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