Many people have asked me about using SwitchProxy FireFox Add-on for anonymous surfing.
SwitchProxy tool lets you control and switch between several proxy configurations quickly and easily. You can also use it as an anonymizer to protect your Personal computer from snooping eyes.
The problem with any proxy is two-fold.
First, you have to have a proxy server out there somewhere to use. One that you trust! Many proxies that are available you have legitimate reason to question. Is it a government server offering proxy services to see what it can learn?
Is the proxy malicious? Why would the owner of the server pay for bandwidth and give it to you for free? What are they getting out of it and is it in any way at your expense?
Will the proxy be available when you need it or will you find your internet connection slow or disconnected when you go to use it.
That is the problem with proxies in general. So switching between them just gives you another try at the same potential problem.
Next, a proxy does NOT protect your internet traffic from prying eyes at your ISP! Your ISP can see where you surf and collect that data – either to turn over to the government upon subpoena or to use in future advertising to you. (Yes! ISP’s are considering ways to monetize their access to your surfing habits.)
Also, an unscrupulous employee working at your ISP can use the information collected from your surfing even when you use a proxy or collection of proxies. If you do not use a secure VPN tunnel, then your ISP can see what you do and where you go online.
The only true solution is a secure VPN tunnel to a trusted source. Usually, that means you have to pay for anonymous surfing, but the reality is that what is free usually contains risk.
So no, I do not use switchproxy and I do not recommend you do either.
