What is Proxy?
A proxy is a middleman server that sits between your device and the internet. It receives your web requests, forwards them to the target site, and then sends the site’s response back to you.
Let's break it down
- Middleman server: a computer that works on behalf of another computer.
- Your device: the phone, laptop, or tablet you use to browse.
- Internet: the network of websites and online services you want to reach.
- Receives your web requests: takes the message you send when you click a link.
- Forwards them: sends that message on to the website you want.
- Sends the site’s response back: brings the website’s data (pages, images, etc.) back to you.
Why does it matter?
A proxy can protect your privacy, help you get around restrictions, and improve speed or security when you’re online. Knowing about proxies lets you make safer, faster, and more flexible internet choices.
Where is it used?
- Corporate networks: companies route employee traffic through a proxy to filter harmful content and monitor usage.
- Streaming services: users employ proxies to appear as if they are in a different country to access region-locked shows.
- Web scraping: developers use proxies to collect data from many sites without being blocked.
- School or public Wi-Fi: institutions use proxies to block inappropriate sites and conserve bandwidth.
Good things about it
- Hides your real IP address, enhancing privacy.
- Can bypass geo-restrictions and censorship.
- Caches frequently visited pages, making loading faster.
- Allows administrators to filter or block unwanted content.
- Provides an extra layer of security by inspecting traffic for threats.
Not-so-good things
- May slow down connection if the proxy server is overloaded or far away.
- Some free proxies log your activity and sell the data.
- Not all proxies encrypt traffic, so data can still be intercepted.
- Misconfigured proxies can cause access problems or break certain websites.