{"id":11728,"date":"2022-08-29T10:21:43","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T10:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firstsiteguide.com\/?p=11728"},"modified":"2023-10-04T02:13:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T02:13:32","slug":"what-is-proxy-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firstsiteguide.com\/what-is-proxy-server\/","title":{"rendered":"An Overview of Proxy Servers, How They Work, and Why You Need One","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
Are you part of the 79% of internet users<\/a> worldwide who feel that they have completely lost control over their data? We often feel like this too. The overwhelming traffic, the amount of sensitive activity and information, and the alarming lack of proper regulations<\/a> all contribute to our general sense of insecurity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, is there anything you can do about it? How about using a proxy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n For individual users and organizations alike, proxy servers provide a fair amount of protection. The primary purpose of this technology is anonymity, but the benefits are greater than originally intended. Acting as a privacy shield, proxies enhance our digital security, boost connection speed, and unlock geo-specific content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some proxies do these tasks better than others, so you need a foundational understanding of the technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s everything that you need to know about how different types of proxies work and why you need one \u2013 whether or not you feel threatened by the all-encompassing loss of privacy on the internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A proxy is essentially just a server that you use as a middleman between your computer and the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, let\u2019s start at the beginning, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tech experts and enthusiasts generally describe proxy servers as intermediaries, and they are right. However, what most definitions don\u2019t explain exactly what proxies are. Are they, as their name suggests, physical servers? Basic concepts like this one often challenge our digital literacy levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What exactly is a server? <\/p>\n\n\n A server is either an actual device or a piece of hardware, but it can also be software \u2013 a specific program run on a computer. In either case, a server provides a service to other devices and their users, also known as clients. That\u2019s you, me, or anyone else using an internet-enabled computer or phone.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s go back to our definition. <\/p>\n\n\n Yes, a proxy server is an intermediary or a middleman between your device and the rest of the internet, meaning any website or page you visit, any application you run, or anything you do while online. It can also be described as a gateway, which might be more correct as it implies some kind of a protective layer.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n This shouldn\u2019t be hard to visualize. Here\u2019s how it works in practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The often-emphasized intermediary role puts a proxy in the middle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On one side, you have your device, while the rest of the internet is on the other side.<\/p>\n\n\nThe basic definition of a proxy server<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does a proxy server actually work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n