What are private proxies, and how do they work?

Sometimes people want to increase internet security, bypass blocking, or trick websites into thinking they are another person. For these purposes, individuals use private proxies — an intermediary between the user and the target server.

This article will explain what private proxies are, how they work, and when not to buy them.

What are private proxies?

Private proxies are private IP addresses that belong to a single client and can be used by that client at any time.

They are usually more expensive than other types of proxies because they run on the fastest available servers and handle more tasks than shared or residential proxies.

We can compare private proxies with renting a house alone: only you can access the house and its amenities. And you have to pay utility bills.

The only drawback is that someone has already used this proxy before you. And if a person was doing illegal things on the Internet, the proxy IP address could be banned. In this case, the provider should provide a replacement address for free.

How do private proxies work?

A person or a company provides an IP address tied to a physical device, such as a computer. This computer acts as a server. A user connects to the server and accesses the Internet on behalf of this computer while their actual IP address gets concealed.

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This is how proxies work

Private proxies are assigned to a single client and cannot be used by anyone else. They are used to connect to the Internet under a specific IP address.

How does a proxy provider ensure that only one person uses a private proxy?

Developers use authentication, an identity verification procedure, to guarantee that the same individual connects to the proxy server.

There are two authentication methods: by username + password or by IP address.

In the first case, you must enter a username and password to verify your identity.

In the second case, the proxy provider whitelists your real IP address so that you can connect to a proxy using it. However, if you change your IP address, you will not be able to use the proxy.

Most ISPs provide dynamic IP addresses that change after a certain amount of time. It means you have one IP address today, and tomorrow you may be allocated another one. Therefore, you must ask the provider for a static address to use an IP authentication method. You may have to pay extra for this.

Nevertheless, authentication does not ensure that you are the only person using a private proxy. A proxy provider may give several people passwords to the same server, and you will not be aware of it.

Types of private proxies

In the article "What is a Proxy Server? How does it work?" we have covered different types of proxies in detail. And now, let’s discuss the key points.

Datacenter proxies are located in data centers. They are the cheapest proxies. Their drawback is that websites have learned to detect datacenter proxies and often block them.

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This is how datacenter proxies work

Residential proxies. These are residential IP addresses of real devices that the Internet provider assigns to users. They are more expensive but more reliable than datacenter ones. Websites consider requests from such addresses as from ordinary users, so they do not block them.

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This is how residential proxies work

Mobile proxies. They work as residential proxies, but instead of using the IP addresses of computers, they use the IP addresses of mobile networks. Mobile proxies are the most expensive option of all types.

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This is how mobile proxies work

Why Use Private Proxies?

Private proxies can handle any task that proxies are used for.

To maintain a high speed. Since only one person connects to a private proxy, there is less load on the server. In addition, private servers optimize network performance and bandwidth usage, so the Internet speed rarely decreases. Sometimes it even increases.

To protect personal data. Private proxies can work with HTTPS and SOCKS protocols. The first one encrypts the information to ward off hackers. The second one masks information about the user’s real IP address. Websites do not know that a person is making a request through a proxy and do not block the address.

To maintain privacy. When you buy private proxies, you become the “owner” of a different IP address so that websites are unable to associate your online activities with your identity.

To obtain the IP address of a different location. Since private proxy IPs are static, you can get an IP address of another country, such as Germany, and visit sites that are inaccessible from other regions.

When do you not need private proxies?

You do not need a private proxy to create anonymity, bypass blocking, test a website and ads, compress data, and promote your business. For more information about proxy usage scenarios, read the article "What is a Proxy Server? How does it work?”

Overpaying is often not necessary because private proxies can also be blocked. The following situations do not require private proxies:

• Website and ads testing. For this, the user just needs to change an IP address and see how a website or ads look like for a customer. There is no need to pay more when you can get a cheap datacenter proxy.

• Online advertising. When specialists work with traffic and content, they collect a lot of information and make hundreds of requests. As a result, some websites ban them or restrict access.

A private proxy is not immune to bans in this situation. So, it is better to choose shared proxies. The risk of falling under the filters remains high, but you will spend less money.

• Work with advertising accounts. Advertising platforms like Google Ads and Meta* ban networks of advertising accounts with the same IP. Buying dedicated IPs to bypass blocking is unnecessary since they do not ban shared proxies.

• Online shopping. For example, If you want to buy exclusive sportswear or shoes that an online store sells only in Turkey, datacenter proxies will assist in changing your geolocation. Overpaying for private proxies makes no sense.

Differences between private and public proxies

Shared proxies are low-cost servers that are available for use by several clients at the same time. Basically, a few individuals can simultaneously use the Internet under the same IP address.

Let's compare both types.

Is there something average between private and public proxies?

Yes, semi-dedicated proxies. They are suitable for those who do not want to overpay for private proxies but do not want to share an IP address with a hundred other people.

Semi-dedicated proxies are used by fewer people compared to shared ones. For example, a hundred people can use one shared address at the same time, and only ten people can use semi-dedicated proxies. That is why semi-dedicated proxies are more stable and less likely to be blocked.

But there is a catch — the bad neighbor effect. If one of the server clients commits illegal or suspicious things on the Internet using a semi-dedicated proxy, search engines will block it.

The Legality of Private Proxies

Using a proxy server is not prohibited. It is just a tool to solve certain problems: bypassing blocking, protecting information, etc. But some uses of proxies may be illegal in some countries. Therefore, check your local laws before setting up a private proxy.

How to Find a High-Quality Private Proxy?

The process of choosing a provider is the same for all proxies. We discussed it in the article "What is a Proxy Server? How does it work?" Now we will look at the main points.

1. Read reviews about the supplier company.

2. Choose a provider that allows you to change your IP address.

3. Check the connection speed.

Choose a proxy based on your needs: if you need maximum privacy and reliability, while speed is not so important, residential proxies are your choice. If you need a high speed, choose datacenter ones.

Another thing affecting the speed of a proxy is the amount of bandwidth. It shows how much information can pass through the Internet tunnel. So choose a proxy with unlimited bandwidth to upload and download files from the Internet stably.

Conclusion

Private proxies are dedicated IP addresses that belong to one person and can be used at any time.

In terms of functionality, they do not differ from the shared ones, but their reliability is higher. Private proxies are used to

• maintain confidentiality,
• protect personal data,
• change geolocation,
• obtain a higher internet speed.

Sometimes overpaying for private proxies is not reasonable. You can use, for instance, a shared IP address instead and test ads, create several advertising accounts, or collect data.