TL;DR: Username/password authentication is portable and works from any device. IP whitelisting is simpler but locks you to a specific source IP. Most users should start with username/password; switch to IP whitelisting when running from a static server.
Why Proxy Authentication Exists
Without authentication, anyone who discovers a proxy address could route traffic through it. Every reputable provider — Botosaur included — requires authentication on every connection.
Method 1: Username and Password
When your application connects to the proxy, it sends credentials in the connection handshake. Most tools accept this format:
host:port:username:passwordOr as a URL: http://username:password@host:port
- Pros: Works from any IP, easy to rotate if compromised, universally supported
- Cons: Credentials can leak if stored in plaintext
Method 2: IP Whitelisting
Register your source IP in your proxy dashboard. The proxy allows connections from that IP with no credentials needed.
- Pros: No credentials to leak, slightly faster handshake
- Cons: Breaks if your IP changes, shared IPs may expose proxies to coworkers
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Username / Password | IP Whitelisting |
|---|---|---|
| Portability | Use from anywhere | Locked to whitelisted IPs |
| Security risk | Credential leakage | IP spoofing (rare) |
| Best for | Laptops, dynamic IPs, multi-device | Servers, VMs, static IPs |
Our recommendation: Never store proxy credentials in public repositories. Use environment variables. Botosaur supports both methods across all plans — check our offerings.
See also: SOCKS5 Setup Guide, Antidetect Browser Setup, and What Is a Proxy Server?