Proxies are great!  In a nutshell, a proxy is a server that your internet traffic goes thru, such that other people on the internet will see the IP address of the proxy and not yours.  Hence, your surfing is anonymous!  I'd recommend trying out Anonymity 4 Proxy (A4Proxy), which you can download at http://www.inetprivacy.com/a4proxy/index.htm .  It's a great product, very simple to set-up and use.  MyIE2 has a button on the top bar that lets you switch on and off your proxy connection (very handy!).  Mind you, you can't be connected to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when you use a proxy though.  

Here's a short description of what A4Proxy  does:

Anonymity 4 Proxy (A4Proxy) is a personal anonymous proxy server and anonymizer. Once you install on your own computer, it will allow you to surf the Web with privacy. This local proxy server includes a database with hundreds of anonymous public proxy servers located all over the world. The program is essential for those who value their privacy and who want to surf the web anonymously. With A4Proxy, you can scan each server, check its response time, confirm its anonymity, and test its speed in connection with the website or ftp-server that interests you (HTTP, HTTPS (Secure HTTP) and FTP are supported). You can choose the best candidate as your default proxy, or select the option to use a different proxy for each request. Advanced features allow you to actively hide yourself while surfing: A4Proxy can generate a fake IP address for each request, selectively modify HTTP variables, block cookies, and more

The Anonymizer and Primedius are also proxy programs that allow you to surf anonymously, but I think A4Proxy is the best I've seen so far.  I'd be curious to hear other people's experiences with and suggestions for proxies.

Thanks for this excellent intro to the use of proxies!!
Do you by any chance have a copy of the file 'RegUpd.idb' in your a4proxy folder?
I would appreciate a peek as an attachment to an e-mail if you do!
I will try to list some anonymisers, and post them here - though I have not tried any, other than the one you have found so useful.

Update- List of files I have found containing the word proxy:-
AM SNPP PROXY SERVER
Anonymity 4 Proxy
Anonymous Proxy Verifier
ArkySoft ProxyMailer
AT Home BrowseGate Proxy Server and Firewall
AT Work BrowseGate Proxy Server and Firewall
AtomInterSoft AliveProxy
Avirt Spaghetti Proxy Server
Browse Gate Proxy Server
CCProxy
Check Proxy
Check Proxy Professional
Computalynx CProxy
CoolProxy
CProxy
CSM Proxy
EasyCert Easy Proxy
ezProxy
Gate Keeper Proxy Pro
Gatekeeper Proxy Server
Gproxy
HTTP Proxy HTTP Proxy ServerGate Keeper Proxy Pro
Verstata Logic and Internet Proxy Server


Best regards, Bill.

hello Bill,
please check your email for the file you requested.  I must say, that's quite a big list of proxy programs!   Thank you for posting this info, though I'm curious how you came up with such a long list of proxy software.

take care,
Shawn

use this link to get a program for exporting proxy lists from A4Proxy to simple text files (which can also be imported into A4Proxy):  http://vulcan.spaceports.com/~totnak/a4p.zip

I would assume that surfing the Net via a proxy server is slower than normal, right?

hey Doug, what's up?  About proxies, yes, one of the things I first noticed was slow speed, but then I discovered free online proxy lists (check out http://www.atomintersoft.com/products/aliv...proxy-list/?p=1 very carefully!), which you can easily add to your lists in A4Proxy, and found some proxies that are just as fast as your normal surfing.  

They're great, I think.  The only problem I've had is that I can't use them with Virtual Private Networks (VPN's), which I have to be connected to in order to acquire institutional subscriptions (and hence access to many online journals).

Another list of proxies:

http://surfsafe.cpc-net.org/modules.php?op...ls&file=proxies

You may have noticed at the bottom of the non-Forum Mind-Brain.com pages that it says 'Your Current IP address is' Blah, where Blah is your IP. It's well known that proxies can hide your IP address. However, interestingly, for some proxies (transparent proxies), you can still retrieve your real IP address because it's contained in the headers. In fact, I've modified the IP address tidbit at the bottom of non-forum pages so that if you're behind a transparent proxy, it will tell you both your proxy IP and your real IP, which no doubt will surprise a few people who think they're anonymous and that their real IP can't be traced.

So, the lesson to be learned is this: If you want to be anonymous on the net, use anonymous or highly anonymous proxies, and do not use transparent proxies (realistically, you're probably still fairly anonymous behind a transparent proxy because most people do not know how to retrieve the additional header information, or for that matter, even know that it exists). Unfortunately, the flip-side of using anonymous and highly anonymous proxies is that they, in general, will considerably slow down your web surfing.

hi !

...why should i be especially careful in checking out atomintersoft's proxy list ?

...also, i can surf through anonymous, or HIGHLY anonimous proxies, and the people at the target server will not see my IP.
...but the people at the proxy will, right ?
...and not only my IP address, but EVERY KIND OF PERSONAL DATA going through their node, right ?

so, what about me surfing to my bank account, my email, and ANY other SENSITIVE info i will route through them ?

aren't they capable of retain "interesting" packets for later screening (even if it's encrypted, they can take the time to crack it...) ?

is SSL or other similar encryption access formats secure and protected from the proxy admins ?
is encrypted info secure and to what extension ?
is regular NOT encrypted info protected or just so easy to see on transit they could use some software (hacking or not) to read it too ?


...i'm asking all this, because i'm interested in proxies in countries were you can forget to sue someone, since they are far away and run such a different legal system, this anonymous proxy thing would be a boon for bad-intentioned people and a tentation for the unsure...
...the more anonymous, the better protection from target servers, the highest risk for personal information ?


thank you for your answer to this; maybe i'm missing out on something, and i would love to learn more...

hi Roger,

atomintersoft's proxy lists are great. By checking them out 'carefully', I just meant that there's a lot of useful info on the site that you should take time to carefully look over.

You're right about proxies having potential access to all your info that passes through them. This is also true of ISPs. Unfortunately, I don't have the specific info that you're looking for. However, I've never heard of instances of proxies or ISPs using your sensitive info for illegal purposes, whether the info is encrypted or not (though it would be naive to rule out the possibility of it happening, particularly in some foreign countries, like you mentioned). I wouldn't be surprised if some bored or mischievious individuals working at some proxies or ISPs sniff your packets of info for amusement, though.

hi shawn !

...thanks for your quick reply; that's what i thought then...

guess, i'll better find an easy way to switch between proxy and proxyless surfing depending on my target URLs then...

BTW - i'm using SAFARI on an APPLE/MAC platform to surf the web; got a PC as well, but it's not online...
...anybody willing to suggest a nifty trick for proxy and proxyless surfing on SAFARI ?

...will check other forums and will let you know if i find out something on this side; thanks a lot for your time !!!

=)

Great information by you people, but anonymous surfing demands blocking of javascript, activex, applets etc. It eats up surfing experience because 70% of websites in my opinion) use any of these someway or another. We are unable to see ads, dynamic menus etc.

Moreover, php scripts are emerging as addon in new developments, they can easily read your i.p. addressess


------------------------------------------------------
http://www.aameen.org

This is true that if you go through an anonymous proxy, your real IP will not be detected (except maybe by your ISP). However, PHP scripts can read your real IP if you go through a transparent proxy.

I just read this great thread and want to buy the best proxy software...Shawn you have a fav pick?

Most browsers let you use a proxy. Even IE lets you, though it's sort of a hidden feature. The problem with proxies is that they tend to slow web surfing a lot. Unless there's a good reason to be anonymous, it's prob better not to use them.

A4proxy is pretty good, though it may be a little tricky setting up. I use the proxy features in browsers such as Firefox, Dr. Orca and MyIE2, which make it easy to add/edit proxies and enable/disable them. You can find good proxy lists by Googling "anonymous proxy". Try atomintersoft's lists, or http://samair.ru/proxy/

I agree. Unless you need to be anonymous, don't use them.

hi,


ppl have come up with more inventive wAYS of determining ip addresses behind chained anonmymous proxies.

here is 1 !


now if the web site is determined to find ur ip address this is what they do.

they put the following hyper reference in their web page code.

<a herf= 'telnet://address-0f-host:25'>

here as u see u get telneted to their smtp port on their host.
as a result ur http proxies are perfectly useless and they will determine ur true ip!

now to make this automatically happen

in their web page they put...

<BODY onLoad="Function name">


function Function name()
{
window.location.href = 'telnet://address-of-host:25'

}

so as soon as u open their website through a chain of anonymoys proxies, a telnet session is automatically started from ur system to the smtp port of the machine specified by the address and ur true ip can be logged!


here is a url for such an example.
before u open the url,if u want to remain ur ip anonymous,u should have telnet disabled on ur computer as the website will connect u automatically to a smtp server via telnet.

http://www.interrorem.com/adventure/

type view source and u will understand the code.
the connection via telnet is possible even if u have java script
turned off.

anonymous proxy?
every 1 around u is lying to ya...

i am sure there r ways to initiate telnet connections with out displaying the telnet window.

i would conclude saying...."They are watching u"

get telnet disabled at what ever cost it takes u!!!

keep a good watch on
netstat

look for connection on telnet port. in
the local address section.

god save internet privacy

[quote name='Guest' date='Feb 10, 09:44 PM' post='59139'].............. see above,

So the guest above stated that proxies don't work, so I wondered;

How can one surf anonymous if one wanted to?
Is it possible to surf anonymous?
Is it possible to surf anonymous from your IPS?

Does someone know,

bye,

guys, you may want to take a look at this application: http://tor.eff.org

it is used to anonymize your internet surfing too, uses socks proxies, and there's no need to import "proxy lists" because all the servers in the TOR network are on a volunteer basis and "open access". it uses 3 hops to anonymize your traffic (connections between the servers are encrypted, only from the last hop to the target server it's cleartext (although it can be encrypted, if you use SSL/HTTPS - but the server must support that)) and so is a lot "more anonymous" than your typical "proxy list application". the servers inbetween don't know about the target so you can't trace it by tracing one server anyways. each hop only knows about the next one.

in this setup:
Your_PC -> Proxy_A -> Proxy_B -> Proxy_C -> Web_Server
Your_PC to Proxy_A is encrypted
Proxy_A to Proxy_B and Proxy_B to Proxy_C are encrypted
Proxy_C to Web_Server is clear text
Proxy_C doesn't know about either Your_PC or Proxy_A and Proxy_A doesn't know about Proxy_C or Web_Server
Proxy_B only knows Proxy_A and Proxy_C


so you're pretty safely anonymous.
hope you'll enjoy this short introduction...
;-)

-polykarp

This is correct, but it won't happen automatically if you turn off javascript.
I'd strongly advise you to use Firefox as your browser for it handles such things a lot more convenient and transparent. For example, you are being warned and a box pops up which asks for confirmation if somebody tries to make it launch telnet://. (See "network.protocol-handler.warn-external-default" in about:config)
I'd say in 97 out of 100 cases this prevents your IP leakage.
Besides, it's just so much better than IE.
Get it here: http://www.mozilla.com/



there are a shitload more protocols that can be used to such extent.

also remember that most of the time you're requesting the server's IP through DNS, that could also be used to determine your IP, even if the web server (HTTP) connection is made through a proxy.
You CAN turn this off in Firefox: enter "about:config" in the address bar, then enter "network.proxy.socks_remote_dns" in the box that appears and change the value to true. This will use your proxy to resolve the IP of the remote host instead of your box.

Privoxy (which is part of TOR) warns you about this.


HTH
-polykarp

"You CAN turn this off in Firefox: enter "about:config" in the address bar, then enter "network.proxy.socks_remote_dns" in the box that appears and change the value to true. This will use your proxy to resolve the IP of the remote host instead of your box."

I tried this and instead of a box coming up, I got a list of settings. There were no entries for "network.proxy.socks_remote_dns" Anyone have a suggestion on where to go from there? I have firefox.

are you using a proxy, xanadu?

Yes, I use a proxy. I do not want to be hacked, spammed or stalked.

I'm wondering if perhaps there is a way to insert the setting "network.proxy.socks_remote_dns" into that list. The person who wrote the post sounded like he knew what he was talking about, he may just have had a different OS or configuration. I would like to hear from someone who knows before fooling around. I just want to disable telnet which I have never used. Microsoft is crap for security but they are hard to avoid.

Here's a great proxy website:
http://tools.rosinstrument.com/proxy/

this is insane, my school locked everything to do with proxies, even wiped out parts of the tools section

Good. Your school probably figures that you should be focusing on your studies and not getting in trouble online, downloading porn, and becoming game for predators by posting personal info at MySpace.com.

Spanking new PHProxy site:

http://www.webproxy.dk

and another site:

http://home.no.net/roughnex


regards

www.webproxy.dk

Here is my list of proxy sites:

http://anonymizer.at
http://proxyhost.org
http://cgiproxy.org
http://phproxy.dk
http://phproxy.frac.dk
http://phproxy.1go.dk
http://sslproxy.at (no SSL there)

thank you!

Here is a multiple backbone connection very fast proxy:


www.proxydom.com

I am sure everyone here is familiar with myspace.com -- does anyone know if proxy based unique hit generators will work on myspace? I am wondering if fake zilla would have a practical application in online myspace marketing.

If Any one comes across a proxy that will work at school, if they would please e-mail it to me, the school blocked every proxy i can think of and it sucks. but if anybody can give me any advice as to get on to myspace from school than let me know please

Google.com -- it works wonders. Just go to the google translator and enter the url you want to go to. say translate from any of the languages to english and you will be on your myspace or you tube or whatever you want in no time.