8 Things You Didn’t Know Proxies Can Do

Proxy is contracted from the Middle English word “procuracy” which is a legal term to act on behalf of another. Proxies are necessary in the surfing world since every action you take on the internet is visible to everyone.

In the classroom, when you say, “vote for proxy”, the teacher takes attendance and the student votes for his classmates on his behalf. In computer terms, a proxy is a server or a device that acts on behalf of another device. 

People wishing for anonymity can buy a proxy. This forms a firewall and protects from external malware attacks.

Types of proxy

There are different types of proxies and each has its specific uses.

1. Forward proxies, a common type used by internal networks, are easy to handle. It acts as a mediator to retrieve data on the internet with the IP address you provide.
2. Reverse proxies, used by web service providers, helps hide the IP addresses within the internal networks from the external users, and offers strong protection from hackers. 
3. Open Proxy Servers, as the name suggests allows access to any internet user and are likely to face malware infections and threats. Proxies are extremely beneficial and continue reading to find out why. 

1. PRIVACY 

The main necessity rather than the benefits of using a proxy is the privacy it offers. In the internet world we live in, a little bit of privacy may seem too much to ask for. You are exposed to software infections and threats while surfing on the internet. 

Proxy ensures protection of your IP address and personal data that you are disclosing on the internet and enables you to surf on the internet anonymously.

 Do yourself a favour and choose a proxy to add an extra layer of protection from potential threats.

2. TRAFFIC CONTROL

What you probably might know is that a proxy server receives traffic flows when you initiate a request to browse the web page and provides you with the requested data which in turn may slow down the speed. 

Nobody wants to buy an internet connection with low speed in which case, the websites will crash down making the tasks difficult. Similarly, swift access to websites improves client experience which proxies take care of by creating a single web address and storing website data as cache. 

3. EMPLOYEE INTERNET LIMIT

This feature is indispensable in the business organizations for the reason being permitting limited access to websites. Access to certain sites is blocked with the help of proxies.

Also, the content accessed by the employees and the duration can also be tracked and limited. It is equally important to seek privacy and keep tabs on the accessibility. In short, proxies permit you to have access and also block access as per your demands.

4. HIGH SPEED AND BANDWIDTH SAVINGS

When the traffic is controlled, the internet limit is set, the bandwidth is automatically saved leading to high-speed internet access. Having your own IP address is advantageous in every aspect.

Proxy servers improve your browsing performance. Once you visit a website, it is stored in the cache data of the proxy server.

This can save you from enduring buffering sites and permits you to enjoy high speed internet, thanks to proxy. 

5. SECURITY

Proxy acts like a firewall by protecting the content you are browsing on the internet from the web resources. The more private your browser experience, the more secure your internet connection will be. 

A lot of hackers and spammy ads take advantage of websites with no proxy and pose internal threats. Hence, proxy prevents security breaches and illegal activities from taking place. It is crucial to have your own IP address, hidden and secured. While disclosing sensitive information, it helps encrypt your files to external users. 

6. ACCESS 

Proxy allows access to restricted content and links in certain countries. You may use a proxy of another country’s IP address to gain access to content by making it seem like you are in that country.

 At the same time, it also prevents getting you into links at the business or school environment which may seem spammy. In short, you can customize access to websites based on your needs. 

7. DATA SCRUBBING

Also known as data cleansing, this process allows the removal of sensitive information, amendment of identifiable data browsed on the internet and the prevention of data leaks. It is cost-efficient and also helps you save a lot of money from getting exposed to damageable threats online. Data scrubbing can detect fake data which further provides better results and help organizations recover the original one by merging them from two systems. Data scrubbing includes merging, filtering, decoding and translating the data. 

8. LOAD BALANCING

A reverse proxy server, the process of aligning network traffic across multiple servers is called load balancing. As the work is spread evenly, it makes space for availability of smooth access to website users, especially security of applications. 

It takes the decision making in hand by recognizing which servers can handle the traffic. Load balancing is required when there is a heavy volume of requests for a single server to handle solely. The things proxies can do are many no matter the number of requests made by the clients.  

CONCLUSION

It is better to protect your system with a proxy and spend a minimum amount than to expose yourself to malicious software and spend a hefty sum. There are many free proxy service providers out there that might pique your interest.

I suggest not to consider free proxy at all and spend a few amount of money to experience the above benefits that come with quality which free proxy servers cannot offer. Please note that many users are already trying out such servers and I hope this post helps change your decision by investing into one.