What is a Proxy Server and How Does it Work?

A proxy server is a so-called “proxy computer” that a user can use to access the Internet. The main purpose of its existence is to broadcast all the user’s requests to the Internet and send back the responses received. In this article, we will consider in detail what a proxy server is, what it is used for, what are its principles of work and what kinds of proxy servers there are.

What is a proxy server?

As previously mentioned, the proxy server is the third link that connects the user to Internet servers. It acts as a kind of intermediary which separates the user from the site he visits. The proxy creates special conditions under which the site will recognize him as a real person who visited the page. Such servers are very useful and versatile, so they can be used in many cases: 

  • The server gives you privacy on the Internet. The site will not be able to recognize your real identity
  • Proxy provides a high level of safety when surfing the internet and all basic attacks from malware will be handled by a proxy
  • It allows you to access information that is not available in your location
  • The proxy can speed up access to certain webpages
  • Gives you access to blocked content and applications

It allows you to do all these things because it changes the IP address and the traffic is additionally checked.

How a proxy connection works

We talked a little bit about this in the previous paragraph, and now we will continue this theme. Initially, each computer is assigned its unique IP address, which identifies your identity on the Internet. It can provide all the information you need about you, your country, your region of residence, your computer number, and your Internet service provider.

Proxy servers also have such IP addresses and after you connect to them their IP address will be shown instead of yours, and you can remain anonymous. To connect to the proxy you will need to go into the settings of your browser. All subsequent network connections will be made to the IP address of the proxy server.

Types of proxy servers

Proxy servers come in different types and purposes. And below we will describe each of them: 

  • Transparent proxy – mainly used in public institutions and schools. Such a server will not conceal any information about you from a website and will honestly tell you that it is a proxy
  • Anonymous proxy, like the first one, does not hide what it is but will keep the user’s data secret. So this type of server will provide faceless information to both sides 

 

Distorting proxies – These proxies provide untruthful information to internet pages about the user who visited them. Thus, the sites will not suspect anything and will behave as usual

Private Proxies: These proxies protect your IP address by changing it every time and providing fake data, preventing the monitors from following your traffic

HTTP proxy is the most common server used for web browsing