How to Use Proxies

Using a proxy server to connect to the Internet allows you to be connected to the web through your own browser while not displaying any of your personal IP address information.

Here are the steps for setting up your system to run on a proxy server:

• In order to connect through a proxy server, your computer must have its own stable Internet connection.
• The next step is to find a working proxy server. You can do this by using websites such as stayinvisible.com or atomintersoft.com
• Select an IP addess and port from the list provided by the proxy server.
• Test the proxy you've selected from the list by entering the proxy’s IP address in the test field at checkyourproxy.com.

Once you know your proxy works, you can make changes on your computer to connect to the Internet using the proxy. To do this:

• Open your Internet options menu and manage your connections by enabling the proxy server. In Internet Explorer you will go into the LAN settings and click “Use a proxy server for your LAN” field, enter your proxy IP address and port information and disable the “Bypass proxy server for local addresses” field. If you are using Firefox, you will click "Manual proxy configuration", enter your proxy IP address and port information and click "Use the proxy server for all protocols."
• In the “Advanced” menu, after you ensure that the proxy address is placed in the top three fields, disable the “Use same proxy for all protocols” field and you’ll be connected by proxy.

Reasons to Use a Proxy

Any time that you access a website through your computer, the website you are accessing is able to view the identification address that your computer has been assigned. The website is also able to view other information such as the operating system you use, the city and state you live in, and the site you visited previously.

Connecting through a proxy server acts as an informational buffer between your computer and the website that you visit.

So, now you know both how and why to use proxy servers.