Web scraping, or data harvesting, is a technique used to extract various types of data, from product information to public records, and can be accomplished using different tools that may or may not involve proxies. While proxies offer benefits such as reduced risk of being blocked and faster data collection for large-scale operations, small-scale data extraction can often be performed without them. Using methods like slowing down scraping speed, hiding IP addresses with tools like Tor or VPNs, rotating user agents, and employing headless browsers, individuals can attempt to gather data while minimizing detection. However, these methods have limitations in terms of speed and reliability, especially when dealing with large volumes of data. For more efficient and extensive data collection, using proxies is recommended as it allows for scalable access without restrictions, which is crucial for serious data mining efforts.