What On Earth Are Web Proxies And Why Do We Need Them?

If you surf the internet regularly then you may have heard of web proxies or perhaps even use them on a daily basis. For the average internet user, however, the terms “internet proxies” or “web proxies” are probably not very familiar.

So what on earth are web proxies and why do we need them?

Well, in certain circumstances, web proxies can actually be quite helpful. Basically speaking, a proxy is a website that lets you surf anonymously and can actually bypass certain content filters. This means that by using an internet proxy you might be able to access or view a website that you may not have otherwise been able to. Think of a web proxy as a kind of protective barrier between your own computer and the data you are accessing over the internet; the data request is first delivered to the proxy and then is transmitted safely to you.

How does all this work?

If you’ve ever seen “Star Trek” then you could liken this to a very clever cloaking device: when using a proxy website, you enter the URL of a site you wish to view or access, and then the proxy opens up a new window for you so that you may privately view that particular site - even if it was originally blocked by a firewall or web filter. Additionally, your privacy is protected because your IP address and location information is not passed on the site you are visiting. So you can surf anonymously with confidence and interact with the website just as you would have done without using a web proxy.

How do I find a list of working proxies?

Finding and testing proxies by yourself online can be a little bit daunting and time consuming and so you might be better off getting hold of a good “proxy list” (which is essentially a list of working proxy websites). If finding a good proxy list is really important to you then consider choosing a paid proxy list. By paying a few dollars per week you can be sure that you will only be supplied with fast, good quality, working proxies. A premium proxy list is updated every hour and so you always get brand new up-to-date information on the most current proxies that are available. It should also contain anonymous or elite proxies that come from all over the world.

Advantages of using proxy servers

Security and privacy is probably the biggest advantage of using anonymous web proxies. They do not reveal information about your computer or location so that you can safely surf the internet without worrying about spammers or hackers. A great example of when a web proxy might be beneficial for you is if you are using an airport wi-fi connection and want to check your email or bank account. Your personal information remains safe.

Sometimes using a web proxy can also improve the efficiency of transfer speed when downloading data and files.

Disadvantages of using proxy servers

The only real disadvantage associated with using proxy servers is that they tend to have a small “shelf life”. This is because other websites like to find and block the proxies so as to stop you from surfing anonymously. Because public proxies die very quickly, proxy lists that are outdated (even just a day old) can contain 90% or more unusable proxies.

There are huge numbers of users using public proxy lists every day, and so the servers can very quickly slow down and become undependable. That’s why, if you’re looking to use proxies on a regular basis, then it is important to get hold of a proxy list that is trustworthy and regularly updated.