Where Can I Find Proxy Websites?
Proxy websites provide a way for network traffic to be encrypted and diverted. They are servers that are set up to fetch websites for individuals who wish to browse sites that are not allowed on a private intranet or cannot pass through a firewall. These are security measures that are implemented by the network administrator and often reflect the internal values of a company or institution. Proxy websites are tools that can circumvent these restrictions.
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Public Search
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This method of locating a proxy website involves using the popular search engines that are available to the public on the Internet. These include Google, Yahoo! and Bing, among others. Simply by visiting these search engines and entering the appropriate search keyword, a listing of public proxy websites will be returned.
Private Search
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Proxy websites can be found through a private search. This involves becoming a member of a forum or other online community and searching a database of proxy sites to which only the members have access. This is more restrictive than the public search method of finding proxy websites, but the quality of the sites may be higher with additional services that improve the anonymizing abilities of private browsing.
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Invitation Only
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If a developer creates a proxy website that is used for an exclusive group of people, the developer may allow an individual to use its services by direct invitation only. The developer would extend the chance to use the site. This invitation-only is protected behind a hidden URL or a username and password combination without registration.
The Facts
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When a request is made for a specific website on the Internet, the browser -- such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, or Chrome -- performs a complex set of steps that result in the files being downloaded and displayed on the user's computer. Network traffic records which computer made the request and where the files were downloaded from. A proxy website acts as the middleman in this transaction. The proxy website downloads the Web page and sends it along to the user. The network traffic on the private network then only records that files were sent from the proxy website to the user. The content of the files is often encrypted behind a layer of protection known as SSL, secure sockets layer.
Considerations
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Although the use of a proxy website might be helpful for browsing content that is not allowed on a private network, the use of these sites may be in violation of network behavior for a company or institution. Many of the sites are blocked for a reason. The content that may be inappropriate for a workplace or other environment. These could be social-networking sites, gaming sites or other nonessential sites that may be a waste of time for employees or staff.
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