Ever wondered if there are any worthwhile advantages to using proxy servers?

Well, as a matter of fact, there are many decent advantages (but also drawbacks) you as a web user should think about when deciding if to make use of such something.

Proxy servers can usually be categorized to be:

Forward – The standard proxy category, Forward proxies will be the intermediary between your computer and a wider network.

Reverse – Reverse proxies are intermediaries between your web and an inferior group of servers. For instance, a Reverse proxy could become a gateway between the Internet and a corporate LAN network.

Open – Open proxies (also known as “public proxies”) can be accessed by any online user. They are usually offered to the general public cost-free.

How Can a Proxy IP Server Work?

Basically, a proxy ip server will act as an intermediary between a customer and the server that your client is requesting a certain service. It will require the client’s request, and perform it with the person.

Here’s a simple example: Say you want to use a proxy server to gain access to a certain website. The proxy will receive your request, and will do one of the next things:

It will analyze its local cache to see if it can find that particular website. If it finds it, it’ll return it for you and never have to forward your request to the Internet.

When the proxy doesn’t locate the web page in its local cache, will request that website from the net. However, it will not use your IP to do it. Instead, the proxy will act as the client in your stead, and use one of its own IP addresses. Once it has got the page, it’ll relate it to your original request, and forward the page back.

Benefits of proxy server

Of course, you as a user won’t really be familiar with that process. To you, it will just seem as if you are directly accessing a website like normal.

What Types of Proxy Servers Are There?

Overall, they are the most frequent types of proxy servers you’re likely to encounter:

HTTP Proxy Servers

These proxy servers can interpret network traffic, so they are being used to cache web pages and files, so that it is easier and faster for users to gain access to them.

HTTP proxies can affect multiple connections at the same time without their speeds going for a serious hit. Everything that speed does come at a price, though – namely an entire insufficient encryption.

SSL Proxy Servers

Also known as HTTPS proxies, these proxies provide SSL (Secure Socket Layer) support for the bond between your sender and the receiver to be able to secure it.

SSL proxies are less inclined to get blocked from your ISP, as they use TCP port 443. If your ISP were to block that port, it’d mean they’d also block your ability to engage in online shopping or banking.

SOCKS Proxy Servers

Unlike an HTTP proxy, a SOCKS proxy doesn’t really work with interpreting website traffic – it just passes it along.

SOCKS proxies are very versatile given that they are designed for multiple types of traffic, like emails (SMTP and POP3), FTP (File Transfer Protocol – used for uploading files to servers), IRC (Internet Relay Chat), and even torrent traffic.

However, because of their popularity, SOCKS proxies have a tendency to be a little slower, as they are usually overcrowded. Still, they are doing provide some security, as they give HTTPS support.

Web Proxies

Web proxies can normally be utilized inside your browser. They don’t need you to install any extra software. Connections can be either HTTP or HTTPS, so the degree of security can vary.

One issue with web proxies is they have trouble dealing with Java, JavaScript, and Flash scripts, and they aren’t really able to properly display complex website layouts.

Transparent Proxies

These proxies don’t require any configuration on your part; however they mostly have basic uses – at least from the perspective of an online user.

Still, it’s worth mentioning them because it’s smart to know how they can affect you. While Transparent proxies can be employed by businesses to authenticate users when signing in on the WiFi networks, they can be utilized by ISPs to filter various online content.

Fortunately, bypassing Transparent proxies is not too difficult. All you have to can be an encrypted proxy or a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

4 Great things about Using Proxy Servers

1. Your IP Address Is Hidden

One of the best proxy ip server advantages – by by using a proxy, the web site you access will not be able to log your real Ip, as it’ll log the proxy server’s Ip instead. Yes, which means you’re somewhat anonymous when you browse online.

Don’t forget – your IP address can tell someone a lot about yourself, like what country and city you are from. Crafty cybercriminals may also go the excess mile and use your IP address to find out things like who your ISP is, what your zip code is, and even what street you live on.

Proxy ip server advantages

How would a hacker access your Ip, you ask? Sadly, a data breach or leak on an online site you visit could be enough to allow them to get their practical this info.

So, something similar to this is obviously useful nowadays.

2. YOU MAY Access Geo-Blocked or Restricted Content

Unfortunately, a lot of online content is really hidden behind geo-restrictions – mostly because of network and copyright regulations.

But since a proxy ip server hides your IP address, websites can’t stop you from accessing them predicated on your geo-location.

Among that is using a proxy to access NOW TV outside the UK.

In addition, you can also use a proxy ip server to bypass network restrictions at work or school – restrictions that would prevent you from accessing certain types of online content.

3. Load Times MAY BE Reduced

This is linked with the actual fact that proxy servers can cache data. Basically, after they access certain web pages, they store them for later. When a cached page is requested, they can display it faster to the user.

But please retain in mind that is only going to happen if the proxy ip server already has the website you request in its local cache. If it doesn’t, it has to request it from the web, and you might not experience faster load times in that case.

4. Malicious Websites Could Be Filtered Out

Another handy proxy ip server benefit is the actual fact that the admin can block users from accessing websites that could be dangerous.

It might sound counterintuitive at first, but think about this: In case the admin knows a certain website contains malware or phishing links, he/she can prevent proxy users from accidentally or unknowingly accessing it.

There might also be considered a chance that if you were to land on a malicious website, any malware it could contain would infect the proxy instead of your device. Though, keep in mind that’s not really a guarantee.

How “Anonymous” Are Proxies?

The benefits of by using a proxy server are very nice, but proxies don’t come without their drawbacks.

For just one, they don’t really provide you the sort of “anonymity” people prefer to claim they certainly. In fact, who owns a proxy will usually know who you are because they can easily see your Ip.

Now, proxy servers can be rated in line with the degree of privacy they provide. Officially, they come in 3 levels – with level 1 being the best for privacy:

Level 3 – Transparent Proxies

Never to be confused with the previously-mentioned Transparent proxies, these proxy servers don’t really offer any privacy.

Why? Because they forward pretty much all information on you to the websites you access. Theoretically, your IP is hidden, but it can still show up in the request header that’s sent to the website.

Level 2 – Anonymous Proxies

Also known as Distorting proxies, these proxy servers don’t reveal your Ip to the server you are connecting in any way.

Still, it is worth noting that the server you hook up to will know you are by using a proxy to access it. How come? Since it seems that “anonymous” proxies actually identify themselves because they attach additional headers to the requests they send.

Level 1 – Elite Proxies

The best option – Elite proxies will hide your Ip, and web sites you access will do not know you are by using a proxy to hook up to them.

Just retain in mind that for all the privacy-focused benefits associated with Elite proxy servers, it’s likely you have to settle for slower connections because they are incredibly loved by online users.