Using Anonymous Web Proxies To Hide Your Ip Address

Welcome to my first installment of a number of articles I will be writing on Internet security and staying safe online.

I won't be covering the very basics, like making sure you have Anti-virus software, but I will talk about special browser plugins, firewalls, proxy servers, sandbox machines, onion routing and plenty of other interesting, helpful and exciting things you can do to stay safe and learn about.

Nowadays there is a lot to worry about on the internet. Devious types can easily intercept your communications and trace your connection back to you for all sorts of things from stealing bank details, to installing malware or finding out what town or even street you live on!

Internet security software has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years but sometimes when you want a little extra anonymity it can pay to use a proxy service.

A proxy is, in it's simplest terms a relay, in 'in between' computer, you make your request for web pages to the proxy, it fetches them and sends the contents back. As far as the other end is concerned they think it is the proxy connecting.

Proxies can be used to hide your tracks but can also be used to filter internet traffic, or even to speed up browsing, these are known as 'transparent proxies' and 'caching proxies' and I will discuss them in another article. for now we are concerned with anonymous proxies.

If you access the Internet at work, or at the library it is likely you have used a proxy without even realizing it.

Every device connected to the internet has an IP address, a unique identifier, it is not normally hidden and is very easy to obtain. You can see you IP address by visiting sites like whatismyip, other information can also be extracted, such as what browser and operating system you are using, for example if you visit hamish.notdot.org you should see not only your IP address, but the refering page (the one you came from) and a string of text that identifies your browser and operating system.

Anonymous proxies can keep you hidden from hackers and logs. There are many available if you search Google, but two of my favourite are the "NotDot Proxifier" and "hide my ass" both of which are free. A proxy isn't necessary, but it is sometimes convenient. If you want to visit a site without giving away your IP, or if you are slightly suspicious of a link you have been given it cold be worth using one.

The other handy thing about using an online web proxy service is that you might be able to use them to access sites that have been blocked by your company, for example, lots of offices now won't let you access Facebook, YouTube or Myspace at work, but with an online web proxy you often can!

Remember, the best way to stay safe online is to use common sense, if something seems suspicious then don't click on it!

by: Matt Atkinson

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