What Is a Mobile Proxy Server? Definition, Uses and More

One of the most popular uses of mobile proxies is IP masking and rotation. This allows you to appear as a new visitor to a website each time you access it. With IP rotation (and other masking tools that are not related to proxies but rather to anti-detect browsers such as Adspower, Octo Browser, Dolphin Anty, MultiLogin, and GenLogin), websites do not realize that the same scraper is accessing them multiple times within a short period. Another example is when you can appear as a large number of different users through the use of mobile proxies, which allows you to significantly increase the number of unique views on a YouTube video without the risk of being blocked.

Now that technology has become an integral part of life, protecting personal data is becoming increasingly important. Hacker attacks, compromised Facebook, Telegram and other social media accounts, as well as data breaches are becoming more and more frequent, raising concerns about the safety of personal and business information. When you browse the web without using a proxy server, every request is sent directly from your device to the sites you visit. This means that your personal information, including your IP address, can be transmitted to the site you are interacting with. This is why the use of proxy servers has become a common practice to ensure security and privacy.

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What Exactly Are Mobile Proxies?

Let's break down the definition of a mobile proxy server. A mobile proxy server is a tool that routes internet traffic through mobile devices, hiding your location and identity. They provide reliability and security through unique IP addresses as well as fast mobile network connectivity. Applications of mobile proxies, for example, include web scraping, traffic arbitrage, and providing access to geographically restricted sites.

How Do Mobile Proxies Work?

Now that we understand what a mobile proxy server is, let's take a look at how it works. Unlike traditional server proxies, mobile proxies have the ability to dynamically change IP addresses on demand or according to a predefined schedule. This is achieved because the mobile proxy has access to a large pool of IP addresses of the mobile network.

Mobile IP addresses are usually dynamic. This means that they do not belong to one user (one sim card), but constantly change owners through rotation. For example, when you move around the city with your cell phone, it connects to different cell towers, and each time you change them, it gets a new IP address from the operator. Websites are aware of this feature of mobile IPs and therefore do not block them, as rotation makes such blocking useless and even harmful to the site. As a result, you can say that mobile IPs are the best proxy option.

A mobile proxy operates by routing the proxy user's web traffic through a mobile device that is connected to a cellular network. To access the Internet, a mobile device connects to the nearest cell tower, which then provides it with an available IP address. This IP remains at the disposal of that cell phone as long as it is within range of the tower (not moving around or going into airplane mode). A mobile proxy user can "connect" to this mobile device and redirect all of their Internet traffic through it. As a result, all of the user's Internet activity will appear to be performed from this mobile device with the same IP assigned by the cell tower. This configuration allows users to access online resources from a different IP address and location associated with the mobile proxy.

What Are the Types of Proxies?

Each mobile proxy protocol has its own purposes, so it is impossible to say that one protocol is better or worse than another. Using mobile proxies with modern protocols allows for more flexibility and efficiency in dealing with the challenges that users face. Proxies can be categorized as follows:

By Placement

Server Proxies. As the term implies, this type of proxy works at a server level. Unlike a mobile proxy, where the user's traffic is redirected through a mobile device that has access to an unlimited pool of mobile IPs, a server proxy is purchased from a hosting provider or data center and has a certain number of fixed IP addresses that are assigned to a specific server unit. Because of this, sites can figure out fairly quickly that these server IP addresses are being used for proxies, so blocking them is often a matter of time.

Residential Proxies. Residential proxies are a type of proxy that provide the IP addresses of an actual residential network. This is accomplished by leasing access to the residential routers of people who have agreed to provide their devices for use by proxy companies. The main advantage of resident proxies is that they are more difficult for sites to block because they look like regular home IP addresses.

Mobile Proxies. This type of proxy provides IP addresses for mobile devices such as smartphones or mobile modems. When users connect to mobile proxies, their traffic goes through mobile networks (3G, 4G/LTE, 5G) rather than through data centers or proxy company servers, which means that users access mobile IP addresses that appear as normal mobile devices. This feature reduces the chance of IP blocking to virtually zero.

By Type of IP Address

Static. A static proxy is a type of proxy that provides the same IP address across all outgoing connections. The main advantage of static proxies is that the permanent IP address they provide can be useful for certain tasks, such as testing websites and accessing resources that require a permanent IP address. Keep in mind that using this type of proxy may be less secure because a static IP address may be easier to trace and identify.

Dynamic. This type of proxy provides the ability to periodically change your IP address while remaining connected to the same proxy connection. The main advantage of dynamic proxies is that they provide a higher level of anonymity and security, and significantly reduce the likelihood of blocking due to the fact that their IP address is constantly changing.

By Implementation

Distorting Proxies. A distorting proxy is a type of proxy server that hides the user's real IP address by passing a fake address in the HTTP header. This gives the illusion that the user is in a different location, allowing access to remote websites while maintaining anonymity. This is the type of proxy most often used in scraping, digital marketing, e-commerce and other areas.

Direct Proxies. This type of proxy evaluates each request before deciding whether to establish a connection and performs actions on behalf of the user, such as forwarding the request to its destination. What is this kind of mobile proxy suitable for? This protocol is ideal for internal networks where a single point of entry is required to secure the network and simplify administrative control.

Highly Anonymous Proxies. High anonymity proxies mask your IP address and provide access to resources that may be restricted by firewalls or blocked by IP address. When using such proxies, the server you connect to does not receive data about your true IP address. This level of anonymity is achieved by eliminating all identifying headers. Their only drawback is that they indicate that the connection is currently being established through the proxy server.

Reverse Proxy. Reverse proxy provides network load balancing and security for web applications through firewalls and deep content inspection. This allows administrators to easily switch back-end servers and load balance between them without affecting traffic flow. Clients communicate directly with the proxy server knowing only its hostname, simplifying network management.

Transparent Proxies. An embedded proxy, also known as a transparent or intercepting proxy, is a proxy server that is sandwiched between the end user and the Internet. It is named "transparent" because it does not modify requests and responses. Transparent proxy servers are often used in large organizations for caching, content filtering, traffic monitoring, and security. They can also be used to provide anonymity, albeit with certain limitations because they can still reveal some information about the client.

What Are Mobile Proxies Used For? Five Use Cases

So, we have learned that a proxy acts as an intermediary between your device and the Internet by replacing your IP address with its own. Proxies are used by individuals and companies for various purposes, such as IP masking, improving security, providing anonymity and bypassing network restrictions.

But why is it useful? Who uses proxy servers and what are they for?

Handling Multiple Accounts

Having multiple accounts on one e-commerce resource or social network can improve your buying and selling strategies, as well as manage your advertising campaigns more effectively. Multi-account work on any platform can be useful in various domains, such as online trading, advertising and traffic arbitrage, betting and many others.

Multi-accounting requires the use of proxy servers that provide a different IP address for each account, thus avoiding blocking by websites. So, in e-commerce, a business owner can have several stores on one marketplace. In advertising and traffic arbitrage, an expert can run multiple advertising campaigns from different accounts on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms to expand the audience reach and reduce the cost per click. In betting, a player can create multiple accounts to receive bonuses and increase his chances of winning.

Web-scraping

Web-scraping is an efficient way to collect data, but it can be impeded by IP blocking from websites. Proxies help solve this problem by providing a number of benefits, such as increasing the reliability and efficiency of the process, providing anonymity and access to restricted content. Proxies can be used to collect data from websites that restrict access based on geography or number of requests.

Web-scraping can be used to monitor social media trends to determine consumer behavior and preferences, as well as to track brand and competitor mentions. It also allows you to gather information about competitors' prices, products and services. This can help companies optimize their pricing and marketing strategies and improve the quality of their products and services.

Botting and Automation

Botting and automation is another area where mobile proxies can be useful. Mobile proxies provide mobile device IP addresses that are less likely to be blocked by sites than static or data center proxies. In particular, they can be used to increase view count on YouTube and other video hosting sites, and to automate other tasks that require mimicking the actions of many users. iProxy mobile proxies are perfectly compatible with automation tools and bots used for marketing on Instagram and other popular platforms.

Providing Anonymity and Security

Mobile proxies can help protect your online accounts from unauthorized access or hacking attempts. By using a mobile proxy, you can hide your real IP address and use the IP address of your mobile device, making it harder for hackers to track your online activities and gain control of your account. In addition, iProxy mobile proxies use encryption protocols to protect the transmission of your data (when using iProxy with special configuration files). This means that your credentials, messages, and other sensitive information are protected from potential interception or hijacking.

Streaming

A proxy server can act as a gateway to bypass geographical restrictions and improve the quality of streaming. By connecting to a server in another region, you can access content that may not be available in your country. This allows you to enjoy TV shows and movies that may not otherwise be available in your country, and not miss out on new streaming content due to regional restrictions.

Pros and Cons of Using Mobile Proxies

When choosing mobile proxies, it is important to understand their advantages and disadvantages. While increased anonymity and privacy are important factors in such choice, proxies also have a number of other advantages:

• Trust of sites in mobile IP addresses. These addresses are constantly changing, which helps to maintain anonymity and avoid IP blocking. This broadens access to content and services. Mobile IP addresses are considered more reliable and trusted than data center IP addresses or residential proxies because they belong to real mobile devices. This means that websites, including social networks, consider mobile IP addresses to be more legitimate and less suspicious than other types of IP addresses.

• Multi-protocol compatibility. Mobile proxies are compatible with protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS, giving users the ability to use them with numerous online services to solve a variety of problems.

• Reliable IP address rotation. Mobile proxies can provide reliable IP address rotation, ensuring that users have access to different IP addresses.

Now let's take a look at some of the disadvantages of mobile proxies:

• Despite increased privacy and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, mobile proxies can be more expensive than regular proxies due to infrastructure costs and mobile carrier fees. Create your own proxy server with iProxy and save on rent. Subscription starts from just $6 a month!

• They may not always provide the same speed as server and residential proxies all the time, especially if the mobile proxy is operating on 3G networks. Performance may also vary depending on mobile network coverage, which can affect tasks that require fast connections or are latency sensitive, such as streaming or competitive online gaming.

How to Create a Mobile Proxy Server?

Creating a mobile proxy server can provide you with increased online privacy. This process involves setting up a proxy server on your mobile device, allowing you to redirect Internet traffic through it.

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating and setting up a mobile proxy using the iProxy Online app:

1. Download the iProxy Online application from Google Play. Alternatively, you can download the APK directly from our website at iproxy.online/android. To install an application from APK, enable installation of applications from unknown sources in your phone settings. It is important that your phone is running Android 6.0+.

2. If you don't have an account yet, register in your personal account at iproxy.online.

3. We provide BigDaddy Pro plan for the first 2 days for free, to test and customize your first connection. The tariffs cost from 6$ per month.

4. A separate connection must be created for each phone and its corresponding mobile proxy. Up to 15 proxy accesses can be created within one connection. GEO of the proxy = GEO of your cell phone.

5. Log in to the iProxy Online application on your phone using PIN code from your personal account. At the very beginning, the application will ask for various permissions – do not skip anything and provide all of them.

6. For mobile proxy to work, you need to disable Wi-Fi on your phone and switch to cellular data mode.

7. The iProxy Online application works in conjunction with OpenVPN, so make sure that OpenVPN is also installed on your phone.

8. You’re all set! Now you can use a mobile proxy to access the Internet anonymously and securely.

The following points should be noted:

• Regularly monitor the status (battery charge and network signal strength) of the mobile proxy server (your phone or tablet) to ensure its stable and efficient operation. You can use built-in monitoring tools, third-party applications, and iProxy Online personal account for this purpose.

• Comply with legal and ethical standards. Use the mobile proxy server responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and the terms of service of the websites and online platforms you access through the proxy server.

What Do You Need to Maintain Mobile Proxy Farms?

When talking about a mobile proxy server, we're essentially talking about any device that can connect to the internet over a mobile network. Today, there are many legacy Android devices that often go unused, with many of them supporting 3G, 4G (aka LTE), and 5G connections with no problem. Here are some of the things you may need to maintain a proxy server:

• Devices. To create a mobile proxy farm, you will need a number of mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets. The number of devices depends on the scale of your operation. You can order a tested rooted Alcatel 1 5033D phone from us. We sell the devices without extra charge, and we can deliver them to any country, you just need to pay the shipping cost (to the door or to the point of delivery).

• To use a mobile proxy, you need a SIM card of a mobile operator with stable and high-speed access to the mobile Internet. It is the SIM card that provides access to the pool of IP addresses of the mobile tower in whose area the device is located.

• Proxy software. You will need proxy management software to manage and route your Internet traffic through these devices. iProxy Online offers all the features you need to manage your personal mobile proxies at the lowest prices.

• Power supplies. Since the devices must be online most of the time, reliable power and backup power supplies are required.

• Regular equipment maintenance (such as monitoring the condition of phone batteries) is necessary to ensure that all devices are working properly, and that they are repaired or replaced in a timely manner in the event of hardware or software malfunctions.

How Much Does it Cost to Set Up a Mobile Proxy Server?

Are you looking for reliable and affordable mobile proxies? iProxy Online is a great choice! Our service gives you the opportunity to create your own proxy server right at home, saving on rent and software. All you need are SIM cards with mobile internet, smartphones and their chargers. Software pricing starts at $6 per month, making iProxy Online one of the most cost-effective solutions on the market.

Here is a table with potential costs associated with maintaining a mobile proxy farm. Note that costs can vary significantly depending on the scale of the operation, location and other factors.

What Are the Best Countries to Use Proxies in?

The answer to this question depends on various factors such as your specific needs, the target site or service, and the desired level of anonymity.

If you are scraping, any mobile proxy geolocation through which target sites are opened will do. If you are working with multi-accounts, you should choose the geolocation that your account claims to be a resident of. For botting and automation (e.g., increasing views on YouTube or the number of likes on Instagram), it is necessary to select the geolocation whose residents' activity you want to imitate. Need increased anonymity and security? A mobile proxy from any country will do; the main requirement is that the proxy provider should be reliable and not expose you to additional risks.

If you are planning to create your own proxy farm, the choice of country for its location may depend on various factors. First, you can choose a country where the cost of unlimited internet is lower, which will save you money on proxy farm maintenance costs. Secondly, you can choose a country whose geolocation is the most demanded by end buyers of proxies, for example, the USA or European Union countries. Third, you can consider the country's legislation, attitudes towards proxy use and other factors that may affect the safety and efficiency of your proxy farm. It is important to carefully analyze all factors and choose the best solution for your business.

NB! You should be very careful when choosing proxy providers, as they may have access to your personal information. At iProxy.online, we prioritize the safety of our customers and ethical handling of personal data. We ensure that our practices comply with the highest global standards for handling personal information (e.g. EU GDPR).

Here are a few popular countries to use proxies:

As for speed limits, it depends on various factors such as the quality of the proxy service, its location and the internet speed in the country where the proxy server is located. The countries listed in the table usually have high-speed internet, but the actual speed you will get when using a proxy may vary.

Is Using Proxy Servers Legal?

Please note that some countries may have restrictions on use of proxy servers, for example, for censorship or Internet access control purposes. The use of proxies may become illegal if they are used for activities that violate the law, such as fraud, hacking or gaining unauthorized access to systems, violating copyright laws, or conducting illegal transactions.

It is also important to note that some websites and online services usually provide the answer to the question of whether it is legal to use a proxy in their terms of service. Violation of these terms of service may not be illegal, but may result in your account being blocked.

How to Make Money with Mobile Proxies?

There are different ways to potentially make money from proxies. Here are a few options:

• Selling mobile proxies. If you have the necessary resources to build and maintain a mobile proxy farm, you can sell access to your proxies to other people or companies. This can be a monthly subscription-based service or one-time sales of proxy access with a time or traffic limit. Using mobile proxies opens up a wide range of opportunities for your customers. For example, mobile proxies can be used for web scraping without the risk of being blocked. Companies often need data for market research, competitor analysis, price comparison, etc. Mobile proxies can be used for web scraping without the risk of blocking. They also allow you to manage multiple social media accounts without getting blocked or getting warnings from the site. With flexible rates and high quality of service, iProxy is the ideal choice for those who want to make money from mobile farms and maximize the benefits of using mobile proxies.

• Individual use. Mobile proxies can come in handy in the professional activities of SEO specialists, as well as for scraping information from platforms for their further sale. You can also use mobile proxies to automate social media actions such as likes, comments and subscriptions and sell these services to others.

Eight Tips for Choosing the Best Proxy Provider

Choosing the best proxy provider depends on your specific needs, but here are some general tips to keep in mind if you want to choose a proxy provider:

• Reliability. Look for a provider with a high uptime guarantee. This ensures that your proxies will be available when you need them.

• Speed. The speed of a proxy server can make a big difference in your Internet experience. Look for providers that offer high-speed connections.

• Location. If you need to access content from a specific country or region, make sure your ISP offers proxy servers in that region.

• Security. Look for providers that offer secure connections, such as HTTPS or SOCKS5 proxy servers. They should also have measures in place to protect your data.

• Customer support. Good customer support can be invaluable if you have any problems. Look for providers that offer 24/7 support.

• Pricing. Compare prices from different providers to make sure you are getting the best deal.

• Reputation. Research a provider's reputation by reading reviews and checking their history. Avoid ones with a track record of data breaches or unethical practices.

• Legal compliance. Make sure your provider follows all relevant laws and regulations. This will help protect you from potential legal problems.

iProxy Online is a favorable solution for those who want to have their own proxy server. Create your own server at home with minimal costs using SIM cards, power supply, smartphones and internet. Choose iProxy Online for secure and private Internet access!

Conclusion

Mobile proxy servers provide a safe and secure way to access online content, helping to overcome region-specific restrictions and virtually eliminate the risk of IP blocking on sites with multiple accounts. They also provide anonymity, allowing users and businesses to perform their online tasks securely. iProxy Online offers reliable and secure mobile proxy services to meet every need. Choosing iProxy Online will effectively address online threats and censorship, and will simplify the work of the farmer, scrapper, marketer, tester, and anyone else who needs easy access to proxies, ultimately increasing the global reach and productivity of your work or business.