All you need to know about proxy servers
Much has been written about proxy servers and how they can help you to surf the web anonymously. This article will try to help you understand the role they play in helping you protect your privacy online.
What is a proxy server?
A proxy server acts as sort of a middleman between you and the internet. When you request a page, it passes through the proxy before being passed along to you. It’s a buffer that prevents anyone from seeing the pages that you’re viewing; the only website they can see is the proxy. In this way, you’re effectively invisible when you’re online.
Why use a proxy server?
1) To protect your security. As you surf through the internet, you risk encountering cookies and spyware that are designed to track you and your web browsing habits. Some of these programs can infiltrate your system without your knowledge, and reside in your computer. Over weeks, they silently track and log every page you visit, every word you type and transmit this information back to hackers. These criminals then are able to access your bank account and use your credit card to run up huge bills on your account.
2) To protect your privacy. These cookies and spyware are also capable of tracking your geographic location and other personally identifiable information. These crooks can then hijack your identity and use it to get you in trouble. Identity theft is one of the biggest problems today, and proxy servers are one the best ways to avoid these problems.
3) To protect your right to free speech. Some countries and government agencies are pushing the limits for what their citizens can and cannot view online. Surfing through a web proxy ensures mankind’s fundamental right to freedom of speech and thought. It allows you to bypass censorship and prevent agencies from tracking and profiling your online behavior.
