Proxy servers hide identities online and provide security. There are two types: forward and reverse proxies. Forward proxies are common and found online as open proxies. They filter requests and access website content servers. Reverse proxies restrict network access to a website or server.
Proxy servers are servers that hide a person’s identity online or provide a high level of security to the computer using the server. There are two main types of proxies: forward proxies and reverse proxies. Forward proxies are the most common and are found online as open proxies. They forward a request from the originating computer to a website and then access a website’s content server for information. A forward proxy is able to access more websites than a reverse proxy.
A proxy, whether it is a forward or reverse proxy, is a type of network server. When someone accesses the Internet, it is usually from a computer and the computer accesses a website. When a proxy is used, the request is filtered through a proxy. It is used to mask the user’s identity or to block certain people from accessing the network.
In a forward proxy configuration, a request comes from a computer in the form of a user attempting to access a website. This request is filtered through the forward proxy and then passes through a firewall. The firewall ensures that the request is legitimate or from a real user and not from a malicious program. If the request is real, the proxy will push it forward. If not, the request is rejected.
Using the forward proxy identity, the user connects to the Internet and then to a website. After getting information from the website’s content server, the process reverses so that the information goes back to the original computer that made the request. A forward proxy is created to forward traffic from one server to the next.
An open proxy is a proxy that anyone can access. In this regard, most of the proxies found online are open proxies that are used to mask a person’s identity online or to prevent websites from obtaining personal information about the user. Open proxies are, most of the time, forward proxies, because they forward the traffic from the open proxy to a specific website.
While forward proxies are made to make Internet browsing anonymous, a reverse proxy is the complete opposite. A reverse proxy is created to restrict network access to a website or server. The request starts from a content server and then goes to a reverse proxy server. If the firewall allows the user access, the proxy will send the information to the user’s computer. Otherwise, the information is denied to the computer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
