A proxy isn’t just a tool—it’s your digital shield, masking your true IP and showing only its own. When it works perfectly, you’re invisible. But not all proxies play by the same rules. Some are blacklisted. Others leak your real IP like a sieve. For casual streaming, that’s annoying. For business-critical tasks, it’s a recipe for disaster.
So, how do you know if your proxy is secure and trustworthy? Let’s break it down with a step-by-step action plan you can start today.
Step 1: Test Your Proxy in a Multi-Account Browser
Professional proxy use needs professional tools. Spin up a new profile in Browser like Octo Browser, input your proxy details, and hit “Check Proxy.” Instantly, you’ll confirm if the connection’s solid and see where your IP appears to be located.
Step 2: Visit Google and Other Popular Sites
No load errors? No suspicious slowdowns? Perfect. If you hit roadblocks or missing pages, your proxy might already be compromised.
Step 3: Get Your Proxy’s “Fraud Score” on IPQualityScore
This is your proxy’s security report card. Enter your IP, and watch the fraud score like a hawk. A score of zero means you’re in the clear, but a higher score signals potential risks that could cause problems down the line.
Step 4: Hunt for Spam Blacklist Hits
Spam blacklists are proxy killers. IPs on these lists get blocked or flagged by email and security systems. Use tools like Spamhaus, MX Toolbox, DNS Checker, or PixelScan’s IP Check.
For the ultimate deep dive, download iplists.firehol.org’s massive database and run your own scripts—if you dare.
Step 5: Identify Your Proxy’s Origin Using ASN Lookup
ASN data tells you if your proxy IP is from a residential ISP or a data center. Residential IPs blend in like a chameleon; data centers stick out like a sore thumb.
Use IPinfo, db-ip, whois/rdap, or ripestat. Aim for residential—it’s the proxy gold standard.
Step 6: Perform a DNS Leak Test
A DNS leak is proxy sabotage in action. Use open-source DNS Leak Test tools to ensure all DNS queries stay securely behind your proxy’s mask.
Step 7: Check the MTU to Spot Fingerprinting Issues
MTU—the Maximum Transmission Unit—is the largest data packet size your connection can send without chopping it up. Proxies often lower MTU to dodge fragmentation, which can be a red flag.
Use Browserleaks to check the TCP/IP fingerprint. A typical MTU value of 1500 means you’ve passed this subtle test with flying colors.
The Bottom Line
Proxy’s reliability goes beyond hiding your IP. It must avoid blacklists, prevent DNS leaks, and ideally use residential IPs. Test it in a dedicated browser profile and browse major sites smoothly. Use tools like IPQualityScore to check quality. Watch for blacklist hits, DNS leaks, and proxy origin. Since platforms have different security rules, always test your proxy on target sites before scaling.
Top comments (1)
Check your fraud score in ip2location.io API too.