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“Proxy Server” is a term often thrown around by the computer elite, leaving the rest of us to play along as if we know. Broken down to the simplest terms, a proxy server is a middle man, a go between that will get us what we want from a different server. One thing that people sometimes assume about proxy servers is that they are actual servers- but you know what they say about assuming… Anyways, a proxy server is instead a computer system or application that will send a request to an actual server to retrieve information, and will subsequently pass this information back to the computer that requested it.

There are many functions of proxy servers that make them an invaluable feature to us. Proxy servers are what allow us to filter the web material that comes into our homes, by only passing on what we deem acceptable, and blocking the rest. Proxy servers are also how schools and businesses enforce acceptable use policies, by a method like the one above, in addition to sometimes recording all of the transferred information, as the information must first pass through the proxy before being sent off. Also, certain proxy servers can hide your computer’s identity when you are requesting information, but you have to be careful to use a trusted proxy that does not sell information, as this will leave you exactly where you started. By understanding the basic functions of proxy server, you can better learn to use them to your advantage.

Some of the most popular proxies today are Myspace Proxy, Facebook Proxy, Bebo Proxy, Youtube proxy, Friendster proxy, and many more.