A proxy is a web page that provides Internet users with the ability to browse websites that a content filter, such as WebSense or SmartFilter, may block. By using the proxy as the portal to the blocked site, it is possible to circumvent the work of whatever content filter is in place. At the same time, the proxy site also helps to mask the visit to the site, so that there is less evidence that the content filter was not successful in preventing the visit.
How does a Proxy Work?
Essentially, the proxy provides the same ability to browse the Internet as any other web browser. A proxy site allows the user to key in a specific web address and be directed to that specific page in a window. This accomplishes two things. First, the window is coded as part of the proxy site address and not the actual website the user is visiting. Second, any information cached in the temporary Internet files will appear to be information related to the proxy site, not the blocked web site.
Why Use a Proxy?
One of the legitimate proxy site uses is to get around blocked content that may contain one or two words that the filter has identified as inappropriate for viewing. Many companies use filters to limit their employees’ ability to spend time looking at web pages that are not related to job functions in some manner. This is usually accomplished with the use of key words that are programmed into the filter, which in turn blocks any page or site with those words present. While this blocks access to a number of sites that have nothing to do with work, they can also inhibit access to pages and glossaries that are designed to be helpful.
When this is the case, an employee may choose to use a proxy site to get around the block and be able to get to a page that he or she legitimately needs to view in order to accomplish a work related task. Since using a proxy site does not take much longer than using a browser window, it is much faster than calling technical support and trying to get authorization to remove a given site from the filter list.
Many totalitarian nations also use content filters to block their residents from finding information on the world wide web that the regime in power may not approve of. Residents of those nations can use proxy sites to access news and information from the free world.
Another advantage of using the proxy site is that the user’s IP address is not logged. This helps to ensure the privacy and anonymity of Internet users.
Finding a Proxy
If looking for a proxy, please visit our proxy directory.
Proxy Software
The two most popular pieces of proxy software on the Internet are PHPoxy and CGIProxy.
PHProxy
PHProxy is a lot more customizable and offers a lot more than CGIProxy, but the anonymity is not as good.
Here are the available options while using PHProxy:
- Includes a mini URL form on every HTML page
- Remove client-side scripting (i.e. JavaScript)
- Accept HTTP cookies
- Show images
- Show referring website in HTTP headers
- Use rotate13 encoding on the URL
- Use base64 encoding on the URL
- Strip meta HTML tags
- Strip Website title
- Store cookies for the current session only
- Open URL in a new window
Some PHProxy instances may have been customized after the installation. These are just the default options. This is most probably all that one would need but by editing some of these abilities (e.g. enabling Client-Side Scripting), anonymity will be reduced and the original IP address will be viewable.
CGIProxy
CGIProxy is not quite as customizable, but offers full anonymity with Client-Side Scripting. This is a huge advantage.
Here are the available options while using CGIProxy:
- No cookies
- No scripts
- No ads
- No referrer
- Show current form
This is not anywhere near as large as PHProxy’s list, but it is good to know that the user is going to be completely safe and his/her IP is going to be completely hidden.
none of dem work , ther r only like 4 websites tht aren’t bloked, help!
My school blocked all of the proxy sites! Now what do I do?
Try a VPN if you can. ProXPN seems like a good easy option. You just have to download it, register and connect. Your connection is then routed through a different computer, much like a proxy, so you might be able to access blocked sites.
If they catch people getting such advice from this site though they might block this entire site too.