Proxy anonymity levels: why are they important?

Anonymity is probably the most important feature of proxies. Not all proxy types hide your identity, as you may already know. That's why using a proxy server requires you to understand the level of proxy anonymity and take into account your needs. This article will explain the differences in use cases and anonymity across different proxy types. This article is all about Proxy anonymity levels and why they are important.

Definition of proxy server.

What exactly is a proxy server to get started? A proxy is an Internet middleman. A proxy server channels your online requests through itself before connecting to the desired server. The proxy server retrieves the request and returns it to you, but not before sending it through itself once again.

How can proxies make you anonymous online?

Now that we know what proxies are, let's find out how they can hide you. Generally, the process is easy. Whenever you make a request using the HTTP(s) protocol, your target server receives headers with identifying data such as your IP address. Your identity can be hidden by proxies that change these headers. However, the way proxy servers handle this varies.

Proxy anonymity levels

There are three primary proxy anonymity levels and three proxy types that correspond to them: transparent, anonymous (also known as semi-anonymous or obfuscated proxies), and elite (sometimes also called highly anonymous proxies). goes).

Transparent Proxy, Level 3

At least anonymity is offered through transparent proxies (level 3). We probably don't encounter any other type of proxy more often. This is because, unlike other types, end users' devices do not need to be configured for transparent proxies. For authentication reasons, this proxy stands between you and the website you are browsing. This can determine whether to block you, reroute you, or grant you access to the target server.

Common uses of transparent proxies include authentication, traffic monitoring and filtering, and website caching. These proxies do not hide your real IP address or the fact that you are connected through a proxy in the header.

Subsequent headers are added by the transparent proxy:

HTTP_VIA is where the IP address proxy is found.

For your IP address, HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR

The proxy IP address is contained in REMOTE_ADDR.

Anonymous proxy, level 2

Considering that they only offer Level 2 anonymity, anonymous proxies don't really live up to their moniker. They can be helpful if you want to change your IP address or need to make it look like you're connecting from a different region. However, anonymous proxies will not prevent the website from detecting that you are using a proxy to view it. If you are not changing your IP quickly enough, it may result in an IP ban.

The additional headers for a request passing through an unknown proxy are as follows:

HTTP_VIA has a proxy IP address.

The proxy IP address is contained in HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR.

The proxy IP address is contained in REMOTE_ADDR.

Super Elite Proxies, Level 1

The best degree of anonymity is provided by elite representatives, who are supporters of anonymity (level 1). They remove all your identifying information from the HTTP headers and replace your IP with your own. What sets them apart from the rest is that they completely remove the HTTP_VIA and HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR headers, so the destination server never knows you're using a proxy.

Elite Proxy can be used for a wide range of difficult tasks, including web scraping, region-locked content access, sneaker coping, social media administration, and travel pricing aggregation. Specialized proxies are offered by many commercial companies. But beware; for marketing purposes, some of them rename specific proxies to anonymous proxies.

Headers for specific proxies:

The proxy IP address is contained in REMOTE_ADDR.

How to identify unknown proxies

There are situations when you will want to confirm that your proxy IPs provide the required level of anonymity. Many websites exist that can save you the headache of doing it yourself. For example, the proxy DB cross-references your request with a long list of headers that may indicate that you are connecting to a proxy.

Are you looking for an anonymous or highly anonymous proxy that is free?

If you've just looked at proxy costs and decided to look for ways to get them at no charge instead, there are a few things you should keep in mind. It takes a lot of effort and money to obtain premium, anonymous proxy IPs and maintain the proxy infrastructure. To maintain the highest levels of quality, corporations are forced to maintain high costs.

You might be wondering why free proxies are available when they cost so much money to maintain. The answer is simple: the people who supply them benefit in some way or another. This may sometimes be your bandwidth. Sometimes, this could be your password or other personal information. You can read our post on the risks associated with free proxies for more information.

Read more: Benefits to Businesses by Rotating Residential Proxies

Residential Proxy FAQs

A high-anonymity proxy: what is it?

The maximum degree of anonymity is provided by high-anonymity proxy servers, sometimes also called specialized proxy servers. By hiding your IP address, this proxy prevents websites from detecting that you are using a proxy.

How do anonymous proxy servers operate?

Websites are blocked by unknown proxies. To avoid being tracked, they use your IP address to route your requests.

Are free, highly anonymous proxy servers reliable?

No, the short answer is no. Your connections cannot be guaranteed to be secured by free proxies.