Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video — you likely have one or two active subscriptions to these popular streaming services. But have you ever wondered how people can access shows and movies that are not available in their country? Or how they manage to keep their online activities private? Since you’ve made your way into this article, you are probably thinking of these questions. Well, good news! We’ve got answers for you.
In this blog post, we’ll explain what a proxy is, how it works for streaming services, and the benefits of using one. Hopefully, at the end of this blog, you’ll be able to decide confidently whether it’s for you or not.
What Is a Proxy?
A proxy is a tool that sits between your device and the internet. When you browse the web, your device sends a request to a website, and the website sends the information back. A proxy handles this exchange by taking your request, sending it to the website, and then delivering the website’s response back to you.
The key difference is that when you use a proxy, the website doesn’t see your actual IP address (which is like your device’s online identifier). Instead, it sees the IP address of the proxy server. This can help you stay more private online and access content that may not be available in your location.
How Is a Proxy Used for Streaming Services?
When you stream through a proxy, your device sends its requests (like trying to load a video) to the proxy server first. The proxy server then passes that request to the streaming service (like Netflix or Hulu). The streaming service sees the proxy server’s IP address, not yours. So if your proxy server’s IP address is located in Australia, for example, you will see all the content available to that region.
This is how proxies bypass geo-restrictions, and it’s been used for that sole reason for many years already. Using a proxy is not illegal, but streaming platforms have terms and conditions that often prohibit the use of proxies to access content from different regions. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ have agreements with content creators about where shows and movies can be available. To enforce these agreements, they restrict certain content based on your location.
For mobile and TV streaming, it’s important to be responsible by checking these terms before actually using a proxy or VPN. But as of writing, no one has been banned or arrested by using these tools on major streaming services.
Biggest Benefits of Using a Proxy for Streaming Services
A lot of people have been using proxies for so many years, and the advantages of using one have been proven by countless individuals. Don’t believe us? Go surf the web, and you’ll see how many people are singing praises about the benefits of using a proxy for streaming services. Here are just some of the benefits you can enjoy when using one:
- It allows you to bypass streaming restrictions. Streaming platforms have different content libraries depending on your location. By using a proxy server located in another country, you can access shows and movies that are exclusive to that region. However, you have to check if your streaming platform is available outside the US. For example, Dish TV is only exclusive to the United States. You might not be able to access it if you connect to a proxy server in the UK.
- Some ISPs may slow down your internet connection (known as throttling) when they detect heavy data use from streaming. By using a proxy, you can mask your activity, making it more difficult for your ISP to detect that you’re streaming, potentially avoiding slower speeds.
- If you travel to a different country, you might lose access to your favorite shows and movies due to regional restrictions. A proxy lets you connect to a server in your home country, which then allows you to stream your usual content as if you were still at home.
- It’s a great alternative to VPNs because they’re usually free. And the premium options are often much more affordable than most VPN services. This makes proxies ideal for users who just want to access geo-restricted content without worrying too much about the technical details.
The Bottom Line
A proxy is a valuable tool for streaming service subscribers who want to bypass geo-restrictions and make the most out of their streaming subscription. But even then, it’s important to be responsible when it comes to checking the terms and conditions of your streaming service to avoid any conflicts. Happy streaming!
