The word "proxy" has been heard by any of us, but not everyone knows what a proxy server is and what its purpose is.
A proxy is an intermediate link between a client computer and an Internet server system. That is, if access to the WWW is not carried out directly, but through a proxy, then any request first goes to this intermediary, which processes it and sends it to the right address on its own behalf.
What is a proxy and why connect to the Internet through such a server? The main purposes of its use:
Caching files and storing them on a proxy server to reduce the load on the Internet channel and for faster client access to the necessary information.
Compression of information after receiving from the Internet and transferring it to the user in a compact form in order to save traffic.
Protect your local computer or network from external threats.
The ability to connect several computers to the Internet, having only one IP address.
The proxy server can be configured in such a way that external computers will not be able to communicate with local machines, but I will see only the intermediary.
Using a proxy, a system administrator can restrict access for PC operators to a number of websites.
Anonymity of access. Hide your tracks while traveling on the WWW with a single server will not work. To do this, you need a chain of "proxies". But not everyone can find the necessary proxies and create such a connection with the correct sequence.
What is a proxy for an ordinary user? This is an opportunity to access websites on which the latter has been blocked.
How to install a proxy and configure it to work? There are a lot of them, among them you can find a proxy server free or paid. The choice depends on the technology of connecting the computer to the Internet.
To install manually, you first need to find proxy server lists on the network. To do this, make a request in the search, for example: a free proxy, proxy list , etc. From the obtained results, select the site you like and open. There will probably be a lot of “dead” proxies in the proposed list, so they should be checked for operability, for which a special function is provided on the sites. After checking, a table with the results will be generated. You need to take several suitable options and save the addresses on your computer.
It remains to install them and configure them in your browser. These actions are different for different browsers. Detailed installation instructions can always be found online. After configuration, it is necessary to check the proxy server for operability again. If you need to abandon the proxy, you just need to uncheck
the browser settings.It is believed that working with paid servers is more convenient, since they are reliable and less likely to crash, in addition, they can be more finely tuned. As for free proxies, their advantage lies in the fact that they are anonymous, unlike paid ones, where information about the client is stored by the owner. You can use several free servers at once, and if one of them fails, just switch to the other.
Now you know what a proxy server is and what it can be used for.