| A proxy is someone or something that acts on behalf | | | | filters, and tunnel through to blocked pages. |
| of, or as an intermediary for another. In the IT world, a | | | | Proxy sites can also be used for content filtering. This |
| proxy website is a site that acts as an intermediary | | | | provides control over the content that can be relayed |
| for requests from users who are seeking access to | | | | through the proxy, and is used by many institutional |
| other sites. The proxy site allows users to browse | | | | networks to enforce acceptable internet usage policy; |
| sites even when access is blocked by their parent | | | | for instance, in schools and public libraries, content |
| network. | | | | filtering is used to block access to pornographic sites. |
| Proxy sites allow you to bypass your own Internet | | | | Because the client's IP address is not visible to the |
| Service Provider (ISP) through the unique method of | | | | target server, and no history of accessing the target |
| typing the desired site's URL in your browser. Doing | | | | site is left on the computer being used by the client, |
| this takes you first to the proxy site, from which your | | | | proxies are popular for people who want to browse |
| request is then routed to the originally desired site. | | | | sites without leaving traces of having done so. To a |
| Since your actual IP address is not being logged, there | | | | degree, this is true, except that the proxy server will |
| is not only no record of your having been on the site, | | | | have a record of your request and the site to which it |
| there is no way you can be tracked from the site | | | | was directed; so there is not 100% anonymity. |
| you've visited. Proxies are used to access popular | | | | Proxy websites are useful when public computers |
| social networking sites like MySpace, that are often | | | | must be used for private matters, such as bill paying. |
| blocked by most business or government computer | | | | The proxy site stores any cookies that are generated |
| networks. Some government organizations have taken | | | | from your web session, and then deletes them when |
| it a step further, and now block proxy sites, or using | | | | you log off. This offers an added degree of protection |
| content filters, any site that has 'proxy site' in its name. | | | | from identity theft from personal data left on public |
| Proxies use tunneling proxy servers to bypass content | | | | computers. |