What is a proxy server and why might you need one?

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What is a proxy server and why might you need one?
Every day, web browsing becomes a little less private. Websites and apps track virtually everything you do, which is driving more and more people to find ways to maintain their privacy. Proxy servers are one of the many options you can use to protect your identity while browsing.

However, proxies also offer a number of other benefits, which we will explore in this article.

Let's get to the point!

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What is a proxy server (and why should you use one)?
When you browse the web, your computer connects to a netherlands phone number data server that sends information to it. An online proxy server acts as an intermediary in that connection. Your client or app connects to the online proxy server, which forwards your requests to the final destination.

A proxy processes your requests but covers up a lot of identifying information, including your original IP address , the source of the request, operating system (OS) data, and more. In short, it prevents third parties from easily tracking you.

One thing you need to understand is that proxy servers work at the application level. For example, you can connect to a proxy server address through your browser, which protects you while you are browsing.

However, it won’t cover your tracks in other apps unless they’re also connected to it. This gives you more granular control over how you access the web, but it also makes it harder to achieve “full” privacy (if such a thing still exists).

So far, we have discussed the most common advantages of proxy servers, which are related to privacy. However, they also offer several other advantages, including:

They allow access to geographically restricted content
Speed ​​up loading times through caching
Protects against malware by filtering content
Prevent access to restricted websites within corporate networks
It is important to understand that there are different types of proxy servers that you can use. However, they all share one thing in common, that you need a proxy address to connect to them.

What is a proxy server address?
To connect to a public proxy server, you need to know its IP address. With that (and knowing which port to use), you can manually configure your browser or application to route requests through that server.

How this process works varies from browser to browser and OS to OS. With MacOS, for example, you have a dedicated settings page where you can enter the address you want to connect to:

Configuring MacOS to use a proxy server.
Before we go ahead and start looking at proxy servers, you need to understand that they come in different types. Each one performs different functions, so it is important to choose the right one for your needs.

3 Types of Proxies Explained
There are several types of proxy servers to choose from. The most popular is what is called “open,” which is what most people are referring to when they talk about proxies.

Let's look at the most common types of:

Open Proxy. This type of online proxy server does not require authentication and is often public. This means that while you can use one to increase your anonymity, your data may not be safe from whoever controls that server.
Forward proxy server . Businesses and institutions rely on this type of web proxy to route internal connections to the outside world. Forward proxy servers determine whether specific websites or services can be accessed, which helps keep networks “safe.”
Reverse proxy web server . Simply put, they help filter incoming requests to your website, which helps with privacy and caching, among other things.
You can find dozens, if not hundreds, of open proxy services on the web. They are usually free and allow you to connect to them using an IP address or directly through your browser. Some also offer extensions so you can always keep them active while browsing the web:

Web Proxy
Free proxy servers seem like a practical solution on paper. Unfortunately, they add to the security problems.

Why You Shouldn't Use a Free Proxy Server
If you're going to use a proxy server, privacy concerns are probably at the top of the list of reasons you want to use one. Relying on a free service often negates many of the security benefits of using a proxy in the first place because:

They often log your information: Some proxies may store your data even if they block the websites you are connecting to from seeing it.
They can open you up to vulnerabilities: Because proxy servers route your connections, they can hijack the data you receive, exposing you to malware infections.
Free proxy servers don't encrypt your data: Unlike virtual private networks (VPNs), not all proxies encrypt your data. This makes them unsuitable for sensitive connections.
It is also worth noting that there have been cases of free proxy services selling their users' bandwidth . Finally, free proxy servers tend to get a lot of attention. Because so many people want to use them, they tend not to be particularly fast.

As an additional note, if you are a gamer, you will read many articles about how using a proxy can reduce your ping. However, this is very unlikely in most cases since you are adding an extra “hop” for your traffic to go through. With this in mind, it is best to play on servers closer to your location or upgrade your internet service.

Who should use a proxy
In most scenarios, if you plan to use a proxy, you should go for a premium service. If possible, you can look into your proxy server setup (which usually requires some system administration experience) or at least make sure you are using a reputable service.