When you have concerns about online privacy, there are a few ways to improve it. Proxy servers are a convenient way to level up your anonymity. The essential proxy feature is hiding and alternating the client’s IP address. There are two types available, and we’ll discuss the differences and similarities between HTTP and SOCKS proxies in this article.
We’ll explore the differences in technology and use cases between them. But, before diving into specific details, here’s a quick reminder about the main point of proxies.
Why Do People Use Proxies?
The name proxy reveals a lot about the purpose. It serves as an intermediary point. You won’t have web requests coming directly from your device. Instead, you will send them through a proxy with an alternate IP to the rest of the internet. Visited destinations on the network will also route their responses through a proxy. In the end, this safeguards your online privacy.
It’s normally easy for others to detect your location based on your IP with specialized tools. By masking tinformationinfo, proxies will instantly help with many tasks. Of course, it is impossible to be perfectly anonymous while using the internet. But using a proxy service is the best way to level up your privacy.
Proxy Protocol Types
Your two options are either HTTP or SOCKS proxies. Both solutions have unique features and can perform basic proxy features. But, you should know some essential differences before starting.
HTTP Proxy
HyperText Transfer Protocol, aka HTTP, is a standardized internet protocol. Every individual request done via HTTP is its own fresh connection that ends once the desired data is received.
As you can guess by its name, this protocol is what the first type of proxy uses. When you visit any website, your computer sends its request to the proxy. The proxy then makes that HTTP request to the server for you, returning the results in that same HTTP format.
They can also handle HTTPS, with the S standing for secure. They encrypt data by using Transport Layer Security (TLS). Older versions used Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
SOCKS Proxy
The other proxy type is compatible with all available protocols. It doesn’t depend on HTTP, instead mainly uses the Transmission Control Protocol, aka TCP, to move your data. Like its HTTP counterpart, the SOCKS proxy also hides your IP address by making requests on your behalf.
Differences Between HTTP and SOCKS Proxies
The essential difference comes from the HTTP proxy’s ability to understand the sent data. If your company works on a scraping project, these properties will allow you to recognize and filter data. In addition, HTTP proxies can be time-saving in such scenarios by eliminating surplus information during the transfer.
SOCKS can transfer data efficiently. However, this protocol can’t interpret it, and you can utilize such proxies for general actions. A few example use cases are sending big data sets, streaming, or bypassing firewalls.
Compatibility between HTTP and SOCKS proxies is the second most significant difference. SOCKS has an edge in terms of compatibility. This is because HTTP proxies can work with their namesake protocol. But, SOCKS can handle anything.
The third notable difference is the fact that HTTPS proxies encrypt data for additional security. Alternately, SOCKS proxies don’t use any encryption. This improves data transfer speed by removing the extra steps involved in encrypting and decrypting data.
Advantages of SOCKS Proxies
Due to their protocol-agnostic nature, SOCKS proxies are better for generalized tasks. They excel in tasks like P2P data sharing and streaming.
It’s possible to fit almost anything to work with these proxies. They are suitable for high-volume data transfers and have support for numerous programming languages and systems.
Speed is another essential advantage for SOCKS, adding to its volume transfer capabilities.
Advantages of HTTP Proxies
We already covered the main advantage of data interpretation. This feature makes data filtering convenient. You can spot repeated requests. Other top benefits include detecting cache responses and rejecting suspicious data.
If you’re on a scraping project, the data understanding and filtering options can come into play. You can also utilize caching when visitors repeatedly request the same information. Such proxies can decide which packages to receive and which to bounce on the server.
What About Similarities?
Both, HTTP and SOCKS, proxies serve the same ultimate purpose. You increase your online privacy by being behind an alternate IP address, thus masking your digital fingerprint.
The Most Common Use-Cases
The servers you’re visiting can’t discover your location or device, thanks to the proxy’s help. While some can use this feature for malicious acts, there are numerous legitimate use-case scenarios.
Using Geo-Specific Services
Regular consumers use proxies to get access to geo-specific services. For example, your country might not have Netflix or Xbox Pass service. You can access streaming, gaming, and other entertainment services by changing your IP location.
Some online shops or iGaming websites can also restrict users from your country. But, again, a proxy will help you get around such bans.
Marketing Research
Marketers use a proxy server to probe new markets. For example, you can go around websites blocking users from your country and do your market research through proxy servers.
When launching a website or app, you can also use geo-targeted proxies to test how it performs from other locations than your own.
Online Shopping or Copping
When it comes to online shopping for limited edition sneakers, using sneaker proxy tips can greatly improve your chances of copping the latest releases. By utilizing sneaker proxies, be it HTTP or SOCKS proxies, you can bypass restrictions and secure multiple pairs, increasing your chances of getting the shoes you want.
Web Scraping
Data science is one of the fastest-growing businesses. Web Scraping is basically collecting data from the internet with a uniquely designed tool.
Both types of proxies are useful for web scraping. HTTP has a slight edge because of its data interpretation abilities, allowing cleaner results. Meanwhile, SOCKS will deliver fast, unfiltered data sets.
Conclusion
HTTP and SOCKS proxies are trendy technologies. As a middleman, they can conceal the client’s IP, which automatically helps with privacy.
Which one should you use? The answer will vary due to the differences between HTTP and SOCKS proxies. The flagship example is the HTTP protocol’s ability to interpret data. Just keep in mind its sole reliance on one protocol.
SOCKS can communicate through different protocols but can’t read data. It’s primarily suitable for large data transfers because of its speed. SOCKS can also bypass certain firewalls to send data packages to the destination. It boils down to your needs. If you aim for higher safety and can use the filtering options, an HTTP proxy is your best choice. On the other hand, large data transfers are the forte of speedy SOCKS. Whatever your intent, KocerRoxy is a budget-friendly and reliable solution for your proxy needs.
