Proxy firewalls are categorized based on anonymity, protocol type, and identification method. Common protocols include DNS, HTTP, and Telnet. Proxies protect user identity and computer from attacks, but are not infallible. Transparent and non-transparent proxies offer different levels of anonymity. Proxies can also be used to monitor web traffic and prevent server overload or block unwanted traffic.
Proxy firewalls, also known as proxy servers, are divided into several categories, depending on how they work. The characteristics that govern proxy firewall categories include the level of anonymity of the firewall, its protocol type or proxy agent type, and how the proxy identifies itself to those requesting its information. Proxy firewalls can also be classified based on their characteristics, which can change the purpose for which a firewall is used.
There are many types of proxy firewall agents, but common protocols include Domain Name Service (DNS), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and Telnet. These protocols are called application layer protocols, which are used in computer networks to help two computers in different locations connect to each other remotely. Different types of application protocols are used to perform different types of connection tasks on a network.
A proxy firewall is a server used as an intermediary between a user and a direct Internet connection. Proxy firewall settings are often used to hide the identity of the user accessing the Internet and to protect the user’s computer from attacks sent from the Internet. A user who accesses the Internet using a proxy server to protect his computer and hide his identity should know that a proxy is not infallible. Even with a proxy, privacy and security can be compromised. Advanced hackers can use techniques to bypass the protection offered by proxy servers to gain information and attack your computer.
Transparent proxies and non-transparent proxies are two types of proxy firewalls that are categorized based on the anonymity they offer to the user. A transparent proxy offers protection against Internet attacks, but is less anonymous than a non-transparent proxy firewall. More anonymous than a transparent firewall, a non-transparent proxy firewall offers additional protections that alter proxy information or response patterns to prevent others from learning information about the user’s computer behind the proxy.
In addition to privacy and protection against attacks, proxy servers can also be used to monitor web traffic traveling to and from a busy server. When a network has many users connecting to it, the servers serving that network can experience overload if the network traffic exceeds what any single server can handle. A proxy network can help prevent servers from crashing by controlling traffic to them.
Firewalls built to keep servers afloat work by distributing server requests evenly. This can prevent heavy traffic from overloading and crashing a web server. Another use for this type of proxy is to block unwanted web traffic, such as when an employer blocks social networking sites within the workplace network. Since unwanted server traffic caused by casual browsing uses up valuable web resources, this feature can also help improve network stability.
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