Proxy Technology 101: What Is It and How to Hide Your IP Address with It

Hide IP Address

Sometimes did you think how some individuals can get to the websites which they do not have a right to view due to national blocking restrictions in their country or city? For example, how certain individuals can surf the web anonymously and with utmost privacy, hiding their identity and location. The answer is proxy technology. Proxy is simply another term used for technologies such as internet connection through an intermediary server which serves as a bridge between your device and the site you intend to browse upon.

Using a proxy server conceals your real IP address (identifies your device and where from you are connected to the internet), substituting it with the proxy server's own IP address. By doing this you will be able to access websites which would otherwise be unavailable providing you with better online security and speed. For enhanced options, consider exploring Buy IPv6 & IPv4 Proxies.

This article explains what proxy tech is, how it functions, and why you should deploy it. We shall also illustrate ways of hiding your IP through the use of proxy technologies and guide on the selection of appropriate proxy services that fit your requirements. It is a must read for all people who have some idea on Internet technology and cyber security whether a starter or a specialist.

What is an IP address and why you should hide it

Every computer connected to the internet has a special number called an IP address which indicates where the machine and its owner are located on the network. It is similar to that of a post box address that helps in communicating with you and sending any information to you from other machines, devices or any website. In this connection, you should view your IP number as an electronic signature and trace of your internet presence and activities.

On another note, this means exposing your IP address to third parties, which may present some threats to the security and privacy of your internet. This is exemplified by how hackers may target you using your IP address and send phishing messages, malware attachments or ransomeware files thereby compromising your data and devices. Your IP address could be exploited by advertisers enabling them to monitor what you do or like as well as showing you annoying advertisements that may follow you after you leave a particular site. Your government may also track down your IP address and monitor what you do online. They may decide to ban you from some sites, content or information they consider unlawful.

In that case, masking your IP address may bring a few benefits into play. You can conceal your IP address in order to prevent collection of your private data like name, email, location, internet use history amongst others by the third parties without seeking for your permission.j❒ Besides, you evade digital trail as well as filtering and thus can surf any website from anywhere disregarding of local limitations. Additionally, you enhance your internet performance and speed by preventing network congestion and throttling. You may find it very liberating to conceal your IP address since you get better control of things and improved safety online.

How to hide your IP address with proxy technology

A proxy server is any computer or software system that serves as an intermediate entity between your device and the internet. When you utilize a proxy server, your device will send its requests to the proxy server which then transmits them to the target website or server. Your device will also send the requests to the proxy server. After that, the proxy server will retrieve the responses from your website's server/destination. The proxy server functions as a bridge between your device and the internet and disguises your device's direct access to the internet in this manner.

In other words, a proxy server can mask your IP address and give itself as IP addresses instead. The destination website or server will see the IP address of the proxy server and not that of your device when you are using a proxy server. In this manner, your name and actual location will not be apparent in the net, and it will seem like you are surfing the web from another state or nation. Say, for example, you are on a proxy server in the U.S. while you reside in Taipei, the destination website/server will think you are located in the U.S. even though you have a connection from Taiwan through a proxy server.

Hiding your IP address using various browsers：

Connecting to a proxy server is the only way to hide your IP using proxy technology. You can find this in different ways depending on your device or web browser. Here are some examples and guides of how to use proxy technology to hide your IP address on different browsers and devices:

Microsoft Edge

On Microsoft Edge, you can use the following steps to configure a proxy server:

  1. Click on the three dots icon at the top right corner of the browser window, and select Settings.
  2. Click on Network & Internet on the left sidebar, and then click on Proxy.
  3. Under Manual proxy setup, turn on Use a proxy server.
  4. Enter the IP address and port number of the proxy server in the Address and Port fields, respectively.
  5. Optionally, you can enter the websites that you don't want to use the proxy server for in the Use the proxy server except for addresses that start with the following entries field, separated by semicolons.
  6. Click on Save to apply the changes.

Google Chrome

On Google Chrome, you can use the following steps to configure a proxy server:

  1. Click on the three dots icon at the top right corner of the browser window, and select Settings.
  2. Click on Advanced at the bottom of the page, and then click on System.
  3. Click on Open your computer's proxy settings.
  4. This will open the proxy settings of your operating system, which may vary depending on your OS. For example, on Windows 10, you can follow the same steps as Microsoft Edge to configure a proxy server. On Mac OS, you can follow the steps below:
  • Click on the Apple menu, and select System Preferences.
  • Click on Network.
  • Select the network connection that you are using, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and click on Advanced.
  • Click on the Proxies tab.
  • Check the box next to the type of proxy server that you want to use, such as Web Proxy (HTTP) or Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS), and enter the IP address and port number of the proxy server in the corresponding fields.
  • Optionally, you can enter the websites that you don't want to use the proxy server for in the Bypass proxy settings for these Hosts & Domains field, separated by commas.
  • Click on OK and then Apply to save the changes.

Firefox

On Firefox, you can use the following steps to configure a proxy server:

  1. Click on the three horizontal bars icon at the top right corner of the browser window, and select Options.
  2. Click on General on the left sidebar, and scroll down to the Network Settings section.
  3. Click on the Settings button next to Configure how Firefox connects to the internet.
  4. Under Configure Proxy Access to the Internet, select Manual proxy configuration.
  5. Enter the IP address and port number of the proxy server in the corresponding fields, depending on the type of proxy server that you want to use, such as HTTP Proxy or SSL Proxy.
  6. Optionally, you can enter the websites that you don't want to use the proxy server for in the No Proxy for field, separated by commas.
  7. Click on OK to save the changes.

Different types of proxy servers

There are different types of proxy servers, such as HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS, etc., that have different features and functions. Here are some of the main differences and recommendations for choosing the best proxy server for your needs:

HTTP proxy servers

HTTP proxy servers are the most common and basic type of proxy servers, that can handle web requests using the HTTP protocol. They can help you access blocked or restricted websites, and improve your internet speed and performance. However, they are not very secure, as they do not encrypt your data or traffic, and can expose your IP address to the destination website or server. Therefore, HTTP proxy servers are suitable for simple and non-sensitive tasks, such as browsing the web or streaming videos.

HTTPS proxy servers

HTTPS proxy servers are similar to HTTP proxy servers, but they can handle web requests using the HTTPS protocol, which is more secure and encrypted. They can help you access blocked or restricted websites, and protect your data and traffic from being intercepted or tampered with by third parties. However, they are slower than HTTP proxy servers, as they have to encrypt and decrypt your data and traffic, and they can still expose your IP address to the destination website or server. Therefore, HTTPS proxy servers are suitable for more sensitive and secure tasks, such as online shopping or banking.

SOCKS proxy servers

SOCKS proxy servers are more advanced and versatile than HTTP or HTTPS proxy servers, as they can handle any type of data or traffic, not just web requests. They can help you access blocked or restricted websites, and support various protocols and applications, such as FTP, SMTP, POP3, etc. However, they are not very secure, as they do not encrypt your data or traffic, and they can expose your IP address to the destination website or server. Therefore, SOCKS proxy servers are suitable for more complex and diverse tasks, such as gaming, torrenting, or using VoIP services.

Your requirements and preferences with respect to the level of security required, speed needed, and functionalities expected dictate the best type of proxy server for you. On most occasions, it is advisable that a user of webs go with HTTPs proxy server since most of them balance on security and performance levels and handle most web requests. Nevertheless, should you be interested in additional security and features, alternative proxy types like SOCKS proxy servers may prove useful, or alternatively, a VPN could be used instead, this being a far much better option compared to a proxy server.

Conclusion

Proxy technology masks our IP address, enabling us to access our desired sites and materials from anywhere in the world even if there are restrictive networks. Another type of technology we employ is proxy, which hides our IP address in order to conceal a personal location online as well as protect online privacy. We need to use a known and safe proxy service, change the proxy server frequently and apply some other security tools. Using proxy technology, we can easily increase our on-line independence and governance.