We will tell you in detail why proxies are needed and in what situations to use them.

Hello dear readers. In this article I would like to highlight a rather interesting topic. The fact is that in our information age no one is safe from dangers on the Internet. Many people use a proxy server, but more than half of users don't know what it is? Today I would like to understand this issue in detail. We should start, of course, with a definition. A proxy is an intermediary program between your device and the website you are visiting. What is it for? We often hear that some resources are not available to residents of some countries. A proxy, like a VPN, helps you bypass this limitation and more. It can also provide you with anonymity on the network and save your IP address. It also helps to bypass blocking of you as a user on sites and blocking of sites by your provider. You should not think that this will provide you with complete anonymity. People interested in this, having the necessary equipment, will be able to track you.

• The difference between a proxy and a VPN

Both technologies allow you to bypass blocks and ensure user privacy on the network, but there are still differences between them. VPN is suitable for those who are willing to pay more and don’t mind installing additional software on their device. Yes, the procedure is not free, but the technology is more advanced and tracking such a user becomes a big problem. A proxy, on the contrary, does not require the installation of any programs. The majority of servers are free, but not all of them can be expected to work correctly and quickly. Paid ones are more reliable in this regard. A proxy server by itself will not provide you with complete anonymity. What to choose is up to you. Just remember, if you need a quality service that won’t break down all the time, you’ll have to pay.

• What are proxies used for?

As mentioned above, servers are used to bypass blocking and maintain privacy. However, these are not all the features that can be provided to you. Here's the full list of features: Speed up websites within one device. Testing various types of online services. Bypassing blocking from administrators and providers, among other things. Hiding the real IP address and ensuring anonymity on the network. Visiting web resources that are closed to residents of certain countries.

• Types of proxies

In fact, a proxy is a collective name for all components for working on a network. At the moment there are 5 main servers. Each has its own set of functions. To make your choice, you need to know exactly for what purposes it will be used. CGI is the simplest proxy server. It is used mainly for browsing web pages, but even for these purposes it is not entirely convenient. The work is carried out through a website where you, as a user, enter the URL of the page you need and go to it in anonymity mode. This kind of work is inconvenient, since the server operates within one tab. HTTP – suitable for most tasks assigned to proxy servers. Equipped with technology for working with large hypertext transfer protocols. They can ensure full functionality of all device browsers in anonymous mode. Suitable for most applications. HTTPS - a proxy with support for SSL encryption, in other words, the same as in the previous case, only it became possible to view protected sites. (addresses start with https). SOCKS4, SOCKS5 – have additional functions for transferring protocols. With their help, you can set up proxies not only for browsers, but also for individual programs.

• Proxy anonymity

Anonymity is quite an interesting indicator when choosing a proxy. The owner always sees the IP of both his own and the site he is going to. Let's figure out in what cases site administrators can track our IP. In some cases, the proxy itself transmits your IP to the site you are going to. Let's look at the following proxy classification based on anonymity. No anonymity. Remote hosting knows your IP and knows that you are using a proxy server. Low anonymity. Remote hosting cannot obtain your IP address, but knows that you are using a proxy server. Average anonymity. Remote hosting knows that you are using a proxy and knows the IP, but in fact the address is not yours. Highly anonymous. Remote hosting does not know your IP and cannot assume that you are using a proxy server.

• Using a proxy

Please note that enabling it at the program level allows you to use a proxy server only in the program, while at the operating system level it allows you to use all programs and browsers with a proxy.

• Conclusion

The choice of proxy server depends on the purposes for which it will be used. For regular Internet surfing, simple free proxies are suitable for you, however, if you are not a fan of crashes and long loading times, then do not risk ending up with a low-quality free product, but, on the contrary, pay a little money for your peace of mind. A proxy opens up many possibilities if used correctly. Pere