Users rely on anonymity tools like proxies to stay safe and private online. While most people do not mind paying for proxy services, some still prefer to use free ones.
Free proxies are public proxies that are also known as free open proxies. A study that tested 25,443 free proxy servers revealed that only around 14% are safe to use.
Some free proxies involve changing data and inserting Java Scripts or HTML. Most of these free proxies expose users to cyberattacks that affect at least 30,000 websites daily and 64% of companies worldwide.
While free anonymous web browsing sounds tempting, it comes with a price. Continue reading to learn more about the risks of using a free proxy.
🔑Key Takeaways
- Free proxies are unsafe because they do not encrypt data, strengthening online privacy.
- The reasons why using free proxies is not advisable include lack of encryption, potential traffic tracking, malware-ridden ads, poor connection issues, and potential cookie theft.
- There are alternatives to free proxies rather than risk your online privacy and safety that are affordable, reliable, and secure.
Is It Safe To Use Free Proxies?
The answer is “no.” Free proxies are unsafe. They may make you anonymous online, but they come with numerous threats to your privacy on the web.
Typically, proxies do not encrypt data. However, a proxy server can bypass restrictions, block access to certain websites, and improve internet speed.
The proxy provider can see every piece of information about you on your device. If you use a free proxy, the provider can sell your data to earn money.
Free proxies are suitable only if you’re browsing the web for fun—with no sensitive information at risk. Use paid proxies if you’re logging into an account, shopping, or working.
Smartproxy
Smartproxy is a top-rated proxy provider trusted by many. Its 40 million+ proxies from 195+ locations help bypass CAPTCHAs, geo-blocks, and IP bans. It offers a free trial and has a high rating of 4.7 on Trustpilot with 89% 5-star ratings, making it one of the best in the industry.
Reasons To Avoid Free Proxies
Using free online proxies is tempting since they offer anonymity at no cost. However, saving a few dollars is not worth the risk.
To help you understand, here are five main reasons why you should avoid getting a free proxy:
1. Lack Of Encryption
One of the downsides of using a proxy is the lack of encryption. Your data and online activity are always visible with a paid or free proxy.
If you use a proxy, you will connect to non-encrypted servers. They will force you to load a page in HTTP. However, since most free proxies do not support HTTPS, this may lead to the exposure of your sensitive data.
There are free proxies that support HTTPS, but they take time to come by. If you ever found one, you will also need a bunch of them, especially over your rotating proxies.
Paid proxies are better since they provide secure IP addresses. Their proxy addresses also load faster and have a higher uptime.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Free Proxy — Learn About The Risks
2. Potential Traffic Tracking
There are many reasons why free proxy providers do not support HTTPS. The most common is that it requires security certificates, which costs money.
Free online proxy providers don’t use a security certificate to cut expenses. The main reason is that these providers want to track traffic.
When loading web pages over HTTP, the providers can see your traffic and get sensitive data. With your data exposed, the providers can sell it to earn money.
3. Malware-Ridden Ads
While some providers offer free open proxies out of kindness, most want to earn money from the proxies as a business.
Besides stealing your data, they also get paid by placing ads on the platforms you visit. Simple display ads are harmless. However, you can also encounter malware-ridden ads. These ads can spread malware to users and compromise their data and devices.
Common malware includes trojans, viruses, ransomware, and worms, which may infect your computer and destroy its systems in various ways. At first glance, you will never know if an ad on a free proxy is malware-free. Free proxy sites can insert anything since there are no rules or policies related to ad types.
| 💡Did You Know Various proxy servers help you protect your online identity, improve your internet connection, and provide high anonymity. These include:  Forward proxy Reverse proxy Anonymous proxy Transparent proxy SOCKS proxy |
4. Poor Connection Issues
Since these are free proxies, you can expect many people to use them. Unfortunately, this high amount of usage can lead to poor connections.
Some users get around this problem by using another server. However, this solution is only temporary since free servers are always crowded.
5. Potential Cookie Theft
Cookie theft is a common issue with free open proxies. It’s a type of cyberattack wherein the criminal gains access to the data included in the cookie.
Web cookies get and store your sensitive data, which is why attackers always target this type of data. Some common data stored in cookies are phone numbers, addresses, login credentials, and more.
Web servers generate and store cookies on local disks. However, when using a proxy, unwanted parties can access them.
Cookie theft is the usual cause of identity theft. With data from cookies, attackers can hack accounts or pretend to be you.
Alternatives To Free Proxies
Instead of risking your privacy and safety with free proxies, it’s best to pay a small fee for paid proxies. You can find providers offering affordable proxy services to enjoy reliable, secure, and flexible proxies.
Here are five inexpensive proxies you can pick from:
1. Packet Stream
| Pricing: Around $1 per month |
| Key Features: 7 million IP addresses in its pool Supports HTTP and HTTPS Covers more than 150 countries Supports rotation per request |
If you want the cheapest alternative to free proxies, PacketStream is the best option. This provider offers affordable residential proxies.
Packet Stream does not support city-lever targeting or SOCKS5. It also has a small proxy pool. Still, it remains affordable if you want a secure proxy without paying too much.
| 🔓Security Note: Protect yourself online by acquiring ample knowledge about common hacking techniques. These are: Phishing attacks DNS spoofing Cross-site scripting Man-in-the-middle attack You may protect yourself from cyberattacks through antivirus and firewall suites, using incognito mode when browsing, storing data in clouds, and encrypting internet traffic using VPNs. |
2. IPRoyal
| Pricing: Starts at $7 monthly |
| Key Features: 250,000 IP Addresses in its pool Supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5 Covers more than 150 countries Supports rotations per request or up to 24 hours Offers 24/7 customer support through chat |
IPRoyal isn’t the cheapest, but with its services, you’ll pay less than others. It allows you to enjoy proxies that don’t expire with flexible filters and rotations. However, its proxy pool is small compared to other services but enough for easy tasks.
3. Smartproxy
| Pricing: Starts at $8.5/mo. |
| Key Features: 40 million IP Addresses in its pool Supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5 Covers 195 countries Supports rotations per request or 10 to 30 minutes Offers 24/7 customer support via email or chat |
Smartproxy is another ideal option if you want the best value for what you pay. With this provider, you can access a large proxy pool with a broad reach. This option offers enough features to support typical tasks. It’s also best for beginners since they have excellent customer support to help set up the proxy.
4. Bright Data
| Pricing: Around $15 per month |
| Key Features: 72 million IP Addresses in its pool Supports HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5 Covers every country and city Supports rotations per request Accessible customer support |
Bright Data is costly, but it’s the best if you want the largest proxy pool. It’s an ideal option if you use proxies for demanding tasks or backbreaking work.
If you only use proxies for light work or tasks, it’s best to go for more affordable options.
5. Oxylabs
| Pricing: Starts at $15 monthly |
| Key Features: 100 million IP Addresses in its pool Supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5 Covers every country and city Supports rotations per request or up to 30 minutes with a sticky proxy |
If you’re doing heavy tasks like web scraping or data parsing, Oxylabs is an ideal option. It offers flexible rotation, a simple dashboard, and a dedicated account manager.
Conclusion
Free proxies offer an easy solution for staying anonymous on the Internet. You may not pay with money with free proxies. However, it puts you at risk and compromises your information.
Most free proxies are always unreliable. Moreover, they expose you to problems like malware, unsafe web pages, and cookie theft.
Using free proxies may seem like a no-lose situation. Still, your sensitive data is much more important than a few dollar’s worth of a secure proxy.
FAQs
Are free SOCKS5 proxies safe?
SOCKS5 proxies are generally safe, but the free ones can still be risky. SOCKS5 lacks data encryption like most proxies. It’s best to use paid SOCKS5 proxies, offering more security features.
Does Google block free proxies?
Since free proxies are available to the public, they are easily detected and blocked by Google. Besides Google, other websites can block you if they detect that you are using a proxy.
Is a free VPN better than a free proxy?
A free VPN can be as risky as a free proxy. Free VPN providers earn money by collecting or tracking data, including malware-ridden ads. Moreover, the free ones usually have weak encryption, making them easier to hack.
Timeline Of The Article
Darko founded WhatToBecome.com, a comprehensive career guidance platform for beginners in various popular fields. With a focus on remote working scenarios, workplace technology, emerging trends, and common challenges, Darko shares his valuable experiences and insights with our readers here on Techjury. Through his informative articles, Darko equips readers with the necessary knowledge and wisdom to thrive in their professional endeavors.