Category Archives: Proxy Servers

Filtering Web Traffic Through Proxy Servers

By Proxy Servers, Web Filtering,

The best way to monitor and filter the kind of web traffic that is going into your IT environment is through the use of proxy server. There are two distinct ways of filtering web traffic using proxy servers which include explicit and transparent web proxy.

What is a proxy server?

A proxy server is a gateway between the internet and the user. By acting as an intermediary between the end user and the browser, proxy servers help to provide varying levels of security, privacy and functionality. For a computer that is using a proxy server, whenever you request an address then it will go through the proxy server first and when the request comes back it will go through the same proxy server before it gets to you. The proxy server acts as a firewall and web filter where it keeps the internal network protected by providing a high level of security.

Mechanism of operation

Every computer that has access to the internet has its own unique internet protocol otherwise known as IP address. You can think of the IP address as your street address where the post office will deliver your mail. The internet operates in a similar manner where it identifies your internet usage in terms of IP address.

A proxy server on the other hand is a computer on the internet that is known by your computer. Any request you send on the web will be directed to the proxy server then the proxy server will send the request on your behalf. Incoming data as well goes through the proxy server before it gets to you. The proxy server can encrypt your IP address and the data that is being transmitted to ensure privacy and protection.

Explicit web proxy

Explicit web proxy entails the IT admin configuring all clients that need to be filtered so that they can use a particular proxy. This is achieved through configuring the internet options of all the computers in the network keeping in mind the varying operating systems that are used across the platform. The IT admin will ensure that there are no other ways to access the internet other than through the proxy server and also ensure that users do not get the privilege to change their internet options.

Explicit web proxy does a great job for web filtering in controlled environments. However, maintaining such a process in the long term is very difficult and time consuming. There are limitations with using this kind of proxy servers like mobile support devices is limited. Only the IT admin can deliver the proxy setting for corporate WiFi.

Transparent web proxy

Transparent proxies function in a very similar manner as the explicit proxies only that they do not need to be configured by an IT admin and doesn’t require every client to pass through the proxy server. This kind of technology can be used on an internet gateway where the IT admin will route web traffic through the proxy server. The function of the proxy server would be to look at the network traffic. Identify the exact http(s) and then without the clients knowledge reply through the proxy server.

There are tremendous benefits with using transparency proxy server in that the web traffic will always be filtered regardless of what the end users do with their machines. It is very cost effective as it reduces the need of having an IT department to monitor internet usage and options. The only limitation with transparency proxy server is authentication. Since the users are left in the dark, browser and web applications will not know that they need to authenticate.

Why use proxy server

There are a lot of reasons why you should use a proxy server. One of the reasons is to control the internet usage of children and employees. Most organizations do not want you to look at certain websites or applications during working hours hence can use a web filter to create those limits. It also comes in handy for parental control against explicit web pages. A good proxy server can also be used to save on bandwidth and improve internet speed in an organization. In addition, privacy and improved security is the primary goal of using proxy servers.

What is a Proxy?

By Internet Privacy, Proxy Servers, Web Security,
what is a proxy?

A proxy is a server which is known to be a software system on which a computer is running that acts as an intermediate between the endpoint devices. For example, you can let it be the way like a computer and a server by the use of which climb auto user is requesting for the for service. There is no need for you to have a proxy server available alternatively with you. The reason being a proxy server is available in the same device. If it is available on the same device and it can act as a Firewall server or if it is available on the other device it will request through the firewall.

There are certain advantages of using a proxy server and the same is the cache that is present in it, can serve all the users. On the internet, if more than one site is requested then also it can be available in the proxy cache. There is an advantage of it as it improves the response time for the user. Interactions of the proxy can blog and these are grown out to be helpful in troubleshooting.

Workings of a proxy server:

At the very first the proxy must receive a request from the server when the request is received it looks on the previous pages for the local cache. If the same is found in any of the previously visited pages then without forwarding the request to the internet the result will appear in no time. In case the same is not available then The Cache will act as a client on the behalf of the user and uses the IP address to get the result to appear on the internet by reaching out with the servers.

When the same has been returned to the page the proxy server combines the whole of the data to the original request and then forward it to the user.

When it comes to know about the uses of the proxy servers they are used in both ways legally and for illegal purposes as well. When you are having enterprise then you are having the proxy server to maintain the security administrative control and for some catering services as well. And when it comes to the personal uses of a person then the proxy servers are used to let you all the surfing private without creating any for the problem to you. So if you want to discreetly browse localsexfinder or craigslist personals you can do that without a problem.

Nowadays it has been seen that proxy servers are also used to know about the traffic that has been generated over the website and also help to know whether the same is working in use privacy or not.

For the uses the service of proxy is invisible. All the requested that have been done by the user are appear on the internet just by the address. If you are looking forward to knowing about the IP address of the proxy server of the same then you must get associated with certain protocols.