👤 Proxy Servers

🤔 What is a Proxy Server?

A proxy server is an intermediary server that sits between a user’s computer and the internet. When you use a proxy, your internet request is sent to the proxy server first. The proxy server then forwards that request to the destination website on your behalf.

Analogy: A proxy is like having a personal assistant make a reservation for you. The restaurant only ever talks to your assistant (the proxy) and sees their phone number, not yours.

⚙️ How a Proxy Server Works

1. Your computer sends a request for a website (e.g., google.com) to the proxy server’s IP address.
2. The proxy server receives your request and forwards it to the internet using its own IP address.
3. The website’s server sees the request coming from the proxy and sends the response back to it.
4. The proxy server then forwards the response back to your computer. The key is that the end server never directly communicates with your device.

📂 Common Types of Proxies

• Forward Proxy: The most common type. An internal user or client uses it to access the internet. It acts on behalf of the client.
• Reverse Proxy: This proxy sits in front of web servers and acts on behalf of the server. It takes requests from the internet and distributes them to backend servers, providing load balancing, security, and caching.
• Transparent Proxy: Intercepts user traffic without requiring any configuration on the user’s device. Often used by companies or ISPs for content filtering.
• Anonymous Proxy: Hides the user’s IP address to provide privacy while Browse.

✅ Key Use Cases and Benefits

• Privacy: Hides your real IP address from the websites you visit.
• Content Filtering: Schools and companies use proxies to block access to certain sites (like social media or gaming) on their networks.
• Bypassing Geo-Restrictions: You can use a proxy server located in another country to access content that is blocked in your region.
• Caching: Proxies can save copies of frequently accessed websites. When another user requests the same site, it can be delivered from the proxy’s cache, which is much faster and saves bandwidth.
• Security: Can block access to known malicious websites and, in the case of a reverse proxy, protect web servers from attacks.

🆚 Proxy vs. VPN

While similar, they have a key difference:

• Proxy: Typically works at the application level (e.g., just for your web browser) and doesn’t always encrypt your traffic.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network): Works at the operating system level, creating an encrypted tunnel for all of your device’s internet traffic. A VPN offers much stronger security and privacy.