If you want to know what a proxy server is, it is basically another computer that works as a “middleman” or go between for any Internet request you make. What does this mean? It simply means that when you send a request for a page, no one will know it is your computer asking for it; it will appear as if it is the proxy doing it, hence the name.

Overview

The process is very easy to understand: your computer makes a web request which then goes through the proxy, which in turn processes what you asked for. The proxy will then return what you were asking for. In other words, it will provide you with privacy, as no one will know what web pages you are browsing. You can also use it for screening downloads that may be dangerous, upload anonymously and to go around parental software filters.

A Good Privacy Tool 

The internet is great but one of the concerns of many people is the lack of privacy. That is the nice thing about proxies, as it will keep your IP address shielded from prying eyes. If someone were to look at the web page you are requesting they will only see the IP address of the web proxy and not the one on your computer. Because of this setup, you can be assured that Big Brother won’t be able to peek into your activities.

Where to Find Proxies 

The Internet is full of websites that provide proxy lists and it shouldn’t take long before you find one. Just go to a search engine and you will find literally thousands of websites. While these sites have different designs, they all provide you with lists of proxies. You just need to click one of the names provided and you will be able to use the service.

In addition, these sites also provide you with a lot of information about these servers and how they work. For example, these sites will tell you about surfing anonymously, bypassing AdSense, unblocking websites and many more.

A lot of these sites are free but some will charge money; in exchange you will get more reliable and dedicated service. While some people like to go with paid proxies because they believe it is better. It isn’t always the case. In fact it is much better if you try the free ones first. Usually they work fine, and you don’t even have to pay anything.

Setting up a Proxy 

The process varies depending on the browser. With Internet Explorer you go to Tools, Internet Options and then connections and LAN settings. Next, place a check next to “Use a proxy server for your LAN”. Type the Port Number and the proxy server IP address.

If you’re using Google Chrome just go to Customize and copse Under the Hood> Change proxy settings and the LAN settings. Place a check next to “Use a proxy server for your LAN”. Type the port number and the proxy server IP address.

The process is similar to those in other browsers. Basically you just go to the “customize” or “preferences’ section and then look for the proxy settings. There you will find a box for the proxy settings. Now that you know what a proxy server is you just need to enter the settings and surf in private.

Clark is a free lancer writer of http://www.atproxy.net/ and http://www.megaproxylist.com/