| One of the biggest problems of the internet | | | | a proxy of someone you trust. |
| nowadays is security. Viruses, spyware, spam, | | | | |
| trojan horses, malware, adware and of course | | | | How to set up a Proxy |
| hacking are the main problems. The largest | | | | |
| part of all internet users are unaware of | | | | It is easy to set up a proxy, but follow the |
| most of these things and will never know | | | | following steps very accurate, because a |
| their passwords and credit card info might | | | | little fault can resolve into an unsafe |
| become visible for others. Nothing can give | | | | proxy, or an error. |
| you 100% security, but applying a few easy | | | | |
| things will improve online security greatly. | | | | Step one: finding a good, anonymous proxy |
| Here are some things everyone should do: | | | | |
| | | | The first thing you need to do is to find a |
| Install a virus scanner and firewall | | | | good proxy. There are free and paid proxies |
| | | | scattered all over the net. Paid proxies are |
| A good virus scanner and firewall are an | | | | better most of the time (more anonymity), but |
| obligation these days. Do not trust the | | | | there are good free ones also. Search for the |
| firewall of your ISP, modem and especially | | | | best and most anonymous proxy that's out |
| not Microsoft's firewall. Virus scanners are | | | | there. To help you a little, here is a list |
| never already installed on a modem or | | | | of free proxies. This list is updated every |
| something, so you have to install one | | | | day. Transparent proxies are unsafe, don't |
| yourself. There are countless virus scanners | | | | use them. The best proxies are the ones with |
| and firewalls available, but the best ones | | | | high anonymity. Choose one that you like. |
| are McAfee, Norton, AVG and ZoneAlarm. The | | | | |
| last two have a great advantage over the | | | | Step two: install the proxy |
| first two because they are totally free. I | | | | |
| recommend using AVG's virus scanner and | | | | After you found your proxy, write the IP and |
| ZoneAlarm's firewall. | | | | the port of the proxy on a piece of paper. |
| | | | The process of installing a proxy varies from |
| Use a proxy | | | | browser to browser, so I will explain the |
| | | | installation process for Internet Explorer |
| A proxy server is a server that is meant to | | | | only. After you have opened Internet |
| hide someone's IP. Your IP (Internet | | | | Explorer, go to Internet Options and then |
| Protocol) is a number that is unique for | | | | click on the Connections tab. Select the LAN |
| every computer and it is static so you cannot | | | | Settings button if you have a LAN or DSL |
| change it when you messed things up. If a | | | | connection, or if you have a dial-up |
| hacker finds out your IP he or she can get | | | | connection, choose your connection and click |
| all your info if you are unlucky. This means | | | | the Settings button. From there, enable use a |
| that it is very important to hide this | | | | proxy server and type the proxy IP and port |
| number. A proxy works like this: normally | | | | in the address and port fields. Click OK |
| when you click on a link or a button, the | | | | twice and you're done. |
| browser sends the info to the web server. | | | | |
| With a proxy the info will be sent to the | | | | Step three: monitor the proxy |
| proxy server first, and then to the web | | | | |
| server. If the web server retrieves your IP, | | | | This step is often forgotten by a lot of |
| it will retrieve the IP of the proxy server, | | | | people. Proxies, especially free ones, tend |
| not yours. This also works from the web | | | | to disappear, quit working or become |
| server to your computer. A counterpart of | | | | transparent. Of course you don't want this to |
| these proxies is that the owner of the proxy | | | | happen, so check your proxy every now and |
| server can see all data (including passwords | | | | then (I recommend to check at least every |
| and credit card info for example), so install | | | | month) to be sure you will stay anonymous. |