When it comes to anonymous browsing, there are three main categories of anonymous web proxy technologies:
- Web-based anonymous proxy
- Protocol-dependent proxies
- vpn tunneling
The detailed description of all these technologies is illustrated below:
Web-based anonymous proxy: This is an Internet-based service that allows you to browse the web through a proxy server with enhanced security features. Anonymous web-based proxies are used for web browsing only. The working procedure for this anonymous technology is described below:
1. Navigate to the proxy web page
2. Type the URL you want to visit in your address box
3. Then click on the ‘Go’ button
Your URL request is then redirected through your proxy server using your IP address to retrieve the information. However, there are some limitations, since the main drawback of this technology is that the proxy does not allow you to see all the sites, more specifically the secure sites (such as SSL). Prevents you from viewing sites for banking and shopping purposes. Also, these web-based redirectors can stop cookies or other important features that are essential for browsing websites from working. This technology allows you to browse the Internet with enhanced security and privacy features, as all unsecured content can be automatically blocked. However, the technology is not intended for dynamic Internet users.
Protocol-dependent proxies: The installation of proxy servers is another important way to carry out anonymous browsing. In fact, there is a wide range of proxies that are used to carry out various activities. For example, you can use a web proxy for browsing, for sending emails you can use a forwarder, and many more. However, the use of protocol-dependent proxies is quite common these days. The various protocol-dependent proxies include web proxy, sock proxy, and SSH tunneling. The main drawback of using this technology is that they are completely protocol dependent, so the software installed on your computer must have sufficient proxy support.
A web proxy is quite easy to use, just set your browser’s settings to the IP address bar. Thus, it helps to hide your real IP and allows you to perform anonymous browsing. Using these proxies does not guarantee that no hacker proxies or government operated proxies have been installed. Also, it does not support data encryption policy, so there are all chances that your data will become cryptic to some extent.
VPN tunneling: The acronym VPN stands for ‘Virtual Private Network’. It is one of the best solutions that assists in anonymous browsing. This web technology is widely used by financial institutions, government agencies, and other large cooperations to provide security and privacy features to their data. In addition to anonymous browsing, these protocols also help you make efficient use of the Internet. This technology supports data encryption policy.
All of these technologies are protocol dependent and their use requires high-bandwidth features and expensive network equipment such as routers. The bottom line is that it provides high security features while you are browsing the Internet.