What Proxy Setting Should I Use? Top 3 Use Cases – FinSMEs
What Proxy Setting Should I Use? Top 3 Use Cases
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Homebusiness tipsWhat Proxy Setting Should I Use? Top 3 Use Cases
Configuring a proxy is an essential step for internet security and privacy. Though some advocate a ‘one size fits all approach to proxy settings, tailoring your proxy to your specific use case can maximize protection and performance.
This article will highlight the three most common proxy uses and the best standard settings for each. While each system and setup is unique, these guidelines will help you get the best experience from your proxy.
The Top Three Proxy Uses and Settings in 2021
The term ‘proxy’ in computing is a general term for any server that acts as an intermediary between a source and the destination computer. A proxy will receive a connection from a client and forward that communication to the intended destination. The proxy will then relay the response from the destination machine back to the client.
Sometimes the proxy will act merely as a relay; other times, the proxy will perform additional functions, such as masking IP addresses or encryption. Here are the three most common proxy uses and settings.
Basic Proxy Setup
The first step in configuring a proxy is to locate your proxy settings. Your device’s proxy configuration screen will vary widely depending on your Operating System and web browser. We’ve included the most common steps here for reference.
Windows 10:
1. Click the Start button, and then click Settings.
2. In the Settings window, click Network & Internet.
3. In the Network & Internet window, select Proxy from the left column.
4. In the resulting screen, scroll down until you see Manual Proxy Setup.
5. From this section, you can configure various proxy settings.
macOS 11:
1. Open System Preferences and click Network.
2. In the Network window, click Advanced.
3. In the resulting screen, select the Proxies tab.
4. From this section, you can choose which proxy types to enable and configure.
Top Proxy Types
Now that you know how to enable a proxy on your device, which should you choose? There are many proxies, each with a different purpose. Check out this list of the most common proxies in use today.
HTTP(S) Proxy
HTTP proxies have been around as long as the internet itself. In recent years, however, their usage has skyrocketed due to raising privacy concerns and increased internet usage in general.
HTTP proxies can have various uses and benefits, ranging from increased speed, better name resolution, and extra privacy. An HTTP proxy can provide superior overall performance than an ISP’s native servers, particularly in specific regions.
One of the most crucial settings when setting up an HTTP proxy is the ports. Incorrect port settings will prevent you from establishing any connection. Typical HTTP ports are 80, 8080, and 465 if you want to use HTTPS.
Your particular port numbers may be different and highly dependent on your ISP, firewall, and router. Your proxy provider should be able to help you configure your devices for use with their proxy.
There are multiple ways to authenticate an HTTP proxy. Some proxies have a strict IP address whitelist, while others require login credentials. Verify the correct authentication settings with your proxy provider during setup.
Unblocker Proxy
Unblockers are a particular type of proxy designed to allow viewing of restricted content. Unblocker proxies gained popularity in recent years, as much of the world was confined, relying on streaming services for entertainment.
The main advantage of an unblocker proxy is accessing entertainment from other regions such as China without restrictions. Unblockers make it appear like you are accessing the content locally instead of your actual location.
Unblocker proxy settings may vary depending on your specific use. If your Unblocker isn’t working, you can try disabling cookies or scripts on the page.
Encrypted Proxies/VPN
As the name implies, these proxies employ a layer of encryption. Encrypted proxies may also mask the source of the user, but it is not a requirement. You will often see encrypted proxies on banking websites, private servers, or corporate networks.
As with Unblockers, settings for encrypted proxies change from server to server, though there are some things to verify.
The most common cause of issues for encrypted proxies is firewalling. Since every firewall handles security differently, you might need to change some firewall settings to get things working.
Many firewalls have an option for TCP/IP filtering and SPI. These settings can cause problems with VPNs and should be disabled if you encounter issues; otherwise, leave them on.
Proxy Use Continues to Grow
As more and more daily activities move into the digital space, the need for fast and secure connections will also grow. Proxies will be an essential tool in the fight against cyber threats.
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How to Find Out What My Proxy Settings Should Be | Techwalla
Choosing correct proxy settings take a bit of concentration, but isn’t difficult.
Generally-speaking, a “proxy server” is a computer (or server) that stands between your computer and your Internet service provider (ISP) “host” computer (or server) when you access the Internet. Proxies are an intermittent (albeit mostly invisible) occurrence over any connection–the only instance you’ll know for sure that you’re using a proxy is when you deliberately employ one to gain access to blocked websites. For example, if you live in China or Iran, you may need a “web proxy” to use Facebook. You should manage your proxy settings according to how you employ proxy servers.
Step 1
Open a “Local Area Network Settings” dialog box. Open “Internet Options” from your “Tools” drop-down menu if you use Internet Explorer or Mozilla and click on the “Connections” tab. If you use Chrome, click on the “Wrench” icon, select “Options, ” open the “Under the Hood” tab and click “Change Proxy Settings. ” In all instances, click the “LAN Settings” button.
Step 2
Check the box next to “Automatically Detect Settings” in the “Automatic Configuration” pane, unless you are a using a “Virtual Private Network” (VPN) that is malfunctioning. In this case, you’ll want to un-check this box if it’s checked–you don’t want your browser to know that you’re attempting to access the Internet through a (faulty) proxy. In any other instance, it’s essential that your computer automatically detect proxies because your Internet connection can pass through them at any time, particularly if your ISP is a large company like Time Warner or Charter.
Step 3
Check the box next to “Use a Proxy Server for Your LAN” in the “Proxy Server” pane if you plan to employ the use of a manual proxy server. You won’t need to concern yourself with this area unless someone has given you an address to type into this box.
Step 4
Click “OK” to exit out of the “LAN Settings” dialog box, then close and re-open your browser so that your new proxy settings take Once your faulty VPN has begun working again, it’s essential that you re-check the “Automatically Detect Settings” box as set forth in Step 2. While it’s important to put your proxy on hold while you regain use of your Internet connection, failure to check this box will prohibit you from surfing using its Internet protocol (IP) address–and accessing any website ordinarily blocked in your area.
How To Check the Proxy Server Settings on Your Computer
If you feel your Internet connection is slower than what it should be or you notice that certain websites get blocked while browsing, it could be because all your Internet traffic is going through a proxy server.
A proxy server is basically just another computer that sits between you and your ISP. It’s usually configured in corporate environments to filter web traffic going to and from employee computers. In this article, I’ll show you how you can check your proxy settings to see if your computer is indeed using a proxy server or not.
In most cases, you won’t actually be able to turn off the proxy server, since it is controlled by an administrator. However, there are times when personal computers accidentally or maliciously get set to use a proxy server.
Check Proxy Settings in Windows
In Windows, most browsers will use the proxy settings that are set on the computer. Each browser has a settings page to adjust proxy settings, but they normally just link to the settings dialog in Windows itself.
In Windows 10, there are two ways to go about changing the settings: via the Settings app or via the traditional Control Panel. I’ll mention both methods here because the Control Panel method is what you’ll need to use for Windows 7, 8 or Windows Vista.
Windows 10 Settings App
Click on Start and then click on the gear icon (Settings) at the far left. In Settings, click on Network & Internet.
In the left-hand pane, click on Proxy at the very bottom.
Here you have all the settings that are related to setting up a proxy in Windows. It’s basically split into two configurations: either Automatic or Manual proxy setup. In 99% of the cases, everything should be set to Off. If anything is turned on, your web traffic could be going through a proxy.
Control Panel
If you’re using an older version of Windows or if you just like the old way, you can edit the same settings via the Control Panel. Note that whichever way you choose to edit the settings, there are only one set of proxy settings in Windows.
Once you open Control Panel, just click on Internet Options.
In the Internet Options dialog, go ahead and click on the Connections tab and then click on LAN settings at the bottom.
Here you will see all the same settings as in the Settings app shown above. Anything you configure here will show up there and vice versa.
Check Proxy Settings in Mac OS X
If you are using a Mac with OS X, then the procedure is similar. You have to change the proxy settings in System Preferences as this is where most browsers check automatically.
Open System Preferences and click on Network. On the left-hand side, make sure to select the connected or active network connection. You can have different proxy settings for each type of network connection.
At the bottom, click on the Advanced button. Click on the Proxies tab and you’ll see a bunch of different protocols you can configure.
For example, if you click on Web Proxy (HTTP), you’ll be able to enter the proxy server IP address, port number, username and password.
Check Proxy Settings in Linux
In Linux, it really depends on what distribution you are running. Mostly, though, it’s going to be some version of KDE or GNOME. For example, in Linux Mint Cinnamon, which is based heavily on GNOME, you would click on the button and then click on System Settings.
Next, you would scroll down to Hardware and then click on Networking.
Finally, if you click on Network Proxy, you can choose from Automatic or Manual.
This is pretty much the same procedure for Ubuntu also, which uses Unity and GNOME. It’ll be different if you are using a different desktop environment. If you have any questions, feel free to comment. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions about what proxy setting should i use
What should be the proxy settings?
You should manage your proxy settings according to how you employ proxy servers.Open a “Local Area Network Settings” dialog box. … Check the box next to “Automatically Detect Settings” in the “Automatic Configuration” pane, unless you are a using a “Virtual Private Network” (VPN) that is malfunctioning.More items…
Should proxy settings be on or off?
It’s basically split into two configurations: either Automatic or Manual proxy setup. In 99% of the cases, everything should be set to Off. If anything is turned on, your web traffic could be going through a proxy.Oct 2, 2017
What is proxy setting?
iOS has a feature that allows you to set up a proxy so that all the network requests from your device are forwarded to a proxy server. This is usually used on business and school networks and can also be used for hiding your IP address or accessing websites that are blocked in your region.Feb 22, 2017