It’s no secret that cybercrime is becoming the primary concern for all internet users worldwide. Not only are cyberattacks becoming an everyday occurrence, but they’re also costing people and companies a lot of money.
It’s predicted the cost of cybercrime will reach a shocking $10.5 trillion per year by 2025. With identity theft, internet fraud, and cyber extortion being the most frequent forms of cybercriminal activity, all internet users need to think twice about their online safety.
Fortunately, there are several security options internet users can choose from. In this article, we’ll shed light on becoming more anonymous with a VPN or SOCKS5 proxy.
VPNs explained
A Virtual Private Network, or simply VPN, is a tool that establishes a private connection using a public connection. With a VPN, internet users can mask their true IP address and thus become virtually untraceable by cybercriminals. Because VPN providers supply their users with encrypted and secure internet connections, VPN users can enjoy increased privacy and anonymity when online.
It’s especially important when browsing the internet and accessing data from public networks. Whether you filled in confidential company information while waiting in the bank queue or sent some important files while waiting for your doctor’s appointment, all that data is available to other users connected on the same network.
Therefore, a VPN is essential to mask your online activity and hide it away from prying eyes.
How companies use VPNs for anonymity
Companies can increase their anonymity by implementing a VPN tool to hide any of the following data:
- Web activity
Company owners and employees complete all kinds of activities online. However, internet service providers (ISPs) and web browsers track this information and store it. Even the so-called private browsers aren’t completely private, so all the company’s online activity can be easily accessed by cybercriminals with minimal effort.
A VPN represents a simple solution for companies that want to keep their web activity to themselves and stay anonymous online.
- IP address and location
Suppose someone gains access to the company’s IP address. In that case, they can use that information to access all important activities online, including what employees searched for and where they were located at the time. Since every action leads back to a particular device, IP address and real physical location are closely connected.
A VPN masks a company’s IP address by giving it a new one, thus erasing every trace and possibility of connecting the new IP address with the real-life location.
- Devices
Finally, VPNs also protect all devices connected to the internet. That includes desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and all the other new appliances becoming a part of the IoT group. Companies with multiple devices connected to their network can keep them safe by investing in a VPN.
Proxies explained
A Socket Secure proxy, often called SOCKS, is an internet protocol that routes all online traffic. Through communication with other servers, SOCKS establishes a connection and reroutes all network traffic through a third-party server. With this process, the internet user receives a new IP address, making it instantly an excellent solution for improving online safety and anonymity.
The SOCKS5 proxy is the newest edition of the SOCKS protocol. Compared to the older version, the upgraded SOCKS5 supports various authentication methods and multiple UDP or TCP connections.
Furthermore, SOCKS5 can handle different programs, protocols, or other types of traffic without limitations. That makes them one of the most sophisticated and flexible solutions for increased safety and privacy currently available on the market.
Why SOCKS5 proxies offer superior anonymity for a variety of tasks
Similar to VPNs, SOCKS5 proxies also offer anonymity in the following scenarios:
- Hiding web activity from browsers and ISPs
- Concealing the true IP address online
- Hiding real-life locations online
- Breaking through set network firewalls
But, since all these tasks are available with VPN tools too, what makes SOCKS5 proxies superior to VPNs?
Well, a SOCKS5 proxy is a better alternative to a VPN when it comes to securing privacy online because it doesn’t only reroute and examine web activity. It also accesses different applications and tools that could contain harmful content. Since SOCKS5 proxies are useful for conducting web scraping tasks as well, they truly offer superior anonymity for various tasks.
With the most popular SOCKS5 proxy by their side, companies can complete all their tasks and duties without worrying about their online anonymity and security ever again.
Conclusion
Both VPNs and SOCKS5 proxies offer the much-needed privacy and anonymity for companies that want to hide their online traces and maybe even erase themselves from hackers’ radars. However, when choosing between the two, it’s crucial to mention the high level of flexibility and premium anonymity only SOCKS5 proxies can supply companies with.
If you still can’t decide between the two, this might be the perfect time to finally decide which one your company will choose.
Thomas Jackson is a dynamic and talented content writer at WonderWorldSpace.com, renowned for his engaging and informative articles. Beyond his professional pursuits in writing, Jack is also known for his deep passion for fitness, which not only shapes his lifestyle but also influences his work.