This article is going to speak about the evolution of proxies over time. Proxies weren’t always as sophisticated as they are now, and the future surely hides a lot of additional features we can’t even think of now. We’ll start by understanding what is a proxy server, and will continue towards how it all began and what we can expect in the future. Keep reading!
If we talk about what is a proxy server?, then Proxy Server is a Computer System or Router, which does the work of transfer between the server and the client. And not only that, it is one of the few devices used to build a firewall.
What is a proxy server?
It is a server that is installed between the real server and the client application such as web browser. It shows all the requests to the real server, if it cannot fulfill it itself, then it re-sends that request to the real server.
Improvement in Performance
Proxy server is helpful in increasing the performance of groups of users because it supports the result of all requests for some time and analysis increases the performance.
Suppose a user X and user y are accessing www through a proxy server user X requested for some web page called page 1 after some time y also requested for page 1 the request of y is sent to www Instead of proxy server will send pages opened by X to y which will save lot of time Proxy server can support hundreds of users simultaneously.
Filter request
Proxy servers are also used to filter requests, for example a company uses proxy servers to prevent its employees from opening certain web sites.
Firewall proxy server
Firewall proxy server acts as an intermediate application for two systems. This server works at the application layer of the firewall where both sides of the connection are forced to run sessions.
A firewall can convert a two party session into a four party session by storing proxy servers between two hosts because both the host and the firewall work at the application layer.
Will also support firewall, SMTP, proxy for email, Hypertext Transfer Protocol proxy for web features etc. Proxy server is a one way configuration from internal network to external network In other words if an internal user wants to access a website If so, the packets made from this request are processed by the HTTP server before sending them to the website and the packets from the website are processed by the HTTP server even before going to the internal server. Firewall proxy server concentrates the responses of all applications to a single server.
Why are proxy servers used?
Proxy Server can be used for different functions. Like for security or for privacy!
- Online Security (for online security)
- User Identity Protection (to keep the user’s identity secret)
- Cyber Security (for cyber security)
- Cache Server (proxy server as a cache server)
- To Control Uses of the Internet
1. Online Security
- Today, in the present time, all the work of all companies or big businesses is done online!
- Whether it is related to money or the work of important files! Although today everyone is very worried about Company online security!
- For this reason, he spends a lot of his money on Online Security.
- Therefore, if a proxy server is used in the company’s network, then all online web-requests go through the proxy server to the Internet!
- Proxy Server works like a security layer between Company and Outside Internet.
2. User Identity Protection (to keep the user’s identity secret)
- Often police and reporters (reporters) sometimes have to hide their identity in their work!
- That means they have to take great care of Identity Protection! In such a situation, their identity can be easily protected with the help of Proxy Server.
3. Cyber Security (for cyber security)
- If a spy or hacker is trying to secretly keep an eye on your research or your company’s work!
- So with the help of a proxy server you can stop it from being successful! Proxy Server hides the IP address of your machine so that your identity remains secret!
- And whatever information is available on your Internet, it is actually a Proxy Server! And in this way hackers do not reach your Actual Request of Source!
4. Cache Server (Proxy Server as a Cache Server)
- Proxy server is also used for caching. Meaning, if the user accesses any information, then the proxy server transmits that information from the website to the user!
- And at the same time he also secures it for some fixed time! If the user requests for the same information again!
- So instead of taking information from the actual website, the proxy server provides the already secured information (Cached Information) to the user in a very short time!
- Due to this, the user gets the necessary information very quickly and the proxy server saves a lot of time!
5. To Control Uses of the Internet
- Often all companies use Proxy Server in their network. With the help of which every employee is prevented from accessing unsecured websites in the company network!
- Proxy server blocks the website, if the company does not want to use any website in its network, then it is blocked on the proxy server itself!
- Along with this, all the companies make policy on proxy servers as per their requirement. Which determines what kind of Websites should be opened in the company network and what kind should not!
Conclusion: Evolution Of Proxies
Overall, proxies have evolved to become a more efficient way to share information. They have become more reliable and easier to use, which has made them a more popular tool.