---
title: "Why do nation-state actors use residential proxies and VPNs?"
type: "faq"
url: "https://docs.spur.us/knowledgebase/faqs/why-do-nation-state-actors-use-residential-proxies-and-vpns"
category: "Security Operations"
product: "general"
publishedAt: "2026-08-07T20:00:00.000Z"
updatedAt: "2026-08-12T19:30:30Z"
---

# Why do nation-state actors use residential proxies and VPNs?

Nation-state actors often use anonymization infrastructure to conceal their origin, blend into legitimate traffic, distribute activity across many locations, and evade traditional detection methods. Residential proxies are particularly effective because they route traffic through legitimate consumer networks.