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.
