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What is a Proxy Server?

Learn how to use proxies effectively and unlock new online possibilities. Webopedia is an online information technology and computer science resource for IT professionals, students, and educators. Webopedia focuses on connecting researchers with IT resources that are most helpful for them. Webopedia resources cover technology definitions, educational what features does a proxy offer guides, and software reviews that are accessible to all researchers regardless of technical background. Without a web proxy, your computer would simply connect directly to the internet to access the website and display it for you. While concealing its actual identity, the proxy presents itself to a website as a different IP address.

definition of internet proxy

Now that you have an idea about why organizations and individuals use a proxy server, take a look at the risks below. There are several reasons organizations and individuals use a proxy server. FortiProxy delivers broad protection and visibility to every network segment, device, and appliance, whether deployed virtually, in the cloud, or on-premises.

Frequently Asked Questions: Proxy Servers

What is and is not allowed is determined by your organization’s IT policy. If social media sites are restricted, then, unfortunately, that means you’ll have to wait until you get home to check your Facebook. In this article, we dig a little deeper to uncover why you need to know what a web proxy can do for your network.

Every device on a computer network has an internet protocol (IP) address that specifically identifies the device. Similarly, the proxy server is a networked computer with a unique IP address. This allows the proxy server to serve as a bridge between users and the internet.

Rotating Proxy

But if you reroute your web traffic through an intermediary (proxy) server, access to the site may be restored. In this article, we’ll define proxy servers, show you how they work, and explain how proxies and VPNs can protect you while you browse the web. Highly anonymous proxies hide even the fact that they are being used by clients and present a non-proxy public IP address. So not only do they hide the IP address of the client using them, they also allow access to sites that might block proxy servers. Fortinet empowers businesses to protect users against cyberattacks and malicious activity through FortiProxy, an enterprise-grade, secure web proxy.

definition of internet proxy

Learn more about the Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, how it works, how secure it is, and more. Read how Proofpoint customers around the globe solve their most pressing cybersecurity challenges. Get the latest cybersecurity insights in your hands – featuring valuable knowledge from our own industry experts. Keep up with the latest news and happenings in the ever‑evolving cybersecurity landscape. Help your employees identify, resist and report attacks before the damage is done. Protect your people from email and cloud threats with an intelligent and holistic approach.