NAT proxy is the most simple and at the same times the most available proxy type. This server application works absolutely transparently and does not require any special client settings. It does not have any practical use because NAT is not usable for anonymous surfing (by definition).
FTP-proxy is not a widely used mean for reaching the required anonymity and safety level. Its main function is to support FTP and it is available while using HTTP server. This proxy type is used for work with special FTP clients only.
HTTP-proxy is a most widely used. This application is made to interact with browsers and other frequently used programs that use HTTP. There are some useful features in HTTP-proxy:
- Saving the downloaded files on a proxy hard drive. This function is called caching and allows traffic saving.
- Website access restriction. This option is used to crate a blacklist which blocks user access to potentially harmful websites.
- Browser-required web-resource optimization. This is the way to get rid of annoying advertisement banners that slow your connection speed.
- Work speed limitation for some concrete users.
- Working log. It allows you to estimate spent traffic and to discover the popularity of a website.
- Request routing allows you to connect websites partially directly and partially through other proxies. This is done to control the cost and the speed of your traffic.
HTTPS-proxy. S postfix is for “Secure”. This application is used for transmitting secret information and data. It differs from HTTP-proxy by increased reliability.
Mapping-proxy is for work with direct-connect applications only. Some popular mail clients (like Mail.ru, Rambler, Yandex) may be examples here.
SOCKS-proxy is a peculiar peak of all generations, species and subspecies of anonymous servers’ evolution. There are two actual protocol versions for now. The first one is SOCKS4. Its main function is TCP support. The other one is SOCKS5, that also works with UDP and remote DNS-request. The main advantage of any SOCKS protocol is universality. Using some different protocols is inconvenient and may cause many troubles. All the most commonly used servers like HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP are based on TCP. SOCKS is based on TCP too, so it works with all the former protocols without any issue, freeing the user of putting in his protocol coordinates for every proxy server. SOCKS has even one more advantage – it is chainable. Some HTTP servers have this ability too, but it decreases the anonymity level and almost nullifies request routing ability. SOCKS may locate in any part of the planet and all the data that go through chain are doing few trips around the world. It guarantees anonymous and secure browsing.
It is remarkable, that the “Proxy Elite” proxy server is a SOCKS, HTTP and HTTPS server at the same time, which allows you to combine all the user-demanded properties, like a high reliability of anonymous data transfer and an extended functionality. Not all the proxies combine such a set of capabilities. Draw conclusions!
