Anonymous Proxies 101 – Internet Privacy Guide

If you don’t know it yet, it’s time you learn about anonymous proxies and internet privacy. This anonymous surfing guide will explain it all to you. We’ll explain the basics of unmasked surfing, free anonymous proxies and paid services.

Whenever you use the internet, your computer leaves “footprints” wherever it goes. This is because every computer has its own unique address known as a MAC address. It is like the computer version of a picture ID card. You don’t see it but it’s there and normally you can’t change it.

Besides this MAC address, you also have the IP address that your internet service provider gives you each time you connect to it. IP stands for internet protocol. It is just a series of numbers like a serial number, separated by dots. IP addresses can be static or dynamic. Static means you have the same IP address all the time. Dynamic means it changes every so often.

Most likely what you have is a dynamic IP. There are only a limited number of IP addresses available. Dynamic IPs let your ISP accommodate more users. If a given IP address is not in use, they can assign it to a user who is going online.

With this information, the hosts you access will have a record of your activities. They probably won’t know your name or telephone number. But they will see your ISP and geographic location as well as the time you logged, your browser, OS and other details. Your ISP will have even more direct information about you. If a third party is determined or has legal grounds to do so, they can request this information from your ISP.

Anonymous Surfing Guide

If this sounds alarming, you’re not alone. Now you know what anonymous surfing is for. It is made possible through what are called proxy servers. If you use an anonymous proxy server, it will purposefully hide your IP address from the remote host you access. It would look like your IP is your proxy’s, even if it’s not.

You can get free anonymous surfing. But this is risky because all data you give the remote host must pass to your proxy server first. If you submit passwords and credit card or serial numbers, the proxy server’s owner will see those. You must have complete trust in your provider to do that, obviously.

If you’re serious about protecting your privacy, you can get paid anonymous surfing. It may cost you anywhere from $30 to $100 a year depending on the package and the provider you choose. You can look at various providers online or read guides like this to find the right choice for you.

– Brian Jones
http://www.topbits.com