Tutorials: Proxy Settings

"If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong."

What is a proxy

A proxy server is a buffer between your computer and the webpage or server your trying to access. The data you request goes to the proxy server which in turn sends the information to you. There are three main types of proxy servers. Transparent, Anonymous, and High anonymity proxies.

-Transparent - Transparent proxies improve the quality of service for you by delivering content at higher bandwidth and reducing transmission latency.

-Anonymous - This type of proxy server doesn't send your IP or any variables to the server your trying to connect to, but it does reveal to the server that you are using a proxy.

-High Anonymity - This type of proxy server, like the anonymous proxy, doesn't send your IP or any variables to the server nor does it say that you are using a proxy.

Why is it important to use a proxy

If your interested in being totally anonymous on the web, your first step is to get a proxy, because your IP address is unique to you, just like your fingerprints, and if someone finds your IP on their site, after its been hacked, then your in for some trouble. A personal story: I was doing something not so legal at my school, and my luck, I get ratted out, and the only reason I got caught, is they had my IP address on file, and they just parsed their logs, looking for my IP, and bingo, I was caught. If only I had been using a proxy, that would not of happened, so lesson learned, I'll be using a proxy from now on. Internet anonymity is next to godliness, in this business.

Caution!

Just because you are accessing the internet behind a proxy server does not meen
that you are anonymous or secure.

Browse with a proxy and go to whatismyip.com - not my home IP, I'm safe, right?
No! In addition to having to worry whether a particular proxy is actually owned
by federal agents to catch hackers, or whether the fact the proxy server logs
all requests and will respond to a court order to hand over logs, most public
proxy servers actually send your source IP address to the web server for logging
purposes. X_Forwarded_For, which will sent your home IP to the server to be
logged away!

Take a look yourself. Start netcat to listen on a port using a command similar
to nc -l -v -p 8081, turn on a proxy, and try going to 123.456.789.0:8081 in
your web browser replacing it with your home IP address. Assuming you aren't
behind a router or firewall, you should see a complete dump of HTTP headers that
is supplied by your browser as well as the proxy server. Notice that pesty
X_Forwarded_For header that contains your home ip? If so, better find another
proxy...

Getting Started
To get started you will need to get a proxy, or a list of proxies from somewhere. Some great proxy lists can be found in the "Resources" section of the site. When you get a proxy that works, follow the directions for your browser to set up the proxy.

-Opera

1. From the tools menu, select preferences.
2. Along the top, select the "advanced" tab.
3. Along the left, select the "Network" option.
4. Click the Proxy Servers button.
5. Check the box next to the "HTTP" line
6. Enter the IP and Port in their respective boxes.
7. Click "Ok".

-Internet Explorer

1. From the tools menu select Internet Options.
2. Click on the "Connections" tab.
3. If you use Dial-Up or a VPN click the "settings" tab for Dial-up and VPN.
4. If you use a LAN then click on the "settings" button for LAN.
5. Check the box next to "Use a proxy server for this connection".
6. Enter the IP and Port number in their respective boxes.
7. If nessesary, enable "bypass proxy server for local addresses".
8. Click "OK".

-Netscape

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. Click the General category (if not already displayed).
3. Click the Connection Settings button.
4. On the Connection Settings window, you can specify your proxy settings either by entering the information directly in the Manual proxy configuration fields, or by entering a URL that includes your proxy information.
5. Click OK on the Connection Settings window.
6. Click OK on the General panel.

-Firefox

1. From the tools menu, select preferences(options).
2. Make sure your tab is set to General
3. Click the "Connections Settings" button
4. Check the box that says "Manual Proxy Configuration"
5. Enter the IP and Port number in the designated slot
6. Click "Ok"

(Note: if your browser is not found here. google for: "YourBrowserName's faq", or "Setting up a proxy in YourBrowserName")

Resources

Proxy Lists proxylist.net proxy4free.com samair.ru/proxy

Tools Multi Proxy Stealther

Scripts (none)

Proxy Checker ipid.shat.net hacktivist.net

Die Dulci Fruere