What is the difference between VPN and proxy server?

VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between the user's device and the VPN server, redirecting all traffic through this server. This ensures privacy, security, and allows bypassing censorship by hiding the real IP address and encrypting data.

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between the user's device and the internet resource. User requests are sent to the proxy, which forwards them to the target resource, receives the response, and passes it back. Main functions of a proxy include caching, access filtering, and IP address masking (for the target resource).

Main differences:

• Encryption: VPN encrypts all traffic; most proxies do not encrypt traffic (SSL/HTTPS proxies only encrypt the connection to the target).
• Operation boundaries: VPN operates at the network level and redirects all device traffic; proxies usually operate at the application level and redirect traffic for specific applications (browser, email client).
• Privacy and security: VPN provides a higher level of privacy and security through end-to-end encryption. Proxies are mainly used for bypassing restrictions or caching.
• Complexity: VPN requires installing client software and configuring network settings. Proxies are often configured directly in the application.

Example of using VPN:

// Secure connection to corporate network
// Bypassing geographic restrictions for streaming services

Example of using a proxy:

// Caching web pages to speed up loading
// Filtering access to certain sites in a local network
// Changing IP address to access blocked resources (without encrypting all traffic)