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VPN vs. web proxy: which one is better?

Geo-unblocking capabilities of proxy and VPN greatly differ when it comes to the number of services available. A VPN, such as NordVPN, will allow you to access a lot more content. Also, unlike a VPN, proxies don’t encrypt your Internet traffic, making your data accessible by snoopers and hackers. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use a trusted VPN service to protect your IP address and stay safe each time you go online. By using NordVPN, you can securely access websites and services from anywhere in the world and keep your communications private as they should be.

Frequently asked questions

Why do people use proxies?

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They are easy to set up and use, so some Internet users, especially from highly censored countries, choose web proxies to access Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, eBay, Linkedin, and other websites that are unavailable in their region.

A free web proxy works on any device that has an Internet browser, so you can use it on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer, and even on a tablet or a smartphone. Of course, an active Internet connection is necessary to connect to a web proxy server.

What is a web proxy server and what does it do?

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A web proxy server, also known as a proxy or application-level gateway, is a computer that sits between your device and the Internet and handles your requests for accessing websites and services. When you are using a web proxy, your Internet traffic is routed through the proxy server, making it look as if it came from the server’s IP address rather than yours. Due to this setup, proxies can help you access websites and services that may be restricted in your country. However, most sites today use complex blocking techniques, and simple web proxies can’t bypass them.

Why shouldn’t you use a web proxy?

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The main concern of using web proxies is that they don’t offer any data protection. Even though using a web proxy makes it more difficult for snoopers to obtain your IP address, it still leaves your data vulnerable to hacking, because proxies simply don’t encrypt your Internet traffic. So if privacy and security are important to you, a VPN from an established provider with a reputation for safeguarding user data is a much better option.

Another problem with proxies is that they can cache web pages. Every time you request an URL from outside, a copy is stored locally. The next time you try to access the same URL, the proxy can supply the local copy instead of reloading the original across the network. It may improve page performance, but can leave you with out-of-date results, which may be a problem if you depend on having the latest information and data.

Is a proxy the same as NAT?

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A network address translation (NAT) device is not the same as a proxy server, which sends and receives Internet traffic, acting as an intermediary on behalf of the client computer. A NAT device simply translates IP addresses between the local network and the Internet, allowing a single IP address to represent multiple addresses on the local network. However, both a proxy server and a NAT device, such as a home router, do very little to protect your privacy online.

Why is a VPN a better choice than a web proxy?

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A VPN encrypts your Internet traffic, while a free web proxy doesn’t. NordVPN is like your private tunnel in the “Internet jungle.” All the data traveling via this tunnel is protected with the strongest encryption protocols available, making it extremely difficult for hackers to intercept or decipher. To guarantee the protection of your sensitive data, NordVPN uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys. NordVPN also has an automatic Kill Switch feature that protects your private data in case the VPN connection drops.

Unlike a web proxy, a VPN secures not only your browser but also the traffic of all your applications that use the Internet connection. Software such as Skype, Avast Free Antivirus, KMPlayer, Slack and many others benefit from using a VPN.

What’s more, with a single NordVPN account you can secure your whole network, including your computer, mobile phone, tablet, and even smart TV.

Does proxy slow down your Internet connection?

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Since a web proxy is a free service, lots of Internet users tend to use it, putting a heavy load on the server, which may result in a slow connection. Therefore, if you wish to securely access restricted websites and streaming services without sacrificing your connection speeds, you will need a reliable VPN service. NordVPN allows choosing from 3762 ultra fast servers worldwide, so you can enjoy any content you want with no interruptions, cyber threats or data leakage.

Web proxy users are also concerned about the bandwidth limits that many free services tend to impose. NordVPN does not limit, monitor or block connection speeds in any way, shape or form, so you can download as much data as you like.

What are other options for protecting my IP address?

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NordVPN’s encrypted extension for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox is a powerful combination of a proxy and VPN. When enabled, the extension encrypts your connection and changes your IP address, protecting your browsing from any third-party snooping and allowing you to securely bypass various content restrictions. On top of that, it will block intrusive ads and malware-hosting sites.

Protect your IP with NordVPN

Encrypt your Internet traffic to browse securely and privately

AES-256-CBC encryption

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Unthrottled speed

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No logs

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Bypasses ISP firewalls

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NordVPN benefits

Enjoy an open and secure Internet with no borders.

Military-grade encryption

Military-grade encryption

Secure your Internet traffic with cutting-edge encryption technologies.

CyberSec

CyberSec

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Double VPN

Double VPN

Encrypt your Internet traffic twice to create an extra layer of online privacy.

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No logs policy

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P2P allowed

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Onion Over VPN

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Blazing speeds

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Easy to use

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Bitcoin accepted

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Global network

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Cancel anytime

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Friendly support

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Kill Switch

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Unlimited bandwidth

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Double encryption