Lately, there has been a rise in popularity in the use of proxy servers, both free and commercial ones. These proxies are widely used by individuals, businesses, and even schools to protect their privacy online.

When you use the Internet to access websites and other online resources, your computer sends out certain information that can be used to identify you. Such information are your IP address, Internet service provider (ISP), geographic location, operating system you use (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.), and web browser.

With a proxy server, such information is often hidden, especially when using an anonymous server. Traditionally, the information you send and receive over the Internet passes through your ISP then to the site being accessed or vice versa. With a proxy server, all data passes through the proxy first, then, using its own IP address, will forward those data to the website being accessed.

To better explain how it works, here is a basic diagram:

Traditional: Your computer -> ISP -> Website

Using a Proxy Server: Your computer -> ISP -> Proxy server -> Website

Types of Proxy Servers

Proxy Servers are not only used for privacy and security purposes. Technically speaking, a proxy server is a computer service that caters to requests of other computers connected to it. Requests vary from web surfing, data downloads, instant messaging, and other online services that the server supports.

The types of proxy servers are classified according to their function. Here are the different types:

1. The Cache or Caching Proxy Server – This type of proxy server works by saving copies of frequently accessed data like web pages and other files into its storage so that when a client or computer requests for the same data, it can easily provide it. This type of server is mostly used in web acceleration services.
2. Web Proxy Server – Just as its name implies, this proxy server is configured to handle website traffic only. It will only provide its service to clients that request data from web pages. This proxy server is often used by web content filtering services to block off offensive or adult content.
3. Transparent Proxy Server – A transparent proxy server simply forwards the requests of clients to websites or other web services and does not strip identifiable information from the data. It merely acts as a bridge between your computer and ISP to the online resource being accessed.
4. Anonymous Proxy Server – This proxy server works by stripping identifiable information to the online resource being accessed. It also acts like a transparent proxy server, minus the private information. This type of server is popularly used by people who are very concerned with their security and privacy.

Benefits of Proxy Servers

Aside from proxy servers being used for protecting privacy and Internet security, they also have other benefits when used:

• Faster Internet Access – Since the data you have accessed from the Internet passes through th proxy server, either the proxy server has a cached copy of that information or it has a faster Internet connection, it results to a faster access.
• Bypass Filters – If the ISP or network you use blocks access to certain websites that you need, proxy servers can be used to skip them. Most services use encryption along with it so it is also very secure. (Learn how to bypass the office firewall to download from bittorrent)

Using Proxy Servers

Setting up a proxy server and using it is easy and problem-free if done the right way. Before anything else, you must know that “CGI-proxy” and proxy server are different, and that there are free and commercial services of both.

A CGI-proxy or web proxy functions in essence, the same way a proxy server does, except it is mostly for web traffic only. It means that you can only use it to surf the Internet.

This type of proxy is very easy to use. You do not need to setup software or configure browser settings to use one. A web proxy is basically a website that has a CGI script or any web application that makes it a proxy server. All you have to do with this one is visit the website and type in the address of the site you want to visit securely. With paid services, you will have to log-in first before you can start surfing.

Using a traditional proxy server requires you to either have a separate software (used by paid services) or the IP address and the port of the free proxy server. If the proxy server uses a special software, you will not need to configure every program you use to access the Internet. Otherwise, you will have to manually input the IP address and the port of the proxy server you will be using on every application you use.

For example, you want to use a proxy server with your web browser or your instant messaging client. You will have to look for the “connection settings” or proxy settings of that program and input the details of the proxy server first. If you don’t know how to change the connection settings of the program, you can easily refer to the help function or documentation files of the software.

Some programs do not support the use of proxy servers. Some attempt to use the connection settings of a default web browser to use. You have to configure your default web browser to use a proxy server.

Free Proxy Servers

Though proxy servers can speed up slow Internet connections, free services may not be able to do that. This is due to the huge number of people that may be using the same service at the same time.

If you experience somehing similar, you can find a less-popular proxy and use it. You can also go for a paid service. Using a paid service guarantees a speedy and reliable access when using their servers.

Free proxy server may suddenly go offline. This can be caused by technical problems. The owner of the server configured to it can also not accept connections any more. Given that, you should never rely on free services as your means of going online securely. If that happens, you can look for another free proxy server or invest in a commercial service. For more information regarding this article, read how to unblock websites.

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