When a school, boss, or anyone else restricts your Internet use, you might find yourself unable to access your favorite websites. Don’t panic, there’s a reliable way out: rerouting your web traffic via an intermediary server also referred to as a proxy server. That way, you will make the most of the freedom the World Wide Web has to offer without having to depend on Big Brother’s ever-hungry prying eyes. In this post, we’ll let you in on the meaning behind proxy servers, their main advantages, as well as cover the basics of how they work. 

Proxy Server in Simple Words 

A proxy server acts as a bridge or gateway between users and the internet. Typically, when you rummage the net via your browser, you establish a direct connection with a certain website. However, when it comes to USA proxies, they serve as intermediaries that separate you from the websites you browse for the sake of keeping your identity anonymous, as well as concealing your IP address. 

Wondering about the main functions of proxy servers? Acting as intermediaries, proxies aid you in protecting your privacy and strengthening the security of your local network. Find more functions below:

• proxy servers act as firewalls and web filters: they can help you limit access to specific websites and protect yourself from cybercriminals;
• proxy servers assist you in sharing internet connections: you can either opt for funneling all your office devices through that one connection or choose to utilize a Wi-Fi router instead;
• proxy servers can cache websites for you: as a result, the sites will load easier and speedier.

Wait a second. Aren’t proxy servers the same as VPNs? Well, not exactly. Both proxies and VPNs offer intermediary servers for sorting out your internet connection. That’s where the similarities between the two notions subside. While online proxies merely forward your traffic to its finishing line, VPNs focus on encrypting all traffic between your PC/smartphone and the server. 

Proxy Servers in Action: Quick Overview

All devices and programs within the online world function either as clients or servers. Your web browser is a client that requests data from servers. When visiting a website via your browser, you request data from that website’s server. 

After fielding requests, the server offers replies with the requested data. There’s a server or group of servers behind every website that work on delivering the site to your browser. The concept that this entire process involves is referred to as traffic. 

If you don’t use an online proxy, your device will connect to web servers directly, revealing your IP address to anyone online. But if this vulnerability makes you feel uncomfortable, you can always let a proxy handle the traffic in lieu of your device. This proxy server is represented by another its-own-IP-address PC with a connection to both the internet and your device. As a result, your device communicates solely to the proxy, while the proxy transmits all data onward to the internet at large.

As the internet responds, the proxy sends this data to your device. A multitude of proxies is capable of hiding your IP address. That way, the websites you visit have no way of knowing your real identity. With that said, once connected to a quality different-country-IP proxy, you can even conceal your real location online. 

Conclusion: Choose the Best Type of Defense for You

To cut a long story short, if you’re looking to put up protective boundaries between you and the rest of the World Wide Web, feel free to make the most of these three options: proxy servers, VPNs, and Tor Browser. Each of them comes with its benefits and disadvantages. Bookmark our website for further updates and feel free to speak your mind in the comments below.