Tech 101:



What is a web proxy?

In layman's terms a web proxy is an application program or a computer system that links and filters traffic to the intended inquirers destination. Web proxies are often used to secure certain information and keep individuals from accessing confidential, private or irrelevant information.

The uses for a web proxy keep other network computer attached anonymous, and improve destination access through caches.

What are the benefits of a web proxy to an ISP?

The overall intention of a web proxy to a customer is to improve the speed for customers and/or users. With the use of both a web proxy and caches, the caches actually assist the ISP to help reduce bandwidth. The reduction in bandwidth actually helps to reduce the overall cost, too.

What are the theoretical benefits of using a web proxy to users?

If you understand the nature of a web proxy, it seems safe to assume that it would be faster to retrieve page content. This understanding or theory holds true under two main assumptions:

- The page is static (non-data, and stays primarily unchanged). Many static pages tend to end in .htm or .html

- The proxy server is operation correctly and full functional, with appropriate bandwidth and hardware

What are the actual benefits of using a web proxy to users?

Having theoretical benefits automatically raises a red flag that all is not as simple as stated.

Breaking Down the Assumptions

- When the World Wide Web first began most websites were static. Things only changed if and when the Webmaster manually changed the graphic or content. Now caches help to keep web proxies up to date, but one wrong incorrect bit of information can create a stir of havoc.

- Proxies are not independent in the sense that they must always have functioning hardware and resources to function. Overloads could cause a downfall in information.

Work Around the Problems

- Use a different, working web proxy server. Have the traffic redirected and delivered to the working proxy.

- Trick the previously cached information to requesting what it believes to be ‘fresh' content. Do this by adding a ‘?' following a web address (www.abcdefg.com?…) follow with the re-direct and the web proxy server believes it to be a new page, even though are re-directing to an existing page.

Not only does using a web proxy allow you to connect to websites which are restricted but it also allows you to bypass the firewall. This might seem as a disadvantage but there are numerous websites which might be blocked by your server but are useful to you.

The benefits of using a web proxy can save both time and money, but does require being proactive and keeping a smooth running website through hardware and programming.