There has been an increasing demand for proxy servers since security and privacy issues continue to rise. As per a study performed by Comparitech, over 71 million people have become victims of cybercrime every year. In addition, the number of cyberattacks has continued to increase with every passing year.
Different types of proxies are used based on users’ needs and concerns to keep web data secure. Similar to other proxy servers, mobile proxies are commonly used to conceal actual addresses by using a pool of IPs. However, there has always been a debate about whether to opt for free mobile proxies or not.
This post will cover proxy servers and their uses and types in the beginning, along with shedding some light on the reasons why free mobile proxy servers should be avoided.
Proxy Servers: Uses and Types
A proxy is a network system that serves as an intermediary between the user’s request and the targeted website requested by the user. Basically, proxies work to filter requests and improve performances.
How Proxies Are Used
A proxy stays outside the firewall and guards the servers, but firms and companies can install proxy network solutions on every individual device if needed. It improves security, compresses incoming traffic, and balances the traffic to prevent crashes.
Proxies can function as a standalone device or a router installed between individual devices on the company’s network. While sitting between two devices, a proxy accepts requests, forwards them to the required destination, collects responses, and directs them to the requesting device.
Main Types of Proxies
Proxies are of different types and are used for various purposes. Below are the two main types of proxies.
- Residential and Datacenter Proxies – Both proxies work to conceal users’ real IP addresses. However, they differ from one another in terms of price, speed and performance, and anonymity level.
- Mobile Proxies – These proxy servers are IP addresses assigned by mobile network operators. They assign dynamic IPs to clients, which are temporary addresses that change each time a user sends a request to the server. Mobile proxies are available as public (free) and paid proxies.
Reasons to Avoid Using Free Mobile Proxies
Richard Serra, an American artist, once said: “If something is free, then you are the product.” Free mobile proxy servers are never a good idea since they come at the cost of your security and privacy.
Here are the main reasons why using free mobile proxies might get risky:
No Use of HTTPS
Free proxies when tested, results showed that the majority of these proxies do not allow for HTTPS connections. The lack of HTTPS indicates that the user’s connection to the server is not encrypted.
In practical terms, this means that data being sent could be easily monitored as it travels through the network. This makes free mobile proxies a poor choice for those requiring privacy, like entering credentials on a website.
Cookie Stealing
Cookie stealing, or cookie hijacking, is a form of cyberattack that includes stealing cookies from users’ devices to gain access to their login credentials or data. Cookies are small text files that store login details, sessions, and preferences to simplify the process of logging in.
But, when a proxy is established between the user and the website, there is a high chance the server owners can steal cookies. Due to this, they can not only impersonate users online but log in to the sensitive websites they have visited as well.
Easy IP Banning
When it comes to free shared mobile proxies, the IPs are shared among multiple users. In most cases, many of these IP addresses are already known, and chances are that some websites have already blocked them. So, IP banning is quite easy.
Issue of Malicious Software
Many may not know that proxies are not fully resistant to viruses. Free mobile proxies usually rely on advertisements for their revenue, and at times, these servers advertise risky malware-based ads without any bad intent.
They inject ads laced with malware into the content they show you expecting that you’ll click them and help pay for the server. They probably will not even know this is happening until your device has been infected.
Poor Service
Unfortunately, after taking all risks mentioned earlier, a free mobile proxy is a low-reward service. Free proxy servers, compared to paid ones, are considerably slower in speed due to a lack of funding and the excessive number of users.
Final Verdict
Nowadays, there is no difficulty in finding mobile proxies for free. However, it is advised to avoid them as some amount saved might cost much more in the long run. Premium proxy servers, on the other hand, greatly invest in their infrastructure and offer full encryption. They provide a heavy server base and continuously improve their services. So, we recommend all users steer clear of free mobile proxies.
