PROXY SERVER

flux64 · 15 Mar 2008 at 20:19

i have just let students move into the flat next door which i have a broadband connection in my name.

one of my friends told me i should setup a proxy server so i cant be blamed if one of the students does something illegal.

is this true and if so where do i start.

rpstewart · 15 Mar 2008 at 20:26

If your name is on the bill then you're the person that your ISP will come to if there's iffy goings on.

A proxy server, if placed on your own connection, will provide no benefit whatsoever.

flux64 · 15 Mar 2008 at 20:49

i thought a proxy server keeps you anonymous while online.

ubern00b · 15 Mar 2008 at 20:52

Not at all. Especially if YOU are running the proxy server from your own connection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server

K.C. Leblanc · 16 Mar 2008 at 11:40

Ahhh you're getting confused.

There are proxy web sites that bypass filters are also give prevent a web site's owner from correctly logging your ISP. However these only apply to web sites, not P2P stuff. And I doubt you could set one up to work at a network level.

What a proxy sever does is sit on your network, all the clients connect through it. There can then often be configured to do the folowing.

Filter certain traffic or certain web sites.
Log user's internet activety.
Cache frequently requested sites.

swinnie · 16 Mar 2008 at 12:40

You could get them to connect through a central proxy with a web filter if you wish with free and open source server software such as Untangle.