| Are you concerned about your security and | | | | anonymous proxy, high anonymity proxy, |
| privacy on the web? You may have the most | | | | transparent proxy, and distorting proxy. The |
| up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, | | | | differences of these browser-configured proxies |
| with a firewall to boot. These systems are | | | | lies with whether or not they identify themselves |
| excellent steps to protect yourself from hackers | | | | as a proxy server, and whether or not they |
| who are out to access your private information. | | | | make the original IP address available. Except for |
| However, an even more foolproof way to | | | | transparent proxies, all browser proxy servers |
| protect your security and privacy online is to | | | | hide IP address of a computer. |
| conceal your IP address while surfing. To have a | | | | The second type of proxy server is the |
| peace of mind while using the Internet, you need | | | | website-based proxy. Web proxies provide you |
| to know how to hide IP address. | | | | with a form where you type in the URL of the |
| Every computer uses a unique identity when | | | | site you want to view anonymously, meaning |
| exchanging information with other computers on | | | | your IP address won't be tracked. Once you send |
| the Internet. A computer is identified through its | | | | the form, the web proxy you use requests |
| unique IP (Internet protocol) address. Every time | | | | another server to send the Web page that you |
| you browse the Internet, the server with which | | | | wish to view. The web proxy does not identify |
| you communicate tracks your computer's IP | | | | itself as a proxy server and does not send your |
| address. If you hide your IP address, you mask | | | | IP address when making a request for the web |
| the identity of your computer, making it harder | | | | page. |
| for strangers to gain access to your personal | | | | Anonymity is the biggest advantage of using |
| information. Also, hiding your IP address can help | | | | proxy servers to hide your IP address. However, |
| make your computer's identity anonymous on the | | | | just because you are using a proxy server |
| Internet. | | | | doesn't mean you are totally free from risks. If |
| There are free methods you can use to hide a | | | | you use the wrong one, then you just have a |
| computer's IP address. The most commonly used | | | | false sense of online security. You should be |
| hide IP address free method is using a proxy | | | | aware that there are some malicious proxies that |
| server, which is a remote computer networking | | | | keep a record of all data sent to a server, such |
| service that enables one network (e.g. your | | | | as usernames and passwords, that are not |
| system) to connect indirectly to other networks | | | | encrypted. |
| (e.g. websites). | | | | To prevent falling prey to malicious proxies, you |
| You have various options when it comes to using | | | | must choose a trusted proxy server with a |
| proxy servers to hide your IP address. One of | | | | clear-cut privacy policy. Also, make sure that all |
| the proxy server types is the browser-configured | | | | information you submit through the proxy server |
| proxy server. This stand-alone proxy server | | | | is encrypted properly. In general, you should |
| enables you to configure your browser so that | | | | always check that there is an SSL connection |
| you can direct its traffic through a server that | | | | (you'll see https:// in your browser address bar) |
| communicates with other servers on your behalf. | | | | before submitted sensitive data. |
| Browser proxies come in a variety of types: | | | | |