What is a Proxy Server and How Does it Work?

What is a Proxy Server and how does it work?

A proxy server is a data security application that shields users from potentially malicious internet content or activity. Modern proxy servers can be configured to serve a variety of functions including preserving bandwidth, filtering incoming web traffic, and making a network more private.

Proxy Servers work by accessing internet content on behalf of users using a separate IP address. Instead of sending Internet requests from the user's workstation, they are sent via the proxy server, this conceals the real IP address of the user and allows for anonymous Internet browsing. When the data is sent back it is intercepted by the proxy, checked for potential malware, and forwarded to the requesting device.

A proxy server acts as a gateway and an extra layer of security between a user and the internet!

Why are Proxy Servers Important?

Proxy servers provide an essential layer of security for organizations in two main ways.

Firstly, they protect users (employees, students, children, etc.) from accessing sensitive or malicious internet content. The Internet can be a pretty dark place!

Let’s say you are the IT manager at a school, with a proxy server you can restrict the Internet access of the pupils to keep them from accessing harmful websites and prevent them from potentially leaking their personal information online. Proxies also allow for essential monitoring of user activity which can help to identify security risks and improve security measures.

Secondly, a proxy server can help to prevent malware attacks by intercepting and analyzing incoming web data for malware. This helps to keep an organization's IT infrastructure safe.

How is a Proxy Server Different from a Regular Server?

The difference between a proxy server and a regular server is down to the functions they are configured to provide; in a hardware sense, they are the same.

A regular server stores sends and receives data across multiple computers in a network. A proxy server is usually set up to change a user's IP address, block user access to harmful web pages and keep user data encrypted to avoid it falling into the wrong hands.

How is a Proxy Server different to a Web Proxy?

The key difference is that proxy servers are hosted within your internal network whereas a web proxy is publicly accessible on the internet. A proxy server can be used across multiple online and offline services including, Microsoft Office 365 applications. A web proxy, however, is usually limited to use on the web.

What are the different types of Proxy Server?

Anonymous Proxy

A proxy server is a tool that hides a user's IP address from websites. In some cases, it also provides encryption. In essence, the anonymous proxy aims to make internet activity untraceable.

High Anonymity Proxy

High anonymity proxy servers similarly shield a user’s IP address from websites. However, unlike the anonymous proxy, they do not identify themselves as proxies to the web server. The high anonymity proxy consistently changes the IP address of the user, making it almost impossible to track.

Transparent Proxy

The transparent proxy identifies as a proxy but does not hide the user’s IP address. The transparent proxy intercepts requests from users to perform various tasks including caching, redirection, and authentication.

The most common use for transparent proxies is for filtering purposes in organizational settings like schools or public libraries.

Distorting Proxy

A distorting proxy changes the IP address of the user in the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to conceal identity and location. With a distorting proxy, users can access remote websites with anonymity which reduces the risk of identity theft from web surfing.

Distorting proxies are similar to normal proxies. A normal proxy will make web requests on behalf of the user. However, a distorting proxy will change the HTTP header associated with the IP address.

Public Proxy

A public proxy (often referred to as a shared or open proxy) is a free online tool that provides Internet users with anonymity by accessing online content through the IP address of the proxy rather than the user’s device.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that provides internet security. It enables private browsing, changes your IP address, and encrypts your data.

A VPN will:

Prevent you from being tracked or recorded online
Keep you secure on public Wi-Fi hotspots
Enable you to bypass content filters
Hide your IP address

Is a Proxy the same as a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

A VPN and a proxy have a key difference. A VPN encrypts your online data, providing extra protection from hackers and online tracking. In addition, proxies usually operate on a specific app or browser whereas a VPN operates on an OS level. Although they both keep users safe when they browse the internet, they are not the same.

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