Let’s say that you are server A trying to access information on server B. In other words, you are using computer A and want to connect to computer B. For some reason, you may not be able to do that, or might not want your details made known to those operating computer B. Then you can use a proxy C to do that for you.

You logon to server C which then accesses server B, and the latter is then aware only of C and not of your computer A. In that way you can access any server on the web without that server knowing it is you. You can also use the anonymous proxy to access a server that you cannot access yourself. In business networks, for example, your terminal will likely be using the main server as a proxy when you access URLs on the internet.

Here are some of the more common uses to which a web proxy server can be put:

1. Security.

A web proxy is one that focuses on traffic on the World Wide Web, and can be used to prevent access to web pages that have been specified in a blacklist. It therefore works as a content filter, and also, because you are not connected directly to the internet, it provides the same type of security as a firewall. If you want to access a website that you know might be dangerous in terms of viruses or malware, then doing so through an anonymous proxy will isolate you from the site but still give you indirect access.

2. Hacking Prevention

This is another form of security that you can use to prevent hackers from accessing your server or computer. If your computer contains sensitive material, it is wise to place a web proxy server between it and the internet. Hackers will not be able to get your IP address, and hence will not be able to gain access to your hard disk or cache.

3. Parental Control with a Free Proxy

You can use a free proxy to filter certain sites and prevent your children from accessing them. Since not all proxies can do this, you have to make sure that you are using one that will carry out this type of filtration.

In some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all users must use a proxy server. Every transaction carried out or website visited must be done through the proxy so that ‘unsuitable’ sites can be filtered out and access blocked. The Chinese also do this, and although you can remain anonymous to the website you are connecting to, you are not so to the proxy.

A web proxy server can maintain logs of all IPs that have used that proxy, to where they were connected and at what time this occurred. In that respect, a proxy does not enable complete anonymity and can be used by a state to monitor computer usage. Nevertheless, it does enable a degree of anonymity which is why many people use free proxies to access blocked URLs or IP addresses.

Thus, schools, colleges and employers can block access from their servers to social networking sites such as Facebook, and a web proxy server can be used to overcome this block. This is not a recommended usage of proxies, of course, but by using them the corporate server sees only the URL you are accessing – that of the proxy, and not the website that the anonymous proxy subsequently logs on to.

There are dangers in doing this, and if the proxy you have been using is discovered it is possible for others to determine the IP addresses that have been using them and you could be in serious trouble. Proxies should therefore be used for their legal applications and not to circumvent college or corporate security.

A web proxy server has its place, and when used correctly is an extremely useful security devices You can control not only your own anonymity from potential hackers, but also use content filtration to restrict the IPs that others using your computer or server can access. Proxies are easy to use, and all have to do is to configure your browser to connect to the internet through the proxy: using IE for example, simply go to Internet Options>Connections>Settings and enter the proxy details.

How does the proxy really work?

Basically the proxy provides users the same way to browse the internet like any other web browser. A proxy site allows users to enter a specific web address and access it in the browsers window. By using a proxy the window is then coded as part of the proxy site address and not the real website the surfer is visiting. Any information cached in the temporary folder is that of the proxy, not the users. This means the user is not traced at all and the information is kept hidden.

Why Use A Proxy?

People use a proxy for a few reasons. The first is to get around blocked sites to access the information within. Sometimes the content may not be safe for work or for young people that’s why a website is usually blocked. Many employers use this as means to prevent their employees from slacking off and let them concentrate more on their jobs instead. Employers enforce this by keying in specific words that may allow the user to access or be blocked off at work. For example, employers can disable social websites or dating websites from being seen by entering words related to them. Any user that accesses these words or sites with these words are prevented from viewing them. The more key words there are, the more the user has limited or no access whatsoever. The blocked websites can be anything the employer deems inappropriate at work.

Some users have found out that by using a proxy website they can access these banned sites easily. Using a web based proxy is like opening another page in the web browser. By using web based proxy, users don’t need any technical knowledge. All they have to do is go to the proper URL. Web based proxy does not need to be installed and this saves users from actually tweaking the PC they are using. In short, less hassle, less problems.

In the end, users have the final say on how they would use this ability to surf unseen. Sometimes you have to practice restraint when the temptation to free surf becomes too strong to resist.

Custom proxies offer speed and security for net users. Custom proxy server settings are usually entered into the browser, making the computer use proxy server for connecting to the net.

Custom proxies allow many systems to connect and channel traffic to the internet simultaneously. These servers help webmasters to block users from accessing malicious content.

Significance

Custom servers help cache pages. Hence, users connected to servers are offered saved web page copies thereby speeding up the user’s browsing process.

Usually, custom proxies are found on local network. However, some administrators permit connections from other internet users. These are known as proxies.

Custom server settings are usually configured in the user’s browser. The main online browsers – Fire fox, internet explorer and chrome, all include custom proxy server settings available through the main browser menu.

After configuration by the system administrator, the settings are locked, so users can’t change them. The three settings required for custom settings are the port, address to the server and the protocol.

Function

Custom Proxies Setting has passwords and usernames assigned to keep external users from accessing the server resources. This is vital for administrators protecting local intranet from malicious hackers.

Administrators also include filters, which prevents users from receiving viruses on their system computers and also remove access to hacking, social and porn sites.

When offering open internet proxy server, custom servers’ settings are configured for server access. This leaves the server open for spammers who use it to post comments or send email or blogs for commercial benefits. For this, administrators need to keep logs to ensure that users don’t access the server for unscrupulous causes.

Proxies, as they’re commonly termed, are placed as go-betweens to separate the glass bubble of users from the big bad world of the internet. They also keep a log of all activities transpired which are then used to produce reports for closer scrutiny. In order to bypass the organizational as well as global big brother effect, anonymous proxy servers ride over the internet plains to your rescue. There are numerous servers to overcome restrictions placed by policies, geographical locations as well as ranges in IP addresses. Your IP address or your country’s may inadvertently wind up on a website’s black list due to your own undoing or entirely unrelated to your deeds. Utilizing the services of these servers provides you with internet anonymity to carry on with business as usual.

As you access a website, it collects information on your activities and usage patterns. How you enter the site, leave the site for another, everything you do whilst in the site is all carefully logged into their records as part of improvement towards site stickiness. Some sites, unfortunately, discover your real IP address and turn it into spamming targets and more undesirable hacking activities.

Whilst providing the great service of internet anonymity, proxies also provide better response times in returning your requested web pages. If you happen to request a page which is already cached in the proxy, it quickly sends the page to you without having to request a new one from the target server. In times when target servers are busy, this is a welcome relief as watching the hour glass is quite frustrating when you have an impending deadline.

Your IP address could be a way to pinpoint your identity, especially for those techie people who know how things work around the cyberspace. To prevent such to happen, people resort to a IP changer or proxy sites. These services mask your real IP address, giving off a fake address to other people.

However, free proxy websites may do more harm than good when you use them. Simply put, you can easily change your IP address by letting you surf the Internet using their IP addresses, protecting your own address and even your identity. But what other people do not know is that these proxy sites may be places for hackers and other people to use their skills and break into users’ real IP addresses.

Most proxy websites do not have any security features which protect their users when surfing. And because they are free, most of them do not have the budget to invest on security features. Moreover, users should also be cautious when using these free proxy sites when they change IP addresses because sometimes, even the hackers may pose as owners of these proxies, therefore still putting your personal information at risk.

When you use free proxies, you expose your own information to the owners. It is like coursing your online activities to another computer for it to record it, and your information is still exposed; therefore, your very reason for using a proxy is destroyed.

The moment you access your financial accounts over a proxy website with the hope that you remain anonymous, you are even exposing yourself to a more serious threat – the possibilities of being an identity theft victim because somebody else had seen your financial information. In this case, it is the free proxy websites.

On the other hand, IP changer software truthfully helps users. And because most of the time, this software needs paid subscriptions, users are more confident that these corporations invest their money on high security to protect their clients’ IP addresses.

Of course, people might say that it is free services vs. paid services, but then why are you changing your IP address through a free proxy site if you know that it might do you more harm? If you really want to invest on something for the protection of your identity and information, then a free service won’t be enough – you really need to invest on something more secured and more reliable to do the job for you.

A simple investment on something like an IP changer Software or Service which will let you change IP addresses will surely go a long way, especially in today’s Internet age. Keeping your anonymity in the cyberspace will keep you secured and more confident that you won’t be a victim of identity theft.