Today, it’s easier than ever for hackers to intercept your data for malicious purposes. Thankfully, it’s also easier than ever to secure your online communications through means such as a virtual private network, known as a VPN. More and more cybersecurity experts recommend proxies and VPN services as essential for all Canadians active on the internet. However, many don’t know the difference between a VPN and a proxy. Here’s everything you need to know about these two services. 

Proxies Focus More on Speed Rather Than Security 

Proxies are servers that simply filter your online communications so it seems as though it came from somewhere else. For example, if you live in Canada and use a proxy located in Japan, all online activity you do through the proxy will make it seem like you’re currently in Japan. In technical terms, the proxy changes your IP address to that of the proxy server, which means it’s much harder for people to track you. 

In general, proxies are faster but less secure than a VPN. Your online requests through a proxy server aren’t usually encrypted, opening the door for hackers to intercept your data before it reaches the proxy. Proxies also only work on the application level, such as only working on your browser. The fact that it usually doesn’t apply to all online requests and data transfers means any application you use that isn’t connected to the proxy is still vulnerable. However, the lack of protocols and networking needed for extra security allows for faster speeds when using a proxy in comparison to a VPN. 

VPN Services Maximize Security While Maintaining Fast Speeds 

In comparison to proxies, virtual private networks give you the utmost protection in terms of privacy and preventing hacking. Unlike proxies, all communications to and from the network go through encryption using a secure tunneling mechanism. The extra encryption ensures nobody that intercepts your data can look into the contents, which might be personal information or even banking login details. If you want to learn more about the most popular VPN services in Canada, click here to visit topvpncanada.com. 

VPN services are also found around the world, meaning you’ll hide your true IP address and replace it with the IP address of the VPN. All of the security features you find in a proxy server are available using a virtual private network. However, the extra layer of security found within these networks comes with slight reductions in speed. In terms of everyday activities such as streaming and downloading movies, the differences between proxies and a virtual private network are unrecognizable. However, more complex tasks that developers and finance professionals might use will see a small reduction in speeds when using a VPN over a proxy. 

VPN or Proxy, Which One is Best for Regular Canadians? 

As you can see, there are a few key differences between proxy servers and virtual private networks. Depending on what you’re looking for, either one of these services should be suitable. Ultimately, it’s a question regarding whether or not you’re looking to conduct time-sensitive and bandwidth-intensive actions through these services. It’s also a question of the level of privacy and security you’re comfortable with when interacting with websites. 

All of your personal affairs, such as banking, should be done through a VPN rather than a proxy. As mentioned, virtual private networks add a substantial layer of encryption and security that isn’t available with proxy servers. In fact, if you use proxies that are shared with other users, you put yourself at greater risk when using confidential services like online banking.

If you’re looking to stream videos, play online games, or do other online recreational activities, using a VPN is usually best. The slightly slower speeds of a virtual private network in comparison to a proxy are not noticeable at the bandwidth requirements of these activities. Furthermore, logging into services such as online games often involve confidential information such as passwords, which is why you should choose a VPN for extra security. 

Most regular Canadians will benefit the most from using a VPN. However, if you’re looking to conduct non-sensitive and bandwidth-intensive functions such as conducting real-time data analysis over a web browser, proxies are usually better. But you should always remember, if your online activity involves any private information, it should always be done over a virtual private network.