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Guide To Proxy Sites: Free VPN Alternative

Proxy Sites

When attempting to access certain websites, you may receive an error message stating, among other things, that the webpage is not available or that the website or URL has been restricted. 

Proxy sites are the most effective way to access a useful website from a location where it has been blocked.

The term proxy site is generally used to refer to websites that allow you to surf the internet anonymously. 

They can open restricted websites that are blocked in colleges, schools, government offices, IP restricted, etc. Let’s take a look at a few VPN alternatives–proxies.

What Is A Proxy Server System?

A proxy server system is a dedicated computer or software running on a computer that acts as an intermediary between an endpoint device, such as a computer, and another server from which a user or client is requesting a service. 

The proxy server may exist on the same device as a firewall or on a separate server, which forwards requests through the firewall. 

An advantage of a proxy server is that its cache can serve all users. If one or more sites are frequently requested, these are likely to be in the proxy's cache, which will improve user response time. A proxy can also log its interactions, which can be helpful for troubleshooting.

Difference between a web proxy and virtual private network (VPN)

A web proxy is a website that helps you hide your identity on the internet. People use them when they want to remain anonymous or when they live in a country where websites are censored.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a program that creates a secure connection between your computer and a server. VPNs are more common and are great at preventing shady characters from gathering data from your web activities

This is useful if you want to keep your information private or if you live in a country that restricts access to certain websites. They're both good, but they're not the same.

Let's take a look at the advantages of each.

Proxy:

  • Inexpensive
  • Great for unblocking websites
  • It doesn't offer as much security as a VPN

VPN:

  • More secure than a proxy
  • It can be used for torrenting
  • More expensive than a proxy

Magical Power Of An Anonymous Proxy

Proxies operate through a web server, so all internet requests are routed through the server first, effectively masking your identity.

An anonymous proxy is designed to increase your privacy on the web by hiding the public IP address issued by your Internet service provider and routing all traffic through different public servers and addresses. 

These proxies can also help people avoid content blocks that some websites place on IP addresses from certain countries. Some people have no choice but to use these methods since their own country blocks certain websites.

The Delicate Proxy Browser

A proxy browser is a computer that sits between your computer and the internet. It intercepts traffic flowing between you and the service you want to access. 

Data coming into a proxy server enters through one port and is then forwarded through another port. By blocking direct access between you and the internet, proxy servers make it more difficult for hackers to obtain IP addresses and other private information. 

Still, a determined hacker (or a lazy one with the right software and hardware) can find out who you are and where you live, study, and work.

Top 3 Free Proxy Sites

After years of using various free proxy sites, I've learned which ones outperform the others. The free proxy sites listed below have been carefully chosen for your convenience:

1) Hide. me

They provide a free web proxy that allows you to easily access blocked websites and surf the web anonymously. Sign up for free and set up their VPN solution if you want to completely encrypt your internet connection and enjoy all of the benefits of their VPN.

2) Toolur

With four different proxy servers in four countries, this free web proxy allows you to access any website anonymously or unblock popular sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter (USA, France, Germany, and the Netherlands). If a particular proxy's load speed is slower than desired, switch to another proxy server in a different location.

3) Whoer

Whoer is a quick and free way to change your IP address, unblock sites, and gain anonymity on the web. They offer servers in multiple countries for you to choose from.

Things to consider before picking a free proxy

Is this server open?

Many people use HTTP proxies on home computers for their own local area network (LAN). This isn't helpful if you want to do something simple like check your email at work, though, because it only works on the local subnet/network, which doesn't include external addresses. 

These servers are also more likely to be configured with more strict restrictions, such as the types of websites that can be accessed.

Is the proxy free to use forever or just for a limited period?

If the proxy is free to use, it will almost certainly have some limitations. For example, it may only work a certain number of times per day. Alternatively, it could be limited to a few days or weeks, leaving you unable to use that application.

After this point, they will begin charging money (or add some other limitations such as only working at 128kb/sec).

How much data does the proxy allow per day/month?

Many proxies have a limited amount of data that can be transferred per day or month. This is important if you use the proxy for torrents, video streaming, or any other upload-intensive tasks.

If you’re unsure, ask the proxy provider before signing up. You may be able to find a similar proxy with a higher amount of data transfer allowed.

What is the speed of your connection when using this proxy

When choosing a proxy, your internet connection speed is the most important factor to consider because if it takes too long to load pages or videos through the proxy, you should use another one.

Some proxies may be faster than others for this reason, so if your connection is fast enough, you can use a proxy with a larger list of cities and servers.

How many countries and servers does the proxy support  

Most proxies only allow access to websites from one specific country; however, some provide access from all countries around the world or at least hundreds with easy switching between them. 

This gives you more flexibility when surfing the web anonymously because it allows you to access blocked content by changing to another server (and thus accessing that country's website instead) and ensures anonymity online by hiding your true location even further.

Conclusion

While both technologies hide your IP address, they work slightly differently. Like your ISP is your gateway to the internet, proxies (except SSH proxies) are not encrypted, but traffic won't reach your network. 

An anonymous VPN will protect your entire internet connection the moment you connect to it, disguising your use of everything from uTorrent to email to basic web browsing by establishing a virtual network via our servers to reroute all your traffic and DNS.

It protects your internet connection from the moment you connect, hiding your use of uTorrent, email, and web browsing by creating a virtual network using servers to reroute all traffic and DNS. You’ll also get faster connections and military-grade encryption when using a VPN

For all applications, unlike a proxy, which only secures your torrent client or web browser, VPN encrypted tunneling secures your entire internet access. With a fully anonymous VPN server, you can be secure wherever you are.

By: Michael Miller
Michael is the CEO of VPN Online, one of the fastest-growing media companies in the cyber-security space. VPN Online was started in 2019 after Michael consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and saw the lack of understanding about cybersecurity many of their employees had.