you online, your data cannot get stolen or damaged.
Main features of proxies
Aside from keeping you safe on the internet, a proxy has many more features. In the beginning, proxies were used just to protect you, but now there are many more things you can do if you are connected to a proxy server, such as:
- Web scraping – web scraping is a valuable tool for marketing strategies. This tool gives you insight into a specific website’s activity, thus making it easy to download its data.
- Accessing geo-restricted content – some content may be banned in your country, but when you use a proxy, you can connect to another country’s IP address and access the content that is prohibited in your location.
- Enhancing performance – some proxies will contribute to faster internet connection because they can delete or update cache from your frequently visited websites. A proxy can also remove any internet throttling issues.
What you choose to do with a proxy will depend on your specific needs, but they are quite versatile.
How to use proxy in Chrome and other browsers
Proxies will work with any browser you are currently using. However, if you want to enhance its features and get the best out of proxies, there are specific internet browsers you can use. All browsers currently on the market have a built-in support system for proxies, but some work better than others. Here are some examples:
- Google Chrome – this is one of the major browsers on the market currently. Since it has a long history, it must be safe for its users. Once you understand how to use proxy in Chrome, you’ll see that it is one of the best browsers for the job because it will not slow down your internet connection or your proxy.
If you want to learn the details of using proxy in Chrome, check out this article.
- Brave browser – this browser has a built-in proxy server that allows you to browse the net anonymously. What is more, if you use this browser, you will receive an ad-blocker that will eliminate all these annoying ads you usually find online.
- Microsoft Edge – one of the most prominent browsers that allow you to browse the web securely and anonymously. Microsoft Edge has advanced systems that support any proxy server, and you can also set up multiple proxy servers on this browser.
These are just the biggest players out there – you can dig around and find a lot more options.
Benefits of different types of browsers
Some of the leading browsers on the market offer different benefits when it comes to using a proxy. We will mention some of the most general benefits you can gain from using a proxy server with your browser.
- Setting up multiple proxies – most browsers, such as Google Chrome, allow you to set up various types of proxies on the browser, so you can enjoy the benefits of all the proxies simultaneously.
- Controlling your proxy – when you are using a proxy with your browser, you can completely control what your proxy can or cannot do. Not all browsers allow you to do this, but some of the most popular ones, such as Firefox, do.
With the right browser by your side, you can make the most out of a proxy.
Conclusion
Proxies can be the most efficient security tools on the internet. Thayl allow you to hide your identity on the internet, thus making you invisible to cybercriminals, and they can work with different browsers. Remember that not all proxies work the same, and not all have the same features on different web browsers.
