How to Access Proxy Servers

It's easy to set up your browser to connect to a proxy server.

You can configure your Web browser to connect to the Internet through a particular proxy server. The proxy server acts as an intermediary between your computer and the Internet server associated with the current Web address you're visiting. This allows you to "hide" your computer behind the proxy server. The proxy server can also be used as an additional shield to protect your computer from viruses. Your proxy server may impose certain restrictions, such as blocking your access to some websites.

Things You'll Need

• Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Safari Web browser

Instructions

Internet Explorer

1. Contact the system administrator for your proxy server. Ask for the proxy server's IP address and the port number used for client connections.

2. Launch Internet Explorer and open the connection settings dialog box. Go to the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options," click on the "Connections" tab and click on "LAN Settings."

3. Configure your browser to access your proxy server. Put a check mark in the box next to "Use proxy server for your LAN," enter the IP address of your proxy server in the "Address" box and enter the port number used by the proxy for client connections in the "Port" box.

4. Save these new settings in your browser by clicking "OK."

5. Close Internet Explorer, then reopen it. Now when you open IE, it will automatically connect to your proxy server.

Firefox

1. Contact the system administrator for your proxy server. Ask for the proxy server's host name and the port number used for client connections.

2. Launch Firefox. Open your browser's connection settings dialog box. Go to the "Tools" menu, select "Options," click on the "Advanced" menu option and click on the "Settings" button located next to "Configure how Firefox connects to the Internet."

3. Configure Firefox to access your proxy server. Click on the "Manual proxy configuration" radio button, enter the host name of your proxy server in the "Address" box and enter the port number the proxy uses for client connections in the "Port" box.

4. Save these new settings in your browser by clicking "OK."

5. Close Firefox, then reopen it. Now when you open Firefox, it will automatically connect to your proxy server.

Safari

1. Contact the system administrator for your proxy server. Ask for the proxy server's host name and the port number used for client connections.

2. Launch Safari. Open the "Safari" menu, select "Preferences," select the "Advanced" preferences option and click the "Change Settings" button next to "Proxies."

3. Configure Safari to access your proxy server. Put a check mark in the small box next to "Web Proxy (HTTP)," enter the host name of your proxy server in the corresponding "Web Proxy (HTTP)" box and enter the port number the proxy uses for client connections in the "Port" box.

4. Save these new settings in your browser by clicking "Apply Now."

5. Close Safari, then reopen it. Now when you open your Web browser, it will automatically connect to your proxy server.

References

• Microsoft: How to configure Internet Explorer to Use a Proxy Server
• Mozilla Support: Connection Settings Dialog
• Proxyserverprivacy: Proxy Setup