Proxies are essential tools for protecting your online privacy by hiding your real IP address and acting as intermediaries between you and the websites you visit. However, not all proxies are reliable, and some may expose your information instead of protecting it. If you rely on proxies to manage ads or business accounts on digital platforms, choosing a secure proxy is crucial for the smooth operation of those activities.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to check if your proxy is secure, avoid data leaks, and test it with just a few simple steps. Let’s dive in!
What Makes a Proxy Reliable?
Choosing a proxy goes beyond just finding a free service. To ensure the security and efficiency of the proxy, you need to evaluate three important factors:
1. Service Reputation
Not all proxy services are reputable, and even large providers can face issues from time to time. If you frequently see reviews claiming that the proxy’s geo-location doesn’t match the expected one, take that as a red flag. Using these proxies without additional checks can result in blocked accounts or even loss of access to essential services.
2. Number of Available IP Addresses
Quality proxies tend to have a wide range of available IP addresses. This indicates that the service has its own infrastructure and trusted suppliers. The more IPs available, the lower the risk of using a previously compromised IP.
3. Cost
Free proxies can be risky. If you found a proxy for free on a public forum or website, chances are that dozens of others are using the same IP. This increases the likelihood of blocks and failures, hurting your operations.
7 Steps to Verify Your Proxy’s Security
Now that you understand the key criteria for choosing a proxy, let’s move on to how you can test your proxy’s security in a few simple steps.
1. Test the Connection in Your Browser
If you’re using proxies for work, you’re probably using a multi-account browser like Octo Browser. Create a new profile, insert the proxy data, and run a basic connection test. This will check if the browser can connect to the proxy server and verify the geo-location of the IP.
2. Test Access to Popular Websites
After setting up the proxy, open well-known sites like Google, eBay, and Facebook to ensure they load properly. If these websites work smoothly, it’s a good sign that the proxy is correctly configured.
3. Check IP Trustworthiness with IP Quality Score
Go to ipqualityscore.com and input the IP provided by the proxy. This site checks if the IP is flagged by security systems as suspicious. The “Fraud Score” should be as low as possible, ideally 0, indicating that the IP is trustworthy.
4. Check If the IP Is on Spam Databases
IPs that appear on spam lists can be blocked by website security systems. Use services like Spamhaus, or MX Toolbox to check if your proxy IP is blacklisted. Blocked IPs can make it harder to send emails or access specific sites.
5. Identify Proxy Type with ASN
Discovering the ASN (Autonomous System Number) type can reveal whether the proxy belongs to a datacenter, hosting provider, or residential ISP. Residential proxies are generally seen as less suspicious than datacenter proxies. Tools like IPinfo or db-ip can help with this.
6. Check for DNS Leaks
A DNS leak occurs when DNS requests bypass the proxy tunnel, revealing your real IP. Use tools like DNS Leak Test to ensure DNS queries are being routed correctly, and that your real IP isn’t exposed.
7. Check the MTU Value
MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) refers to the size of the largest data packet that can be transmitted without fragmentation. A modified MTU value can signal the use of a proxy. Use checkers like Browserleaks to ensure the MTU value is correct, helping avoid detection.
Conclusion: How to Know If Your Proxy Is Secure
Testing a proxy’s security involves checking several factors, such as whether it appears in spam databases, if there are DNS leaks, and the type of proxy provider. A reliable proxy protects your information and avoids account blocks.
Additionally, it’s always recommended to test the proxy on the platform you plan to work with. Each system uses its own databases and IP-checking mechanisms, so running tests on your target platforms can help avoid future issues.
Remember: free proxies may seem like an easy solution, but they can expose your data and harm your work. Invest in reliable proxy services and test them regularly to ensure your online safety.
