How safe is it to use Proxy Scrapper on my main work computer?

Pavko

How safe is it to use Proxy Scrapper on my main work computer?

I'm not very tech-savvy. How safe is it to use the program not on a server but on my main computer where I have all my work and personal data, files, where I make bank purchases, store cryptocurrency etc. Considering most of the free stuff/proxies is bait to get some kind of profit, I think a lot of proxies with viruses, trojan, etc. Does this pose a threat to the computer or does everything run in isolation and not go beyond the program sandbox?

If anyone has a clue, could you please advise?

As an option, I see a solution to create a separate instance of Windows in VirtualBox and run the program from there - it looks secure. 

Ritchievalens

Hi Pavko

GSA Proxy scraper is a great App tho

I wouldn't use it on a serious work computer, but get a VPN

GSA Proxy scraper is a great App tho

Deeeeeeee

Ritchievalens said:

I wouldn't use it on a serious work computer, but get a VPN

How do you use GSA/SEO products on a VPN? I just subscribed to Nor d because they had a sale and I was learning more about securing financial transactions, etc., and an added layer seemed good.

Nor d does not have a proxy to access the service directly. It's an app, only.

Are there any other services that are just proxies? This was not exactly what I was looking for.

I don't need encrypted/anonymous browsing. Just more security for bank, cc, etc, connections, as well as use with these SEO programs, as I said. Also, SFTP...

Any wisdom and knowledge here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, ahead of time, to anyone replying.

royalmice

Be sure to use proxies because i had see many abuse complaints when not using proxies with GSA PS  

Ritchievalens

Its called Proxy Scraper, not Proxy Scrapper...

i would never use Proxies in a secure / sensitive connection like banking?
Why would you?

Why don't you leave your car window open and your laptop logged into your banking account on the front seat?
Most banks will recognise your regular IP

Many use a proxy because they are up to no good, but its not about the proxy that gets you found out.
I don't promote crime, and never will do as a few of my loyal clients have been scammed
I have had an iPhone scammer traced and shut down across the world, partly to prove a theory I had.
The Police were involved and the scammers got what they deserved. 

Often on YouTube by going through a Proxy, you get different videos etc, or different GEO results.
There are good uses for proxies

Deeeeeeee

Ritchievalens said:

i would never use Proxies in a secure / sensitive connection like banking?
Why would you?

....

Many use a proxy because they are up to no good

Well, up until now I haven't, but I did read that the added layer provided by the VPN tunnel makes everything more secure, as far as the connection goes.  I read that some banks encourage the use of a VPN while others are wary of strange IPs. I just want to do everything as securely as possible.

TBH, I experienced being scammed last year. The credit card company covered it, but it was my fault for falling for the lamest attempt at  social engineering (it worked tho...lol) .  The scammers had a bunch of details like my CC# and 3 digit code, used a spoofed phone number, and seemed to have my e-mail, probably because I was echoing my Google email to an insecure Yahoo account that was on a list of hacked accounts. A bunch of stuff.

Obviously, somewhere my card data was leaked. Maybe at a gas station, who knows.

I hate scammers and want to protect myself. I don't need a VPN to browse the Internet. Maybe I should just get a refund? I still have 29 days...

Some people on Sven's board suggested using GSA products with a VPN. How would that work?

As far as FTP, yeah....I've been using FTP and not SFTP. I've been kind of out-of-it, and didn't even know this protocol existed.  Changing all my PWs and user names...

googlealchemist

royalmice said:

Be sure to use proxies because i had see many abuse complaints when not using proxies with GSA PS  

and which proxy providers are ok with this usage specifically? vs just getting complaints directly...getting them to your proxy provider and getting that service terminated etc

Deeeeeeee

At this point, I'm thinking against using a VPN.  That means a refund. If I change my mind and decide to re-purchase, I pay a lot more. Anyway......

Why do I think the VPN service may be a waste?

Cons:

1. I have to use their special program/app/whatever.

2. Banks may not like the random IP, which means they're looking out more carefully, in my eyes. Ironic, huh?

3. HTTPS is already safe for browsing and banking. Encrypted packets are safe. Like 99.999999999% No?

4. A zero-day exploit of any type can make this all a waste of time anyway. haha

5. I see no way of using this N or d special app with SEO products like Search Engine Ranker and GSA Proxy Scraper.  Am I in  error?

6. Set up a laptop running a clean version of Windows, or I think better, maybe not, Ubuntu or some bare-bones Linux OS off a stick or DVD or whatever and just use that machine for stuff like bills, banking, etc.

7. You can run in a clean sandbox or virtual machine.

8. I can't seem to FTP thru them, but then again, I learned of SFTP, so it's moot.

And, of course, any other reasons.  I'm sure there are more. 

Did I mention that it seems impossible to integrate VPNs, or at least N ord in my understanding of the service offered so far, with SEO tools?  That was the point, besides the banking...

Pros:

1. I got it on sale for Black Friday.

2. ummmm

3.  ---

You can set also set GSA PS in Provider pane (at left, second down!) to [X] Use a Proxy when testing [ALL] etc. Not sure if that's relevant to OP's requirements.

Please, anyone who knows how to set up N ord or or which VPN services can work with SEO tools, any info would be appreciated.

And, yes, maybe a it would be cool to use to check SERPs in various areas using a VPN.  Not sure if that's useful. I guess it actually could be...hmmm.....

Anyone have any other ideas on this????

Deeeeeeee

Update: I did test the N o rd VPN service on a different machine, not the one GSA products are running on.

The "app" wasn't what I had thought it might be:

I imagined an interface where you can open a special secure browser window of their design, that can't be cut-n-pasted, etc., and that was what you get.  I guess app made me think of like AOL or something...you have to use their special magic interface software. lol

But then I installed the app and it was nothing of the sort.

For those that haven't played with this sort of stuff, and maybe it's really just me at this point in 2024, lol, the app just automatically puts all connections though their service. It's completely transparent, if everything works well for your system with default settings. You can still use the programs you used before without changing anything. If you need to make ONLY certain programs use this, and not like, work programs at work...that can be done also via exceptions, apparently...

It's lightweight and worked on the test machine. Actually faster than using Internet here, but that's due to where I am. 

And so, I haven't tried it with GSA PS or anything else yet, but it works. Not sure if using a VPN can prevent MiTM attacks with infected routers.  I'm guessing it's not as easy.

1. Someone can't easily program a router to see what web site you're connected to (IP) and then attack based on knowing that. (Like a bank, etc. or a website of yours they're trying to inject malicious SQL  commands to steal PW data tables, etc. Super-unlikely, tho!)

2. All traffic is is through their pipe. Not sure what this looks like in terms of a connection. I will test this tomorrow. Does N o r d or other VPNs always connect via the same IPs or I'd imagine they rotate? I found a page on their protocols used but they're all new to me. Once I learn more, I'll add some info here.

Also: I am new to this level of consideration for data and server security, but it's a growing need with all the scammers operating 25 hours a day on this!

So, long story short, YES, apparently you can use a VPN with your GSA PS program to preserve the anonymity of your IP, and with relative ease. I don't think they check what you're doing, and I guess SEO is within the terms of your chosen service? I would check on that part.

Deeeeeeee

Deeeeeeee said:

Also: I am new to this level of consideration for data and server security, but it's a growing need with all the scammers operating 25 hours a day on this!

I didn't mean to imply that the scammers are operating (solely lol) from Mars, BTW...

Just that they're at it day and night!

Ritchievalens

Scammers are everywhere

Don't worry, we know what you meant  :-)