What are the Proxy Servers and How They Work?

Proxy servers let you access content that isn’t available in your country. You can hide your IP address using these servers while maintaining privacy and security. This article will discuss everything related to proxy servers, their functionality, capabilities, and anonymity.

Do you know the difference between a VPN and a proxy server? There is often confusion between these two technologies among viewers. This article clears those doubts and more.

Proxy server

Proxy servers act as intermediaries between your device and the server. These servers allow clients to submit requests and receive responses from these servers. These servers also protect your IP address, area, and home address from being tracked while browsing.

With Smartproxy, you can access the internet anywhere in the world with unlimited bandwidth.

Working principle of a proxy server

 

Your computer can easily find its location through an Internet search. When searching on a website, the website’s servers contact your IP address. You get restricted access to certain websites and services because of this data collection.

You must bypass restrictions while protecting your privacy using a proxy server. In addition to changing your IP address for you, proxies protect your private data as well. You appear to be browsing from your server’s appearing address rather than your real one.

This is a step-by-step explanation of how proxy servers work:

1. Using your browser to do a search
2. Rather than sending the request to the website, proxy servers catch it.
3. After that, the request is transferred by a proxy server to the website.
4. The website’s server returns website data.
5. Lastly, the proxy server transfers the website data back to your computer.

Is using a proxy server legal?

Proxies are legally valid as long as they are used for the right reasons. You are breaking the law if you use proxy servers to access illegal content on free movie streaming websites or do illegal work. There are some websites or platforms that prevent proxies from connecting to their networks. All laws and rules must be followed when using proxies.

Proxy servers have both advantages and disadvantages

It is always a head-to-head battle between the advantages and disadvantages of using proxies. Even so, their use varies depending on their configuration or application.

The advantages of using a proxy server

There are several advantages to using a proxy server, including:

1. Improved privacy: Proxy servers provide incredibly useful anonymity protection when it comes to privacy. Users can also protect their identity and online activities by changing their IP address.
2. Geo-restriction bypassing: By using proxies, users can access content restricted in your country. These proxies help overcome geo-restrictions to reach information or data that is restricted.
3. A higher level of security: Proxy servers block anonymized traffic and websites that track your IP address. This way, these servers keep your device and internet secure.

The disadvantages of using a proxy server

Using a proxy server entails a variety of risks, which can be broken down as follows:

1. Slow speeds: Sometimes, using a proxy can slow your internet connection. This happens when the proxy server gets too busy or has a lot of traffic to handle. It can cause delays and make browsing websites feel sluggish.
2. Unreliable or unsecured proxies: Not all proxies are created equal. Some proxies may not be properly set up or lack security measures, which can risk your data. Choosing trusted and reliable proxy providers to protect your information is important.
3. Functionality limitations: While proxies can help you access certain content or bypass restrictions, some websites or services can detect proxy usage and limit what you can do. This means you might not be able to use all the features or access specific content while using a proxy.

How can proxy servers be classified?

A proxy server can be classified into several groups depending on its traffic level, accessibility, anonymity, IP address, and services. Some of the most common proxy servers are here.

Based on the traffic flow

1. Forward proxy server

Proxies categorized based on traffic flow are usually called “proxies.” These proxies work as a go-between for users and servers. When users make requests, servers receive them and send responses directly to them.

Working principle:

The user request is only sent if the forward proxy meets the policies set by the website you are trying to reach. By doing so, forward proxy servers assist in getting responses back from the websites’ servers.

Here are the main uses:

 

• For traffic control, forward proxy servers restrict certain content or websites. Forward proxy servers keep internet searches speedy by filtering and controlling online traffic.
• These servers monitor internet activities and ensure compliance with organizations’ policies and laws.
• Keep a cache of frequently accessed content. The process improves performance and reduces bandwidth consumption at the same time.

Based on Accessibility

An Open or public proxy

Proxy servers like these are often called open proxies. As these proxies do not require any authentication, they can be easily accessible by anyone online. Public access makes them unreliable and slow. This led to misusing these proxies for anonymous activities such as spamming, phishing, and hacking.

Basically, here’s how it works:

A user connects their device to a public proxy server. The server takes user requests and sends them to the website. Then, the server sends back the website’s response to the user.

Main uses:

• You can bypass content filters by using public proxy servers to access content unavailable in your country.
• Public proxy servers conduct tests, scrap web pages, and troubleshoot.

Private Proxy

Private proxy servers are only used by one individual or organization at a time. Unlike public proxy servers, private proxies are restricted and require authentication to access.

Proxy servers work like this:

Whenever you request a website, the proxy server forwards your request to that website. Upon receiving the response from that website, the proxy server passes it on to you.

Main uses:

• Maintains a high level of security.
• Extracts data from websites automatically
• Bypass geographical restrictions

By anonymity level

Transparent proxy

A proxy that does not alter a request or response aside from verifying and authorizing it. Without the user’s knowledge, it secretly forwards the request for Internet resources to the destination.

Here’s how these servers work:

Imagine there’s a special kind of proxy server called a transparent proxy. It acts as a middleman between you and the websites you visit, but you don’t even realize it’s there. When you make a request, the transparent proxy passes it along to the website on your behalf.

The website responds directly to you, but you don’t know your request was sent through the transparent proxy. It works quietly in the background, keeping everything running smoothly.

Main uses:

• Organizations often use it to monitor users’ online activities and limit their access to specific websites.
• It helps websites load faster by saving and reusing frequently requested content.

2. Anonymous proxy

An anonymous proxy is like a secret server that keeps your identity hidden when you go to a website. This provides you with more privacy than a normal proxy.

Here’s how it works:

Instead of sending your requests straight to the website, they first pass through the anonymous proxy server. The website only sees the IP address of the proxy server, not your actual IP address. This way, you can surf the web without divulging your true identity.

Main uses:

• To protect your privacy and avoid content restrictions or location-based limitations.
• It can also be misused for harmful activities like cyberattacks or avoiding law enforcement.

3. High anonymity proxy

High anonymity proxy is Also called an elite proxy. It’s a special type of proxy server that hides your IP address and behaves like a regular internet user on websites.

How it works:

When you connect to a website using a high anonymity proxy, the proxy server conceals your IP address and uses its own instead. This prevents the website from tracing your request back to you, keeping your identity anonymous.

Main uses:

• Maintaining online privacy and security.
• To bypass internet censorship, access restricted content, and hide your location and identity from prying eyes.
• It also protects against online tracking and monitoring.

Classifying Proxies Based on IP Addresses

Datacenter proxy:

A proxy server that uses IP addresses provided by data center providers instead of your internet service provider (ISP).

How it works: It routes your requests through servers located in data centers and often gives you dedicated IP addresses not shared with others. This setup allows handling large numbers of requests while providing anonymity and fast speeds.

Main uses:

• Gathering data for web scraping, market research, and ad verification.
• Ensuring high anonymity for sensitive web activities.
• Bypassing content restrictions and geo-blocks.

2. Residential proxy:

A proxy server that uses IP addresses provided by internet service providers (ISPs) to hide your real IP address.

How it works:

When you use a residential proxy, your requests appear to be coming from a genuine residential IP address assigned by an ISP, making it harder to detect.

Main uses:

• Web scraping, social media management, and similar tasks where multiple requests need to be made from different IP addresses to avoid detection and blocking.

3. Mobile proxy:

A proxy server that uses a mobile device’s internet connection to access the internet.

How it works: When you browse online through a mobile proxy, your internet traffic is routed through your mobile carrier’s network rather than your ISPs.

Main uses:

• Web scraping, ad verification, and accessing geo-restricted content.
• Enhanced security and privacy during internet browsing.
• Bypassing network restrictions.

Categorizing Proxies by Service

SSL Proxies:

SSL Proxies, or HTTPS proxies, are designed to provide secure communication by encrypting data exchanged between the client and the server. They establish a secure connection, ensuring confidentiality and protection from unauthorized access.

Working Principle:

When a client requests an SSL proxy, the proxy establishes a secure SSL/TLS connection with the server on behalf of the client. All data exchanged between the client and the server is encrypted and decrypted by the proxy, keeping it secure during transit.

Main Uses: SSL proxies are commonly used in situations where secure communication is essential, such as:

• Protect sensitive information during online transactions, such as credit card details or personal data.
• Enabling secure web browsing to safeguard privacy and prevent eavesdropping on sensitive activities, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.
• Ensuring secure communication in corporate environments, where sensitive company information needs to be transmitted securely over the internet.

2. Socks Proxies:

A SOCKS proxy functions within a network protocol stack, specifically at the transport layer. It enables the proxying of SMTP, FTP, HTTP, and FTP traffic and facilitates various other types of internet traffic.

They are designed to forward traffic between clients and servers, offering versatility in proxying different protocols.

Working Principle:

When a client sends a request through a SOCKS proxy, the proxy server establishes a connection with the target server on behalf of the client. It then relays traffic between the client and the server, allowing the client to access resources or services available on the server.

Main Uses: SOCKS proxies are commonly used for a range of purposes, including:

• Bypassing network restrictions and censorship, as they can handle various types of internet traffic and provide access to blocked websites or services.
• Enhancing privacy and anonymity by masking the client’s IP address and routing traffic through the proxy server.
• Facilitating applications or protocols that require proxy support, such as torrenting, online gaming, or accessing remote servers securely.

Difference between proxy servers and VPN

Users often confuse VPNs and proxy servers, but they work differently. VPNs establish a connection between a user’s device and remote servers. In contrast, a proxy server handles your internet requests on your behalf.

Proxies conceal users’ IP addresses and filter browsing content. However, VPNs take a step further by safeguarding users’ security and privacy. All Internet traffic is encrypted with a VPN, making it difficult for others to intercept or track a user’s activities online.

Imagine a VPN as a special envelope that keeps your letter a secret from nosy people. Meanwhile, a proxy is like a mail carrier who peeks at your letter before giving it to the person you intended it for.

How do proxy servers and VPNs help movie lovers?

Proxy servers can be useful for movie enthusiasts in several ways:

1. Accessing Geo-Restricted Content: Many streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, have regional restrictions on their content. Proxy servers allow movie lovers to bypass these restrictions. How? Ok. By changing their IP address to appear as if they are located in a different country. That enables accessing a broader range of movies and TV shows that may not be available in their region.
2. Overcoming Bandwidth Throttling: Internet service providers (ISPs) sometimes throttle the internet speed for certain activities. Streaming movies are among the top of such internet consumptions list. You can bypass these limitations using a proxy server and experience smoother streaming with improved bandwidth.
3. Enhancing Privacy and Security: Proxy servers act as intermediaries between users and websites. That hides your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic. This helps protect privacy while streaming by preventing websites and other entities from tracking you online. It also adds a layer of security. And that ultimately makes it harder for hackers or malicious actors to intercept sensitive information.
4. Circumventing Content Filters: Some environments, such as workplaces, schools, or countries with strict internet censorship, restrict access to certain movie websites or streaming platforms. Proxy servers and VPNs can help bypass these content filters. They do this by redirecting internet traffic through an intermediary server not subject to the same restrictions.
5. Faster Download Speeds: In certain cases, movie enthusiasts may find downloading movies from certain websites slow – all because of, again, geographical distance or limitations imposed by the website itself. You can achieve faster download speeds by using a proxy server closer to the target server.

Compared to VPNs, it’s worth noting that while proxy servers offer these advantages, they also have limitations and potential risks. Free or public proxy servers may be slow, unreliable, or compromised.

All of that can negatively impact your movie-watching experience or pose security threats. While VPN is the recommended tool for streamers, if you must, choosing reputable proxy services and exercising caution when using them is important.