Finding a reliable, working proxy server can be akin to finding a needle in a haystack. However, if you know where to look, these proverbial needles are everywhere. But at the same time, most of them are free – meaning that they can be plagued with problems.
The Downside to Public Proxy Servers
The Free Proxy Servers are Not Reliable!
One of the main problems with public proxies is that they just aren’t reliable. Among the reasons for this is the fact that many people can be using them at the same time, overloading their bandwidth and leaving you with a frustratingly slow internet experience. Even if a given proxy doesn’t have too many users, chances are that there are a few people who are abusing the proxy’s capabilities and thus slowing it down for everyone.
The Open proxy servers are Not True Security!
In fact, free and open proxy servers are notorious for being playgrounds for hackers and spammers.Of course, due to the amount of people using free servers, the chances that you are going to get hacked are not huge. Your personal information & credit card info is dangerous when you’re used those open proxies.
Public Proxy Server is Not Anonymous!
Another key disadvantage of public proxy servers – and likely the most concerning – is that they do not provide true anonymity for users. While indeed there are plenty of proxies out there that can fully protect your identify (some paid, some not), in general public proxies cannot offer this service.
This is because so many so-called public proxies are run by hackers and spammers; people who are lurking behind the proxy waiting to steal your information and pollute your system with junk. Many public proxies are also transparent, meaning that instead of hiding your IP, they merely pass it on to the website you are visiting.
Conclusion
As well, open proxy servers really don’t provide much protection. While they may in fact hide your IP address and provide some level of security, they are not nearly as dependable as paid proxies or other types of internet protection.
If security and privacy are your chief concerns, don’t despair. There are lots of different proxies out there, and many of them offer varying degrees of anonymity.