Private Proxies

Being a computer nerd and active in the IT field for 20 plus years I am constantly asked about anonymous proxies, what they are and why they are needed.

An anonymous proxy is another computer located somewhere else (usually in a foreign country) acting as a server to pass your http requests. In easy to understand terms this means you type in google into your web browser, and your browser has been configured to use a proxy. Instead of fetching the page directly from Google, your web browser will go to the anonymous proxy and then the proxy will fetch the Google page and send it back to you. OK so now you ask “Why would I want to do that?”. When you visit the Google (or any other site for that matter) directly, your web browser passes on information to the website you are visiting. Such information may include your IP address. This is a numerical value assigned to your computer by your ISP and is quite literally the “doorway” to your computer. Armed with your IP address, a hacker could start port scanning your PC looking for weaknesses to take advantage of without you knowing it.

If you visit websites under a proxy, the sites you visit will not see your real IP address but instead the IP address of the proxy. It is very easy to configure your browser to use a proxy by simply changing your settings. Now you ask, “Where can I find a proxy at?”. I see lists all the time that show free “open” proxies. This may not be a good idea as you never know exactly who is behind the proxy. It may well be a honey pot set up by some three letter agency therefore, staying away from the free lists is probably a good idea.

There are commercial services available and one I personally use is Ultimate Anonymity which has been around for over ten years now. They provide proxies as well as a nifty tool to switch proxies on the fly without having to ever touch your web browsers settings to make it really simple.

They also provide an Online Privacy Test to show you exactly what your web browser reveals about you. Note that once you have configured your browser for a proxy you can go back to this page to see that a totally different IP address is showing meaning you have setup properly. this means the first time you visit the page, it will show your real IP address. Once your browser is configured for a proxy and you revisit the page, it should show a different IP address.

In this day and age, privacy is crucial. Its good to remember that if a hacker or phishing website can’t see you, they can’t bother you. Identity theft protection starts with simple things like anonymous proxies and should not be overlooked.

It is always a good idea to have a good anti virus program as well as a properly configured firewall on your computer or network. Privacy services are a good addition, not substitution for these items.

Josh Saunders MCSE

Sometimes it becomes so frustrating when you are trying to get to a website and you get blocked out as the site will not permit you just because of your location! If you are trying to watch a movie online but the service is not accessible in your part of the world. This can be so annoying and you really hate the place where you are! But now there is a way through which you can freely surf the web without seeing ever seeing the notification that this service is not available in your area. This is called anonymous proxy and it can make you surf the web freely!

It is not that there is anything illegal about visiting a website that doesn’t offer their service in a particular area. Many times this happens because they have physical commodities that they offer in a particular geographical area. So to make it simple for them and to avoid replying to queries to people who are not from that area; sites can place a restriction upon who can and who can’t visit their website.

Sometimes people hire virtual assistants to place orders for them for making purchases online. Having an IP address may keep such a virtual assistant out of that particular website. But having an anonymous proxy will do away with that limitation and make it easy to visit such a site.

Having an anonymous proxy can be fun at times. You can easily watch movies from sites which are not available in your part of the world, or take part in surveys to make money which are not offered in your country.

Having this liberty can enhance your freedom manifolds and at the same time this service provides you protection and anonymity so that you are not tracked by any hacker. Your online footsteps cannot be followed as you will be logging in from a different IP address showing your location at somewhere other than your own location. Nobody will be able to link you to all the visits that you make to one particular site.

If you work online or just browse the internet for fun, you do need to have an anonymous proxy to make your experience flawless, free and secure. This you can only get if you are associated to a virtual proxy network or VPN. This service provides all the facilities to ensure the level of security that you need. You can get daily changing proxy or if needed higher level of security; then you can have that changed to hourly basis as well. This all depends on the type of service you ask for.

To find more information about Anonymous Proxy Visit hideyourselfonline.com