Best Proxy Network Software

Proxy network software acts as an intermediary between an endpoint device and a source from which the user is requesting a service. These intermediary servers then retrieve data from the source on behalf of the user.

Since proxy server software changes public IP addresses, it can be used to change the perceived location of a device connected to the internet or a server. This feature is beneficial to access internet resources that are blocked for certain geographical locations of IP addresses.

These servers can be either software or hardware. The products you see on G2.com are software products, and they are commonly referred to as web proxy servers or, simply, proxies.

Along with enhancing cybersecurity by anonymizing internal IP addresses and more, organizations can utilize proxy network solutions for performance reasons. For instance, web proxy servers are beneficial for caching content to reduce bandwidth usage and increase transfer speeds.

What Types of Proxy Network Software Exist?

Different types of proxy server solutions are available to meet various use cases. The following are some of the common types.

Forward proxy software

It is the most common type of proxy server and is an intermediary that sits between endpoint devices and the internet. Instead of directly sending a client request to a server, a forward proxy evaluates the request, takes any action, if needed, and then forwards it to the target server on the client’s behalf.

Reverse proxy software

These servers are the opposite of a forward proxy. It again sits between endpoint devices and the internet, forwarding requests from the internet to the users in an internal network. It is typically implemented to increase security and performance.

Transparent proxy software

Also known as an inline proxy, it is essentially a server that intercepts the connection between an endpoint device and the internet. It does not conceal any identifying information about the user but instead sends the requests to the target server by showing it as coming from the user without any modification. This also means transparent proxies pass a user’s IP address to the target server.

Anonymous proxy software

This type of proxy software is used to maintain anonymity while browsing the internet. It’s also known as an anonymizer and tries to make a user’s activity on the internet untraceable. Although the target website administrator can identify an anonymous proxy, it doesn’t pass along the original IP address of the user.

Distorting proxy software

This proxy tool can be viewed as an advanced version of the anonymous variety. Instead of not passing along the original IP address of the user, it passes along a false IP address to the target website. This will give out the impression to the target website admin that the user is from a different geographical location.

Highly anonymous proxy software

This type of system offers the highest level of privacy to users. Along with concealing the user’s IP address from the target website’s admins, it also provides encryption and periodically changes the outgoing IP address.

Datacenter proxy software

This type of proxy software replaces the access point’s IP address with an address temporarily borrowed from a physical data center. This ensures a higher degree of anonymity and lower latency.

DNS proxy software

Domain name system (DNS) proxy software takes requests in the form of DNS queries and then forwards them to domain servers. It stores client queries in the device, which is essentially caching and is useful to increase the speed of data transfers.

Residential proxy software

This type of network proxy provides real IP addresses offered by internet service providers (ISPs). These IP addresses are usually attached to a physical location at a country or city level.

The following are some core features of network proxy solutions.

Content filters: Proxy servers can act as content filters by blocking undesirable outgoing traffic. This feature will benefit organizations that aspire to prevent employees from accessing certain websites or apps at work.

Translation: Companies can use proxy servers to customize their source site for local users by excluding or substituting content with local content. This helps to route traffic from global users to another web server that hosts the web page’s translated content.

Cache data: Caching is the process of temporarily storing frequently accessed data, which can help improve the performance of a website or application. Proxy servers can cache data of websites or applications so that they will load faster for users.

Bypass content filters: Web proxy servers can also be used to bypass certain content filters by helping to change the IP address. However, this wouldn’t work if access to these web proxies is already blocked.

Tunnel traffic: This feature is associated with a type of proxy server called SOCKS proxy. Traffic tunneling enables users to tunnel web traffic to a different server, either to access another network or to avoid filtering.

Network proxy software can enhance security and network performance for organizations. However, the benefits depend highly on the proxy network’s type and configuration. The following are some of the advantages of using proxy network platforms.

Traffic restriction: Proxy network tools can restrict the traffic between a private network and the internet. In other words, these servers can help IT administrators to isolate private networks from the internet. This can reduce the number of public addresses required.

Resource restriction: Similar to restricting traffic, IT administrators can use proxy server tools to limit access of internal network users to internet resources. Simultaneously, they can restrict internet users' access to private network resources.

Security: Proxy network products can help anonymize internal or private network users. For an outsider or a hacker, for that matter, the users of a network are technically hidden behind the proxy server’s IP address. Hackers will also have difficulty accessing specific devices on the internal network.

Privacy: Both individuals and organizations will find proxy servers beneficial to browse the internet more privately. Since proxy networks typically change the users' IP addresses and other identifying information, the target server wouldn’t know who made the web request. This can help keep the browsing habits of users more private.

Data collection: Proxy networks are useful for web scraping, which is the process of extracting large amounts of data from websites. Proxy networks can avoid bot detection and mask repeated visitors by supplying new IP addresses.