When browsing the Internet, on many occasions we need to make use of a Proxy. They are very useful to enter pages or platforms that may be geographically blocked. Basically what it allows is to modify the location in which we are. Now, we can find both free and paid options. However, the alternatives that are free they can be a major security problem. We will talk about it in this article, where we will explain how and how it can affect us.
Why it is dangerous to use a free Proxy
Normally you will be able to find both free and paid applications for almost everything. This also includes using both free and paid proxy servers. But of course, when we talk about programs that are going to serve to improve protection or encrypt navigation, it is very important not to make mistakes. If we choose a Free proxy We may have problems that affect privacy and security when browsing.
They can infect with malware
When using a free Proxy, keep in mind that the company that manages it will get something in return. This generally translates to commercials. Now this is not always a sure thing. Hackers could take advantage of those ads to strain malware. They can promote illegitimate file downloads.
Therefore, a clear danger when using this type of free services is that we download by mistake malicious software. We may not notice while browsing and end up in places that have been created simply to scam us. These files can be from simply a text document or an image.
Steal your personal data
Another risk of using insecure Proxy servers, surely the most frequent, is that your personal information and data end up in the wrong hands. When using a Proxy, a cookie is generated with our login data. This is so that we do not have to re-enter the data whenever we connect. A way to save time and comfort.
The problem appears when an intruder manages to steal that cookie. This would allow him to pose as us. It could steal information such as which websites we visit through that Proxy. It would ultimately put our privacy at risk if we use a free server that can be operated.
Manipulate the pages you visit
When we use a free Proxy server it can become insecure. This means that a hacker could access that server and access cached pages. This would allow you to modify the rules by which the server sends us the information, as well as even manipulate the pages it sends us and take us to other false ones.
Therefore, we may be receiving a fake, maliciously configured website with the aim of stealing our information. We could be facing a Phishing attack. For example, by entering the bank's website we may be accessing a fake website, which pretends to be legitimate, and stealing the password.
Share IP with others
Another risk of using a free Proxy is that our IP address is used by someone else. This is commonplace when using servers of this type without paying money for something more our own. Something similar occurs with VPNs, which could also pose a security threat.
In the case of Proxy servers that can share our IP, it could cause other users to carry out illegal acts from our address. Indirectly, we could be affected by this problem.
They don't encrypt websites
You should also be aware that your connection may not be secure when you use free Proxy servers. They generally do not encrypt the connection. Do not use HTTPS. This is undoubtedly a problem to consider, since your personal data and the information you send over the Internet could be compromised.
This is not something that will always happen, but this problem is more likely to appear when we use free services of this type. That is when we could have greater security and privacy risks and you must rethink whether these free alternatives are really worth choosing.
They can control navigation
Your personal data they have great value online. That is something you should keep in mind. Information about which sites you visit, what social networks you use, what you are looking for ... All this can serve a third party to profit, to sell it to a marketing company, for example, and get to have problems.
After all, when you use a free Proxy you should be aware that somewhere they can make a profit. It may be that the way to profit is precisely through your personal data, everything you do on the Internet.
A free proxy can work very badly
But beyond the security and privacy issues we've seen, using free Proxy servers can also bring significant performance issues. It stands to reason that this is so, since we are ultimately using a limited service, for which we will not pay money.
The speed What we are going to achieve by using a free Proxy is going to be very limited. It may be so slow that we could not use certain services, such as watching videos on Streaming or using the cloud. We could have many limitations, since these types of servers will not work in the same way as other payment ones.
The quality of service It won't be good either. Cuts may appear, stop working, you may have to search many servers until one works, etc. You will not achieve the same quality that you would have if you used a similar service but paying a fee. In that case you would have more guarantees that it will work correctly.
Also, you will have to be aware that you may have to change app. One you use may stop working and you may have to choose a different one. This can be a problem if you suddenly see that you need to use a server to surf the Internet and you have to waste time.
In short, if you are going to use a Proxy server to surf the Internet, you should be aware that using a free one can be a problem. It doesn't mean they always are and that they will always malfunction or be dangerous, but something negative is more likely to happen with one for free than when you pay for it. It will be a case similar to when you use a VPN, which should not be free.