Hearing about all the fantastic reasons to use a browser proxy is, of course, the first step in determining whether they are the solution to your problem and whether you should acquire them. We frequently overlook what comes after getting caught up in all the news. Specifically, how do you set up a proxy for your web browser in the manner of browser proxies?
How Does a Browser Use a Proxy?
You’ve probably heard of proxies at this time. How they serve as a middleman between you and the websites you visit. They perform internet queries on your behalf while using a different IP address in place of your own to conceal your identity and location. Similarly, whether you’re attempting to circumvent location-specific content limitations or stockpiling some fantastic limited-edition footwear, there’s almost certainly a proxy out there particularly designed to assist you.
How to Set up Your Browser to Connect Through a Proxy
The way in which the proxy settings are installed on your web browser relies actually upon the browser you are using. Although every browser is similar, they have distinct settings you need to know before proceeding.
Adding a browser proxy to Google Chrome
If you use Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive on a regular basis, chances are you also use Google Chrome as your primary web browser. To make the most of Chrome by configuring a proxy, start by clicking the “Customize and manage Google Chrome” icon and then selecting “Settings.” Scroll down to and select “Advanced.” Select “Open your computer’s proxy settings” under the “System” category.
On “Manual Proxy Setup,” tap “Use proxy server” in the Proxy Settings window. Then, in the appropriate areas, insert your proxy IP address and port number. To finalize and begin anonymous browsing, click “Save.”
Adding a browser proxy to Mozilla Firefox
Like Chrome, adding your proxy to Mozilla Firefox has been simplified in recent years. Just start by clicking on the hamburger menu in the far right corner of the browser toolbar. Select “Options,” then scroll to the bottom of the next window. You will see a “Network Settings” section where you will click the “Settings” button.
This will open a new window containing your network setting options. Select “Manual proxy configuration,” then input your proxy address and port number for the type of proxy connection you’re using (HTTP, SOCKS, etc.). Click “OK” to save your settings.
Adding a browser proxy to Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is the newest Microsoft browser, and it is highly likely that if you operate Windows 10, you will utilize it on a large number of your online activities. Start by selecting the “Tools” option from the Edge toolbar to set up your browser proxy.
Click on “Settings” then pick “Advanced” from the left side of the next window. Scroll down to the “Proxy Settings” header and click “Open proxy settings.”
Toggle on “Use a proxy server” under “Manual proxy setup” in the following window. In the appropriate boxes, enter your proxy IP address and port number. To complete, click “Save.”
Adding a browser proxy to Apple Safari
Open the Safari browser and navigate to the “Safari” menu. At the top of the window, select “Preferences” and then the “Advanced” tab. Next to the “Proxies” entry, click the “Change Settings” button. Then, in the left pane, select the type of proxy server you want to configure and enter proxy information.
If you need to log in to your proxy, select the “Proxy server requires password” box and input your login details in the provided fields. Repeat for each proxy server you want to set up. Finally, in the lower right corner of the window, click the “Apply Now” option to save your settings.
Best 5 Proxy Servers To Help You Web Surf Anonymously
Some web proxy servers are paid services. It should come as no surprise that the premium versions have the highest quality. The more expensive web proxies can compress online traffic, cache files, and even block unwanted ads from websites before providing access. However, depending on your needs, a free web proxy will suffice.
There are various free services accessible if all you need is to hide your identity while online or sneak past a banned site. Just fill in the domain name in the proxy and enjoy your online anonymity.
HideMyAss (HMA) has to be the most well-known and generally recognized proxy server. It includes the basic feature of disguising your genuine IP address as well as a pop-up ad blocker to help you navigate the web more smoothly. The proxy server is absolutely free, but if you want more security, HMA also provides a pay-to-use VPN service.
HMA is a collection of different VPN proxies worldwide. This means that when using HMA over other proxy servers you get a very fast and flexible service. Both Google Chrome and Firefox have an official extension so that you do not have to download and install the entire software.
The sole disadvantage of utilizing HMA is that it saves both your IP address and the IP address of the VPN server you are currently using for an indefinite period of time. They claim that they will not utilize the information and will only share it with their partner firm, the Avast Group, “to execute on the provisions of this service, for direct marketing, or to assist our product development.”
4everproxy : This proxy server is mainly notable for allowing access to YouTube and HD streaming services that are generally prohibited due to geographical location. 4everproxy provides unlimited bandwidth and is ideal for anyone wishing to access video streaming sites located outside of their own country.
The streaming quality is good considering it can be used for HD video streaming. It is quite unlikely that users will experience any buffering when using the service. There is no need to sign in or log in to YouTube to watch videos. The program also adds an extra layer of protection by deleting all logged history from your browser every two hours.
ProxySite improves your internet security by utilizing SSL encryption. They provide VPN-like quality with your searches, similar to HideMyAss. You’ll be able to mask your IP address, bypass annoying website bans, and browse famous websites while your history logs are totally wiped.
ProxySite offers a wide range of free proxy servers, including those in the United States and Europe. There is a premium VPN option for more security features, but the free proxy will be enough in most circumstances.
To clarify, the proxy server allows you to control cookies, javascript, objects, and ads on your page, making it completely capable of whatever the average user is likely to use it for.
Hide.me is a well-known and widely used online proxy service, similar to HideMyAss. Hide.me will not log or store any of your data. The URL supplied to hide your identity will expire immediately after you quit your browser. There are no irritating ads on their website, and all pop-up adverts received while browsing are instantly blocked from your browser, improving your browsing experience.
Hide.me is a fast proxy server that lets you effortlessly change your location, control browser cookies, and block malicious scripts. Only Germany, the United States, and the Netherlands are represented in the server selection. Another good thing is that the user interface appears to be quite professional and user-friendly.
Hide.me’s premium VPN service costs $5.41 per month for a more comprehensive security solution.
Whoer is much more than a web proxy. Apart from the fundamental proxy server security solution, Whoer allows you to change your IP address quite quickly. This may seem like something that should be standard across all proxy sites, but Whoer’s speed is unrivaled.
The Whoer website provides tools for tracking information on a certain website, testing your internet connection speed, and running a ping test to determine server response times.
You can manually select from seven to nine proxy servers located in most European countries as well as the United States. The only vexing issue with the Whoer website is the inability to delete ads. This may be inconvenient, but it is unavoidable. Since ads is what keeps Whoer running, users will have to deal with them if they want to utilize the service.
The Whoer proxy server is available for the Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Yandex browsers.
Making the Most of Your Web Surfing Proxies
You now have your browser proxy installed and are enjoying all the advantages that it offers online. However, you can do a few things to improve your browsing experiences.
First, you should determine what kind of proxy you need. Although various web proxy types are accessible, we recommend that you keep to specific proxies. These proxies are solely accessible by you, which means you have entire access to their resources and don’t have to worry about being banned due to other people’s behavior when you log into your proxies. Also, avoid using public proxies at all costs. Free does not imply safe, and one of the key reasons to purchase proxies is to provide additional security from online risks.
More importantly, devote some time to assessing the overall system. It’s all well and good to provide proxies for your online browsers, but having high-quality proxies won’t mean anything if your other computer components can’t handle them.
A whole new world of anonymous browsing opens with a browser proxy. Once you open up this universe, everything you can accomplish will surprise you. However, the ultimate approach to make the most of your online experience is how you configure your browsers with proxy settings according to your web browsing preferences.