Are you planning to use a proxy for mobile to access geo-blocked content to keep your web surfing anonymous? You’re not alone.
The Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) technology, coupled with the anonymity of mobile proxies, has made them an excellent solution for seamless web browsing, web scraping, ad verification, SEO monitoring, and more.
But there are a few things you should know about using a proxy for mobile. For instance, where can you get a mobile proxy from? What are its pros and cons? Let’s discuss the answer to all these questions.
What Are Proxies? How Do They Work?
If you’ve been an internet user long enough, you would have heard about proxies. What are they exactly?
Think of a proxy as a messenger. They take your message to the target website and get a reply back for you. This way, you don’t have to take the message yourself.
In technical terms, this means you don’t have to expose your IP address. The proxy server has a unique IP address that it uses to send an access request to the target website.
It gets your desired information from the website and relays it back to you. Your IP address stays hidden, and you remain anonymous. Viola!
How Do Mobile Proxies Work?
A proxy for mobile works similarly. But it differs significantly from a residential or data center proxy.
Let’s talk about these two briefly. When you get an internet connection for your home, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you an IP address. That’s the IP address associated with your connection.
Residential proxies have these IP addresses. They’re linked to real users and their home connections.
Data center proxies get their IP addresses from data centers. That’s pretty straightforward to guess from the name.
Mobile proxies differ from these two because their IP addresses are not linked to physical locations. Rather, they have the IP addresses mobile carriers have given to mobile phone users.
Carrier Grade NAT in Mobile Proxies
Another way mobile proxies differ from other types is in their use of Carrier Grade NAT. It’s a network address translation technology telecom companies use in their IPv4 network structure.
In simple words, it means multiple users may get the same IP address. That’s good news for people who want to use mobile proxies.
Let’s say a website suspects you’re using a mobile proxy rather than your real IP. The server will be reluctant to block the proxy’s IP because that could mean blocking hundreds of other people who have the same IP address in the process.
Since no website wants to lose legitimate users, this technology could save you from getting banned even if you get caught.
Pros and Cons of Mobile Proxies
Before you use a proxy for mobile, you should know about its benefits and shortcomings. You can then weigh both to decide if it’s the right choice.
Pros
- Anonymity: A proxy for mobile keeps you anonymous on the web. So, you can surf the web or circumvent geo-restrictions with ease.
- Security: Since a mobile proxy keeps you anonymous, it also ensures your online safety. You don’t have to worry about malicious actors, like scammers and hackers, when using a proxy.
- Versatility: You can do a lot with mobile proxies, whether for personal or commercial use. Data mining, web scraping, online marketing, and social media management are some known use cases.
- Compatibility: Mobile proxies are compatible with several platforms, operating systems, and devices.
Cons
- Cost: With better functionality comes a higher price. Mobile proxies are expensive but can be worthwhile if you need to complete high-priority, intensive tasks.
- Bandwidth Limitations: Some ISPs have bandwidth limitations for mobile proxies. That could affect performance and speed.
Where to Get a Proxy for Mobile
When selecting a proxy provider, ask yourself the following:
- Are they trustworthy? The provider should have a solid reputation for high-quality services. Check the client testimonials and online reviews.
- How much coverage do they provide? It would tell you how many mobile proxies you’ll get in your plan.
- What is the uptime? Ideally, you want 100% uptime. But a 99.9% uptime is acceptable.
- Do they have security features? Select a proxy provider with security features like encryption. They should also offer traffic management and monitoring tools.
After getting access to the proxies, make sure you follow the provider’s terms and conditions. Any violation could result in account termination or suspension.
Conclusion
A proxy for mobile can do wonders for your business or personal web surfing. Not only can you remain anonymous, but you also get access to content otherwise geo-blocked. It’s a double win.
Mobile proxies also have a lower risk of getting blocked. So, you can mine data, analyze your competitors’ websites, or simply browse the web without interruptions or restrictions.
While the high cost is a downside, you can compensate for it by taking full advantage of the features mobile proxies provide.
