A proxy website is a middle point that you can use to make your web surfing activities harder to track, and much more difficult to know where the request originated. Proxy servers are used for a wide variety of purposes including keeping the original machine anonymous, to block certain sites, or to bypass blocked sites, to ensure that no malware is present in the materials that you are surfing as well as to get around regional restrictions such as websites that are only available to users in a particular area of the world.
Proxy websites can vary depending upon the site, but most are paired with software installed on the server like PHProxy, Glype and CGIProxy as well as custom scripts. You use these proxies by visiting their website through a browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox and enter in the URL that you want to visit. Most do not require you to download anything or to install any additional software in order to use the service. Proxies like this can help those restricted from sites like Facebook, MySpace, Paypal and other regionally restricted sites access them. Here is a list of twenty of the best.
- Free-school-proxy.info This proxy features a clean interface and no pop up ads, and is protected with High Anonymity functionality as well as SSL. The server offers 100 percent uptime and is extremely fast with average response around 0.7 seconds. It is based in the United States and is tested regularly. This site is free and although the front page does list a plethora of Google Adsense ads the URL bar is directly below and takes you right to the website you want.
- Laydo.net This site also offers HiAnon and SSL and is available 24/7 with 100 percent uptime. It is highly rated and is a United States based server, relatively new and tested regularly. The response time is clocked at 0.5 and it is an easy interface with no ads on the front page. The web interface offers a above your window frame that is unobtrusive and allows you to decide to allow forms, show images, accept cookies and remove scripts if you decide.
- Proxyhost.info This proxy follows the exact same format as free-school-proxy.info and features much of the specifications. It is in the United States with 24/7 access and one hundred percent uptime, with a 0.5 response time and HiAnon and SSL protection. The browsing bar is at the bottom of the page below the Google Ads.
- Unlock-now.info Yet another proxy server following in the footsteps of Free School Proxy and ProxyHost.info this server is a United States based server, with a clean and easy to use interface if you can scroll down past the popup ads with a 0.8 response time and HiAnon and SSL protection. The server is 24/7 and boasts one hundred percent uptime and is tested often. There are no pop up ads or other problems using this proxy.
- Anonyhide.com Easy and clean interface with no ads on the homepage and features the ability to disable Java, allow cookies, show images, strip meta and include URL forms right from the web URL search bar. The server is in India, and will not work on some sites, simply redirecting you to Google Germany, but does work on many.
