Proxy servers are computer systems or applications that act as an intermediary for requests from a user to another service on the Internet. The requests are sent through the proxy server, which then forwards them to the destination server or service. Proxy servers come in several different varieties, designed to address both the privacy and performance needs of users.
Transparent proxies are designed to provide simple internet access, and are often used in corporate networks to enforce the company’s policy on the internet. A transparent proxy re-routes a user’s web requests to the proxy before the traffic reaches the employer’s corporate network. These proxies offer no anonymity to the user.
Anonymous proxies are designed to provide users with some measure of privacy and security when browsing the web. These proxies re-route web requests from the user’s computer though the proxy to the intended web page. The user’s IP address is hidden from the destination server or service.
Distorting proxies mask a user’s IP address, but provide incorrect details on the originating IP address to the destination server or service.
High-anonymity proxies are designed to increase a user’s privacy even further. These proxies do not just provide a false IP address, they also make it difficult to determine the originating IP address even by the proxy itself. High-anonymity proxies can also authenticate users through a process of authentication and authorization.
Proxy servers can also offer performance benefits for many users. Caching proxy servers save frequently requested webpages so that they do not need to be retrieved from the internet each time they are requested. Caching can drastically reduce the response time for frequently requested webpages.
Proxy servers are an important tool for internet access, providing users with security, performance, and access to otherwise restricted content. They are often used to protect users from malicious content on the internet, as well as to provide access to corporate networks and other restricted resources.
