The internet is filled with snoopers, malicious actors, and restrictions nowadays. Many people turn to VPN or proxy services to ensure their security and privacy on iOS devices. While their primary purpose is the same, they are not built equally.
Therefore, in this article, you’ll get to know about the main differences between a VPN and a proxy. We’ll compare them and decide which one is better for your iOS devices.
What is a VPN & how does it work?
A virtual private network, also known as VPN, is a technology that creates a secure tunnel and protects you while venturing through the web. It encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server. That way, you boost your security, hide your actual IP address, and spoof your whereabouts.
By doing so, you can protect your web activities from prying eyes, including malicious actors and snoopers. So, getting hacked will be virtually impossible. More so, according to CoolTechZone, a reliable iOS VPN can make you hard to track as it masks your address and other identifying information. And, of course, many people use virtual private networks to bypass geo-blocks and gain access to various content.
What is a proxy & how does it work?
Like a VPN, a proxy server acts as a bridge between your iOS device and the internet. That means your request goes through a proxy server first instead of going straight to the intended destination. This hides your IP address and helps you protect your privacy online. However, it does not encrypt your data or protect your whole traffic.
There are different types of proxies, too, including HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS, and transparent proxies. All of them have their own set of features, capabilities, and purposes. For example, SOCKS5 proxies can help you get your torrent files faster and more securely. Or, transparent proxies can help you avoid DDoS attacks while gaming. Of course, there are also plenty of proxy servers that can give you access to geo-blocked content.
VPN vs. Proxy: Comparison
Now that you are more familiar with VPNs and proxies, it’s time to compare the two. In the process, we’ll see where each of them shines and where they might be lacking.
Encryption
The most significant difference between a proxy and a VPN is encryption. A virtual private network protects your whole traffic. That includes your IP address, location, and the data you send/receive. By encrypting your data, you are making it harder for anyone to intercept and hack.
And while proxies increase your privacy and safety to some extent, these servers do not use encryption. That means third parties can read and tamper with your data. Therefore, a proxy should not be used for handling sensitive data.
Routing
A VPN can reroute your whole traffic through a specific server. Plus, you can use MultiHop servers and let your traffic travel through multiple servers for more privacy. Thus, a virtual private network can protect all apps and all activities on your iOS device. So, you’ll have no problems gaming, streaming, or torrenting.
On the other hand, proxies can only route specific types of traffic. That means it can only work on a single app or service. For example, you can ensure your privacy while surfing the web on a browser or protect your torrenting efforts only.
Speed
A VPN does a lot of work when encrypting your whole traffic and routing it through additional servers. Therefore, most VPNs can slow down your internet connection. Nevertheless, industry-leading VPN services utilize modern tunneling, such as WireGuard, to ensure stable and fast connectivity. And as you might have guessed, speed reductions shouldn’t be a problem with a proxy, as it doesn’t use encryption.
Verdict: Which one is better for iOS devices?
All in all, a VPN and a proxy serve a similar purpose: to ensure your online safety. Nevertheless, a VPN is a far superior option. That’s because it protects your whole traffic, whether you want to game, stream, or browse. Additionally, it ensures your anonymity, so no one, not even your ISP or the government knows about your activities. Not to mention, an iOS VPN is a more reliable option when it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions on various sites and platforms.
Therefore, if you care about your digital security, you should go with a reliable virtual private network for your iOS devices.
