Free proxies do mask your real IP address and assign a different one.

On paper, they provide anonymity. But true anonymity may not be possible with free proxy networks for several reasons discussed later in this article. To achieve true anonymity, using paid proxy servers offered by trusted providers is recommended.

Understanding online anonymity 

Your internet service provider (ISP) assigns you an IP address that acts as an identifier whenever you want to access the internet. This identifier tells web servers where requests have originated and where responses should terminate. The role of the IP address as an identifier signals that it holds information that is used to identify you. Specifically, it contains information about your location (albeit not the exact location) and your ISP.

It is this information that websites use to approximate your location and thus enforce geo-restrictions. Some websites also use IP addresses to implement fingerprinting, a type of online tracking. 

To create your fingerprint, they collect a panoply of data that, collectively, uniquely sets you apart from other users. Among the data they collect is your IP address, which discloses your location and time zone. Other data points include your device, operating system, screen resolution, display settings, and software you are using. They then use your fingerprint to display targeted ads, implement dynamic pricing, tailor the user experience to each visitor, and more. But the bottom line is that fingerprinting is invasive.

Against this backdrop, it’s clear that masking your IP address hides your real location and achieves one of two things. It lets you access geo-restricted content and prevents websites from creating an accurate fingerprint. Simply put, hiding your IP address provides online anonymity. 

There are three proven tools you can use to mask your IP address:

• Proxy servers like free proxies, residential proxies, datacenter proxies, and more
• Virtual private networks
• Tor browser

Importance of anonymity during web scraping

When it comes to web scraping, access to as much data as possible is golden. This is why using a proxy server is ideal. It provides anonymity by hiding your IP address and assigning your device a different IP address. The new IP address not only masks your identity and thus anonymizes your connection but also enables you to access geo-restricted content. 

Secondly, proxy servers that frequently change the assigned IP address, i.e., rotating proxies, limit the traffic associated with a particular identifier. They help you send multiple requests without raising suspicion, which can lead to blacklisting. And given that web scraping typically involves a large number of requests, proxies ensure successful data collection. However, some proxy types are not suited for web scraping even though they provide a layer of anonymity. Free proxies perfectly exemplify this fact.

Using Free Proxies For Data Collection

As the name suggests, free proxies are available at no cost. They mask your IP address and assign a different IP address supplied by the provider. However, they have inherent limitations that negatively impact their suitability for a majority of tasks, including data collection. They are only suited for testing web performance across regions and small-scale web scraping tasks. For options, check out our curated best free proxy providers.

Limitations of free proxies for data collection

• Potential IP sharing

Free proxies are free. Anyone can use them. The fact that they are accessible to all and sundry means that a single proxy can be potentially shared by multiple users. Some providers may not even disclose that the free proxies are shared. 

The result is slow performance, resulting in request timeouts and terminated connections when the bandwidth can no longer accommodate the inbound and outbound traffic. The slow performance breeds unreliability and instability.

• Lack of IP ownership

Closely tied to the issue of sharing IP addresses is a second issue: you do not have ownership of the assigned IP address. In fact, providers openly disclose these IP addresses in their free proxy lists. Website owners may access such lists and blacklist the IP addresses therein, rendering the free proxies unusable. Secondly, the lack of ownership means you do not have control over who and how the free proxy is used, even if it’s used to commit crimes. 

• Security vulnerabilities

Secondly, free proxies offered by untrusted providers are unsecured. Such providers can snoop on you, logging your activity. They can also access your actual IP address via your web requests. The providers can combine your logs with your true IP address to create your profile. In such a scenario, free proxies do not provide complete anonymity. Additionally, free proxies that do not support HTTPS compromise data security. The data routed through such proxies is not encrypted and can be easily read.

Conclusion

Free proxies have some inherent characteristics that prevent them from offering true anonymity. Firstly, some providers publicly disclose IP addresses associated with free proxies. The result is that website owners may access the free proxy list and blacklist all the IP addresses, rendering them unusable. Other issues include potential IP sharing and security vulnerabilities. To achieve true anonymity, use trusted, paid proxy servers.