cool proxy In computer networks, a proxy server is a server (a computer system or an application) that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients
seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy
server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page,
or other resource available from a different server and the proxy server
evaluates the request as a way to simplify and control its complexity.
Today, most proxies are web proxies, facilitating access to content on the World Wide Web.
Uses
A cool proxy server has a variety of potential purposes, including:- To keep machines behind it anonymous, mainly for security.[1]
- To speed up access to resources (using caching). Web proxies are commonly used to cache web pages from a web server.[2]
- To prevent downloading the same content multiple times (and save bandwidth).
- To log / audit usage, e.g. to provide company employee Internet usage reporting.
- To scan transmitted content for malware before delivery.
- To scan outbound content, e.g., for data loss prevention.
- Access enhancement/restriction
- To apply access policy to network services or content, e.g. to block undesired sites.
- To access sites prohibited or filtered by your ISP or institution.
- To bypass security / parental controls.
- To circumvent Internet filtering to access content otherwise blocked by governments.[3]
- To allow a web site to make web requests to externally hosted resources (e.g. images, music files, etc.) when cross-domain restrictions prohibit the web site from linking directly to the outside domains.
- To allow the browser to make web requests to externally hosted content on behalf of a website when cross-domain restrictions (in place to protect websites from the likes of data theft) prohibit the browser from directly accessing the outside domains.
