Proxy, also known as network proxy, plays an intermediary role between the client and the website. When users browse the website through the proxy server, they can hide the real IP address of the client, and all traffic will be routed through the proxy server. Therefore, the website will only record the IP address of the proxy server, not the IP address of the client, to protect the privacy of the client.

Proxy has cache function. The web content browsed by the user will be stored in the cache of the proxy server. When other users access the same web content, they can directly get the data from the cache without connecting to the website to download. This can effectively save the network bandwidth and improve the browsing speed of the web page. So proxy is usually used as a cache node. Proxy can also filter web content to restrict users from browsing specific websites.

There are three main types of network agents:

HTTP proxy: mainly used for accessing web pages, filtering web content and caching web pages. If an HTTP proxy server is set on the browser, all traffic on the browser will be routed through this proxy server.

Socks proxy: this kind of proxy is only used to deliver packets. In addition to accessing web pages, it can also be used in online games, video streaming, instant messaging, P2P and other applications. Socks can be divided into Socks4 and Socks5. Socks4 only supports TCP protocol, while Socks5 supports TCP and UDP protocols. Socks5 supports authentication and has better security.

Transparent proxies: this type of network proxy is usually used to monitor the user’s network activity and prevent the user from accessing a specific website, and the user usually does not know the existence of this type of network proxy. Transparent agents are often used in corporate network management or home network management, restaurants or hotels to authenticate public wireless networks. Companies or families can also set up such network agents to save bandwidth.