To gain insight into why proxies are essential for Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and where to find the best ones, it is important to become more familiar with IRC and proxy servers. Let’s take a closer look.
What Is IRC?
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a type of instant messaging system that was developed back in the 1980s, allowing users to engage in group chats in discussion rooms known as IRC channels. It additionally facilitates chat and data transfer, file sharing, and private messaging.
Although IRC has seen a drop in its usage since 2003 due to the emergence of newer communication platforms and the lack of updates, it remains a viable form of communication even after 33 years. You can find a range of channels that cater to different interests, allowing for both contributions and assistance.
IRC functions as an app layer protocol that enables text-based communication, relying on a client-server network model. To access it, users are required to obtain a client program, which can be found for each of the major operating systems or accessed via an online client in a web browser. Clients need to be connected to an IRC server to operate.
If you’re connected to the internet, you can easily find a client program for your device or run one from your browser.
What Are Proxies?
ProxyCompass and other reliable proxy service providers offer millions of IP addresses from various locations, allowing you to appear as if you are in another country when browsing the web and accessing sites. A proxy server acts as a mediator between you and the internet, receiving your web requests, processing them, and sending them to the destination website or service as if they are coming from a different IP address and location. This way, websites can’t see your true IP, location, or any other identifiable data. The proxy server also receives web responses and sends them back to your device, so you can view the content you requested. By masking your IP and location, proxy servers protect your identity, data, and device from potential cyber-attacks and hackers.
Reasons to Use a Proxy for IRC Privacy
Many IRC users prefer to keep their communication private, though this may depend on who they are chatting with and the topic of conversation. To ensure maximum online privacy, proxies can be used to effectively hide an individual’s IP address and any other associated personal information. This data can include location, name, internet service provider, browser type, device used for browsing and other such sensitive details. This makes it difficult for anyone to track a user’s identity and place of origin.
Unfortunately, IP addresses cannot be changed by the user and so a proxy server must be employed. By using a premium proxy, users can access a wide range of IP addresses from all over the world. This masks the user’s personal data, allowing them to remain anonymous on the IRC. However, it is important to bear in mind that some IRC servers have anti-proxy software that can detect when a proxy is being used, and could result in the user being blocked from the channel. It is therefore vital to select the correct proxy server for the utmost IRC privacy.
What Are the Best Proxies for IRC?
Avoid using free proxies at all costs. They are accessible to everybody, making them slow, unreliable, and prone to compromising sensitive data. To ensure maximum security, opt for a premium, reliable proxy provider that offers static residential proxies. ProxyCompass is a secure proxy provider that offers static residential proxies from real devices with IP addresses given by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) as opposed to proxy farms. This means that online servers view these proxies as any other normal visitor.
