A residential proxy is a type of proxy server that uses an IP address provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), not a data center. Each residential proxy address appears as a regular user to websites, offering anonymity and avoiding detection as a proxy by most site security systems.
How Does a Residential Proxy Work?
Residential proxies route your internet traffic through an intermediary server. This server changes your IP address before sending your request to the target website. As a result, the website sees the request as coming from the proxy's IP address instead of your actual IP address.
Why Use Residential Proxies?
- Anonymity: They provide high levels of anonymity, as they appear as regular residential IPs.
- Less Blocking: Websites are less likely to block these proxies, as they resemble real user behavior.
- Geotargeting: They allow you to access geo-restricted content by choosing IPs from specific locations.
- Data Scraping: Ideal for gathering data without being detected or banned.
- Monitoring and testing: By targeting specific locations, website owners can monitor things like performance, ads shown to users and more.
How are Residential Proxies made?
There are several commercial proxy networks claiming millions of residential IPs, these IPs are made available by sometimes unwitting users installing applications, like free VPNs, on their phone or computer, that effectively makes the device's internet connection available to the proxy network provider. The provider can then route internet requests through that device for their customers.