Nowadays, proxies are not just a supporting tool, but a basic infrastructure for working with data, automation, and access to digital platforms. This is especially true in the context of strict anti-bot filters, geo-restrictions, and high competition. One of the most reliable ways to maintain stability and bypass restrictions is to use a rotating proxy. They allow you to automatically change your IP address at a specified interval or upon a specific event. However, for this mechanism to work effectively, it is important to understand how different types of rotation work and what tasks they are suitable for.
What Does a Rotating Proxy Mean?
Rotating proxies (dynamic proxies) are a type of proxy server that automatically changes the user’s IP address at regular intervals or with each new request. The goal is to mask the actual IP address and create the impression that requests are coming from multiple users or locations.
A rotating proxy service selects a new IP address from a pool of available addresses and forwards requests to the target site. After a set number of requests or a certain time interval, the proxy changes the IP to another one. This creates the illusion of multiple users accessing the site, which helps avoid detection and blocking.
Some rotation options:
- On request — the client receives a special link from the provider, which is used to change the current IP address.
- Automatic change — the IP address changes at specific intervals, for example, every few minutes.
In scenarios where it is necessary to maintain the same IP address for a longer period of time, there are “sticky” sessions — the ability to keep one IP address for a certain amount of time before the proxy switches to a new one.
What Are the Types of Rotating Proxies?
There are three types of rotating proxies: residential, data center, and mobile:
- Residential. These use the IP addresses of real users, which increases legitimacy and reduces the risk of blocking. They can be session-based (the IP changes with each request) or temporary (the IP remains constant). They are suitable for parsing, advertising verification, and social media management.
- For data centers. They use the IP addresses of data centers, ensuring high speed and reliability. They are used for load testing, but may be blocked with frequent use.
- Mobile. Uses dynamically changing IP addresses of mobile devices. Periodically changes the address automatically (every 5, 10, 30 minutes or with each request). Suitable for mass tasks: parsing, SMM, account management, mailings, mobile application testing.
Cases When You May Need a Rotating Proxy
It is not enough to simply understand what are rotating proxies; it is important to know where and when they can be used. Here are a few cases where they can be useful:
- Marketing automation. IP address rotation helps when working with advertising platforms, analyzing competitors, and testing various marketing strategies.
- Data parsing. When collecting information from websites, it is important to avoid restrictions and captchas. Rotating proxies allow you to mimic the behavior of ordinary website visitors by changing IP addresses and making the parsing process more stable.
- Profile registration and multi-accounting. Creating and managing multiple accounts is only possible with unique IP addresses. This is especially important when working with marketplaces, social networks, and advertising platforms.
- Bypassing geoblocks. Rotating proxies allow you to change the user’s location to virtually anywhere in the world and, as a result, bypass geo-restrictions.
- Access to blocked content. Proxy rotation allows you to change the user’s location and access blocked content.
- Reduced risk of being banned. Due to the constant updating of IP addresses, the likelihood of mass blocking is reduced, especially when working with web platforms that have advanced anti-bot systems.
Pros and Cons of Using Rotating Proxies
Using rotating proxies (dynamic proxies) has both advantages and disadvantages. These proxies automatically change the IP address for each request, which ensures anonymity and helps bypass restrictions.
Advantages:
- High anonymity — The IP address changes regularly, making it difficult to track and identify the user. Website security systems cannot easily determine the source of traffic.
- Bypassing restrictions — frequent IP address changes allow you to bypass restrictions such as request limits or IP blocks.
- Access to geo-restricted content — rotating proxies allow you to connect from different IP addresses located around the world.
- Scalability — a large pool of IP addresses allows you to handle large volumes of web scraping, data mining, or automated tasks without being blocked or flagged.
- Bypassing anti-bot systems — with regular IP changes, it is more difficult for websites to detect automated activity.
Disadvantages of rotating proxy server:
- Connection instability — changing IP addresses can lead to session interruptions.
- Some websites block frequent IP address changes — for example, social networks may view this as suspicious activity.
- May cause authorization issues — some services require confirmation when changing IP addresses.
- Rotating proxies are not recommended for tasks that require a static IP address — for example, developing and managing social media profiles. Frequent IP address changes can lead to bans.
- Not suitable for multi-step processes — for example, adding items to a shopping cart and completing a purchase, as changing IP addresses can disrupt the transaction.
How to Set Up a Rotating Proxy Using Proxy-Man
One of the most convenient ways to buy rotating proxy is to use the Proxy-Man service. To do this, just follow the steps below:
- Open the registration page and create a new account, then log in to your control panel.
- Go to the “Recharge” section and deposit funds by any available method.
- Go to the “New Proxy” page and select the type of proxy you want: data center, resident or mobile.
- Select the desired country (e.g. USA), then specify the region, city and Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- Select the type of session: you can either use the same IP address for as long as possible, or set it to change at each request or at specific intervals (1, 2, 5, or 10 minutes).
- Choose your preferred protocol (HTTP(S) or SOCKS5) and specify a proxy traffic limit from 1 GB to 1000 GB depending on your needs.
- Check all the selected parameters: location, ISP, protocol, traffic volume and session type. Then click “Buy Now” to finalize your order and get access to the resident proxy.
- Copy the generated proxy credentials and paste them into your browser, application or automation tool.
FAQ
How does a proxy work?
The principle of proxy operation is based on step-by-step request processing: during a request to a web resource, incoming data is first transmitted through a proxy, where the IP address is replaced with a new one, after which the modified traffic is sent to the final resource.
How do proxies protect against DDoS attacks?
Network proxies are one of the key tools for protecting against DDoS attacks, which aim to overload infrastructure and network nodes with an excessive flow of requests, causing malfunctions. The key method of preventing attacks is considered to be masking the real IP of the host, since attackers interact with the proxy rather than with the company’s real servers, which eliminates the possibility of a direct attack on the system.
When to use rotating proxies?
They should be used for tasks that require a large number of requests, such as web scraping or mass registration, when unlimited traffic is needed.
