Proxy server.?

Kennysevenfold · 28 Jan 2009 at 23:12

hi, just wondering what exactally a proxy server is.?
i heard people using them to get onto restricted sites in school or something.
can you build one yourself.?

Many thanks :confused:

PistolPete · 28 Jan 2009 at 23:18

In short, a proxy server is used to "re-direct" traffic.
The main reason to have a proxy server is to control traffic. You place a proxy server on a network and all the hosts on that network connect to the proxy server which in turn proxies the request to the internet. Traffic controls are then usually placed on the proxy to allow or disallow certain types of traffic / websites etc and most cache information so if someone else request the same info it's return from the proxy rather than looked up on the internet again.

Another type of proxy is one that sits on the internet and proxies request with the main aim of hiding the true source of the request.... for example... you can not access a website as the website own has blocked everyone on your ISP. You connect via the proxy so instead if looking like your on your ISPs network, you look like your are on the proxies network and thus you can get in. It is also used to hide your original IP address for whatever reason you need to.

Kennysevenfold · 28 Jan 2009 at 23:23

Hmm could work...lol

how would i use one to hide my ip.?

F2kSel · 28 Jan 2009 at 23:24

A proxy server just changes your IP address so the server your entering thinks you are someone else.

You can get programs that search for free proxy numbers to use, or you can search for proxy lists that people have published. They tend to be hit and miss, some work one minute and not another.

You can subscribe to some sites and be sent better lists or rent one I believe.

You can also use a free web or URL based proxies such as http://www.pleaseread.info/ you just copy and past the HTTP address in the field and off you go. They tend not to be good for downloads larger then about 5meg though.

Skidilliplop · 29 Jan 2009 at 09:34

Something like Provoxy and tor client would be an example.
It's a network or proxies all over the world and you run a "proxy server" locally which accepts all your web bound traffic and tunnels it to an actual proxy server somewhere in the dpeths of the internet which as far as anyone else is concerned is where the packets originate from.

Lookup NAT or Network address translation and it'll be a little more clear how it works.

Dist · 29 Jan 2009 at 09:41

You should know that any public or free proxies come with the risk that anything you send or recieve through the proxy can be monitored by the proxy server owner. Any passwords that are sent in plain text, your web browsing habbits, what you download etc... all can be seen by the proxy owner.

F2kSel · 29 Jan 2009 at 10:56

Dist said:
You should know that any public or free proxies come with the risk that anything you send or recieve through the proxy can be monitored by the proxy server owner. Any passwords that are sent in plain text, your web browsing habbits, what you download etc... all can be seen by the proxy owner.

Your right I never use them for bank accounts.