What is a proxy server?
A proxy server provides a gateway between users and the Internet. It is a server, referred to as a "middleman" because it moves between end users and the web pages they visit over the Internet.
When the computer connects to the Internet, it uses an IP address. This is similar to your home street address, as it tells the incoming data where to go and marks the outgoing data with a return address for other devices to authenticate. A proxy server is basically a computer on the Internet that has its own IP address.
Proxy servers and network security
Agents provide a valuable layer of security for your computer. They can be set up as web filters or firewalls to protect your computer from internet threats such as malware.
This additional security is also valuable when combined with a secure web portal or other email security product. This way, you can filter the traffic according to your security level or the amount of traffic your network - or individual computers - can handle.
Some people use proxy servers for personal purposes, such as hiding their location while watching movies online. However, for a company, it can be used to accomplish many major tasks such as:
Improve security
Secure internet activity for employees from people trying to snoop on them
Internet traffic balance to prevent crashes
Control of employee access to sites
Save bandwidth by buffering files or compressing incoming traffic
How does the agent work
Since the proxy server has its own IP address, it acts as an intermediary between the computer and the Internet. Your computer knows this address, and when you send a request on the Internet, it directs it to the proxy, which then gets a response from the web server and redirects the data from the page to your computer's browser, such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
How to get an agent
There are hardware and software versions. Hardware solutions fall between your network and the Internet, getting, sending and forwarding data from the web. Software proxies are usually hosted by a provider or in the cloud. You install an application on your computer that facilitates interaction with the agent.
Often times, a software agent can be obtained for a monthly fee. Sometimes, they are free. The free versions tend to provide users with fewer addresses and may only cover a few devices, while the paid agents can cater to businesses with many devices.
How is the server set up?
To start using a proxy server, you must set it up on your computer, device, or network. Every operating system has its own setup procedures so check the required steps for a computer or network.
However, in most cases, setup means using an automatic configuration script. If you want to do it manually, there will be options to enter the appropriate IP and port.
How does the proxy protect computer and data privacy?
A proxy server performs firewall and filtering functionality. An end user or network administrator can choose an agent designed to protect data and privacy. This examines the data that goes into and out of your computer or network. It then applies rules to prevent you from having to reveal your digital address to the world. Hackers or other bad actors only see the proxy IP address. Without your personal IP address, people on the internet do not have direct access to your personal data, schedules, apps, or files.
With it in place, web requests are transmitted to the agent, who then arrives and gets what it wants from the internet. If the server has encryption capabilities, passwords and other personal data get an additional level of protection.
Proxy server benefits
Proxy comes with several benefits that can give your business an edge:
Enhanced security: It can act as a firewall between your system and the Internet. Without them, hackers can easily access your IP address, which they can use to infiltrate your computer or network.
Private Browsing, Viewing, Listening, and Shopping: Use different proxies to help you avoid getting caught up in unwanted ads or IP data collection.
Access to site-specific content: You can set a proxy server with an address associated with another country. You can, in fact, make it look like you are in that country and get full access to all the content computers in that country that are allowed to interact with.
Prevent employees from browsing inappropriate or distracting websites: You can use it to block access to websites that violate your organization's principles. You can also block sites that usually end up distracting employees from important tasks. Some organizations block social media sites like Facebook and others to remove time-wasting temptations.
Types of proxy servers
While all proxy servers give users an alternate address to use the internet, there are a few different types - each with its own advantages.
Forwarding agent
The front agent sits in front of clients and is used to bring data to groups of users within an internal network. When a request is sent, the proxy server checks it to decide whether to proceed with the connection.
Front-end proxy is best suited for indoor networks that need a single entry point. It provides IP address security for those in the network and allows direct administrative control. However, a routing agent may limit an organization's ability to meet the needs of individual end users.
Transparent agent
A transparent agent can give users a similar experience to what they would get if they were using computers at home. In this way, it is "transparent". It can also be "forced" on users, which means they are online without knowing it.
Transparent agents are well suited for companies who want to take advantage of an agent without letting employees know about its use. It carries the advantage of providing a smooth user experience. On the other hand, transparent proxies are more vulnerable to certain security threats, such as SYN-Flood denial of service attacks.
Anonymous internet server
The anonymous proxy is focused on making the internet activity untraceable. It works by accessing the Internet on the user's behalf while hiding their identity and computer information.
A transparent agent is best suited for users who want complete anonymity while accessing the Internet. While transparent agents provide some of the best possible identity protection, they are not without flaws. Many find the use of transparent proxies disingenuous, and users sometimes face opposition or discrimination as a result.
A highly anonymous proxy
An anonymous proxy is an anonymous proxy that takes anonymity one step further. It works by wiping your information before the agent tries to contact the target site.
A server is best suited for users whose anonymity is an absolute necessity, such as employees who do not want their activity to be tracked back to the organization. On the downside, some of them, especially the free ones, are traps that are set up to trap users in order to access their personal information or data.
Mutilated agent
A malformed proxy identifies itself as a website proxy but anonymizes it. It does this by changing its IP address to an incorrect one.
Deformed proxies are a good option for people who want to hide their sites while accessing the Internet. This type of proxy can make it appear as if you are browsing from a specific country and give you the advantage of hiding not only your identity but also the identity of the proxy. This means that even if you have bonded with the proxy, your identity is still secure. However, some websites automatically block malformed proxies, which could prevent the end user from accessing the sites they need.
Data Center Agent
Data center agents are not affiliated with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) but are provided by another company through the data center. The proxy server is located in a physical data center, and user requests are routed through that server.
Data center agents are a good choice for people who need fast response times and an inexpensive solution. So it is a good choice for people who need to gather intelligence on a person or organization very quickly. It holds the advantage of giving users the ability to collect data quickly and inexpensively. On the other hand, they do not offer the highest level of anonymity, which could put users' information or identity at risk.
Residential agent
A residential agent gives you the IP address that belongs to a specific physical device. Then all requests are routed through this device.
Residential agents are well suited for users who need to check the ads that are shown on their website, so that you can block suspicious or unwanted ads from competitors or bad actors. Residential agents are more trustworthy than other agent options. However, using them often costs more money, so users must analyze whether the benefits are worth the additional investment.
General Agent
Anyone can access the General Proxy for free. It works by giving users access to their IP address, and anonymity while they visit websites.
Public proxies are best suited for users for whom cost is a major concern, and security and speed are not. Although it is free and easily accessible, it often gets slow as it gets bogged down by the free users. When you use a public proxy, you also run an increased risk of others accessing your information on the Internet.
Common agent
More than one user is using shared agents at one time. They give you access to an IP address that other people might share, after which you can surf the Internet while appearing to browse from a site of your choice.
Shared agents are a solid choice for people who don't have a lot of money to spend and don't necessarily need a quick connection. The main advantage of a common agent is its low cost. Since others share, you might be blamed for someone else's bad decisions, which could lead to you being banned from the site.
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SSL proxy
The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) proxy provides decryption between the client and the server. Since the data is encrypted in both directions, the proxy hides its presence from both the client and the server.
These proxies are best suited for organizations that need enhanced protection against the threats that SSL detects and stops. Since Google prefers servers that use SSL, SSL Proxy, when used with a website, may help rank its search engine. On the downside, encrypted content cannot be stored on SSL Proxy temporarily, so when you visit websites multiple times, you may experience slower performance than it would otherwise.
Rotate agent
A rolling proxy assigns a different IP address to each user that connects to it. While users are calling, they are given a unique address from the connected device before it.
Rotating proxies are ideal for users who need to do a lot of continuous high volume web scraping. It allows you to come back to the same site over and over again without revealing your identity. However, you must be careful when choosing periodic agent services. Some of them contain public or corporate agents that can view your data.
Reverse proxy
Unlike the front proxy, which sits in front of clients, a reverse proxy is placed in front of the web servers and it redirects requests from the browser to the web servers. It works by intercepting requests from the user at the network edge of the web server. It then sends requests to the originating server and receives responses from it.
D Reverse proxies are a powerful option for popular websites that need load-balance for many incoming requests. They can help an organization reduce the bandwidth load because it functions like another web server that manages incoming requests. The downside is that reverse proxies can expose the architecture of an HTTP server if an attacker is able to compromise it. This means that network administrators may have to harden or reposition their firewall if they are using a reverse proxy.
Proxy server vs VPN
On the surface, proxy servers and virtual private networks (VPNs) may appear interchangeable as they direct requests and responses through an external server. They both also allow you to access websites that would block the country you are actually in. However, VPNs provide better protection against hackers because they encrypt all traffic.
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If you need to have constant access to the Internet to send and receive data that needs to be encrypted or if your company has to disclose the data it should be hiding from hackers and corporate spies, then a VPN would be the best option.
If an organization only needs to allow its users to surf the Internet anonymously, a proxy server might do the trick. This is the best solution if you simply want to know which websites team members are using or want to make sure they have access to sites that are blocking users from your country.
A virtual private network (VPN) is more suitable for commercial use because users usually need secure data transmission in both directions. Company information and employee data can be of great value in the wrong hands, and a VPN provides the encryption you need to keep it protected. For personal use where the breach only affects you, as a single user, a proxy server may be an appropriate option. You can also use both technologies simultaneously, especially if you want to restrict the websites that users visit within your network while also encrypting their communications.
How can Fortinet help
FortiGate has the ability to have both proxies and VPNs. It protects users from data breaches that often occur with high-speed traffic and uses IPsec and SSL to enhance security. FortiGate also leverages the power of FortiASIC Hardware Accelerator to improve performance without compromising privacy. Secure your network with FortiGate VPN and proxy capabilities.
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