We all know the ordinary way of connecting to the internet. You plug in the cable, open a browser, and enter a URL. While this is convenient and enough for most daily use, there are cases when advanced connectivity solutions are needed. Web scraping, online automation, bypassing geo-restrictions, and many other applications require it.
Knowing how to set up your internet connection for next-level online access requires some knowledge. But it’s well worth it, as you will increase your online security, hide your IP address, and will be able to bypass online security.
Making online access safe and private
The main thing to do to increase your online security is to hide your IP address. Whenever you connect to the internet, your device sends these unique strings of letters and numbers to web servers. It allows them to respond but also gives them your approximate location and enables tracking measures.
The location is known because all IP addresses are assigned and verified by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). They use Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) to assign each string of IPs to a specific location – a city or even a neighborhood. Every website can see this information and what IP address the ISP assigned.
It creates a privacy hazard by allowing the government or websites to limit the information you can access based on your location. For example, Amazon may show you higher product prices when you browse from Germany than the US. Worse is that some governments limit access to information about opposing views.
Changing your IP address helps remedy this issue while also making you anonymous. Since every IP address is unique, websites log it and know what pages you have visited, how long you have stayed on them, and what actions were performed. IP addresses are the basis of fingerprinting – the primary tracking method online.
Exposing your IP address also enables third parties to send requests to your home server. While it’s crucial for connection, it can be abused by infiltrating your devices and sending DDoS or other attacks.
Why you might need advanced connectivity?
Hiding your IP address and showing another one in its place is a measure that can quickly increase your online security. But, advanced connectivity solutions are even necessary for some online tasks. Here are the main scenarios when advanced connectivity is a must.
Data collection, also known as web scraping, includes the usage of special bots to visit websites, make a list of available data (crawling), and then download it in a user-friendly format. Many websites try to limit what bots can access on their websites and ban suspicious IP addresses.
That is why you must use different IP addresses for continued access, which can be acquired quickly. Advanced methods of changing our IP will also enable you to bypass various geo-restrictions and get the whole picture, which might not be accessible otherwise.
Social media automation is most useful for businesses or individuals running multiple accounts. Platforms like Facebook, X, or TikTok allow one person only to have a couple of accounts at most. They enforce this rule by tracking visitors’ IP addresses and locations, so having access to multiple IPs is crucial.
Moreover, managing multiple accounts requires special software to perform actions simultaneously across accounts. It saves time and money, but you must have advanced connectivity with different IPs. Otherwise, social media automation tools won’t work.
Bulk purchasing online has become a huge hassle since people started to use automated bots to buy and resell products. From tickets and sneakers to graphic cards, almost all quality goods are impacted by scalpers. Websites, in turn, have started to limit the number of purchases, impose geo-restrictions, and various other measures.
There isn’t a viable solution for small players, so the best strategy is to use the same tactics yourself. Creating multiple accounts on e-commerce stores and using bots are standard measures. They all are possible only when one has access to multiple IP addresses.
Advanced connectivity solution: proxy or a VPN?
Proxies
Proxy servers (or simply proxies) act as intermediaries for your connection to the web. Instead of sending requests directly from your home network, you connect to a proxy first so it can forward them on its behalf. Such a process makes your IP address invisible for websites since the requests are coming from a proxy.
Depending on your task, you might want to use a different proxy type. Generally, a Static IP Proxy with origins in a residential area is the best choice. You will arouse the least suspicion and will get decent speed since the IP address isn’t changing.
Proxy providers have a large selection of IP locations to choose from. So, you can have a personal pool of IP addresses in different locations. Proxies are the most flexible choice as you can use them for simple tasks, such as anonymous web browsing, but also integrate them into various software for performing advanced connectivity tasks.
All previously mentioned tasks work great with proxies, but they can do much more. For example, proxies can be used in reverse and protect incoming connections to your website or email server.
VPNs
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a better option for less tech-savvy users who simply want to change their IP address and won’t use advanced functions. They come with additional software, which is easy to use, and you only need to press a few buttons to hide your IP.
VPNs are great for anonymous browsing, gaming, and video streaming. However, unlike with proxies, you won’t get access to the full credentials of the server you are using. In practice, this means that VPNs are not suitable for advanced tasks which require setting up additional access.
Conclusion
Hiding your IP address is crucial for ensuring privacy and security. But, not all measures of changing your IP are equally effective. Advanced tasks, such as bulk purchasing, automation, and web scraping, are only possible with the integration capabilities of proxies.
