Cause of the Issue
Recently, I've started building my blog and needed to use a cloud server to host my website. While there are some free hosting tools available, the experience is generally unsatisfactory. The speed is slow and unstable, and sometimes even loading search results takes forever, which wastes both time and mood. Moreover, since the traffic goes through someone else's server, there are security risks, making me feel uneasy about using them. Today, I want to share some insights on purchasing a VPS (Virtual Private Server). I won't make any product recommendations because I'm still new to this field.
Purchasing a VPS
In most scenarios, terms like cloud host, cloud server, and virtual host can be used interchangeably without needing to get bogged down in their precise definitions. Simply put, they all refer to a computer that runs 24/7 with a public IP address. VPS, in particular, usually refers to a small cloud server used by individuals or small businesses. Compared to traditional large cloud servers, VPS offers fewer hardware resources, is more affordable, and naturally, its performance may not be as high.
Avoid choosing businesses that are new or not well-known
Reason: The VPS industry has relatively low entry barriers, and even a single person can set up a VPS service. Although these smaller businesses might offer lower prices, their after-sales service is often unreliable, and the risk of them shutting down is high. I’ve had a personal experience with this.Don’t solely pursue the lowest price
Reason: Low prices often mean low quality, and cheap services typically come from small vendors. These vendors usually offer poor after-sales service, and the risk of them disappearing is high. When selecting a price, aim for something reasonable rather than just looking for the cheapest option.It’s recommended to choose a VPS provider that allows users to change IPs on their own
Reason: While setting up SSR (Shadowsocks), your IP might get blocked by the Great Firewall (GFW). Having a VPS provider that lets you change your IP easily is more convenient. Currently, only a few providers offer this feature, while others may require you to contact customer service and pay extra to change your IP. For users with weak English skills, this could become a hassle.It’s recommended to choose a VPS provider that supports Alipay
Reason: Although almost all foreign VPS providers accept PayPal, only a few support Alipay. PayPal is less common in China, while almost everyone uses Alipay. PayPal does have the advantage of allowing users to dispute transactions if there’s an after-sales issue, which helps mitigate risks with smaller vendors. When choosing a well-known and reputable provider, the after-sales issues are generally less concerning, and Alipay offers more convenience.Choose a provider that offers a test IP
Reason: Reputable providers usually offer a test IP for users to check the quality before purchasing. If the website doesn’t list a test IP, you can ask the provider directly. High-quality providers usually provide this service.
Precautions
1.It’s important to be aware that service providers can easily collect all your internet activity information, including your IP address, the domain name or IP of websites you visit, visit times, and even extract usernames and passwords from unencrypted HTTP traffic using deep packet inspection. This data can then be sold to the black market. This is not just paranoia—similar incidents have happened before. Many people mistakenly believe that their privacy isn’t valuable and won’t be targeted. However, personal information is extremely valuable in the commercial world and could be tracked and exploited.
2.For instance, imagine you’ve registered an account on a gambling website through a proxy tool. After some time, you might start seeing gambling-related ads on other platforms. You’ll never know whether these ads are coming from the proxy provider or the platform itself. This is just an example to show that even if you think your privacy doesn’t matter, it could still be exploited by malicious parties.
3.In short, the risk of privacy leakage is always present, especially in untrusted networks. You must be extra cautious when transmitting sensitive information. This is particularly true for proxy services that claim to be "free forever" but have no ads—these services often hide massive privacy risks. As the saying goes, "There’s no such thing as a free lunch." Sometimes, free services are the most dangerous.
4.Even paid proxy services should not be trusted blindly, especially those run by unreliable small providers. Many of these shady operators are linked to illegal activities and have a high risk of abusing their privileges. If you care about privacy security, it’s best to set up your own proxy server using a well-known VPS provider, either domestically or abroad, or choose some reputable, long-established cloud services. These providers generally have stronger security measures in place and are far more trustworthy than shady small operators. If used properly, they usually pose little risk of privacy breaches.