From time to time, you just want to access one page through a proxy. You don't need to make any changes to system settings or install browser add-ons. To do this, you simply use a web proxy.
We have compiled a list of web proxies for you and will introduce you to them in this article.
Web proxy: surf anonymously in the browser without installation
Normally, you will be recognized and identified on the internet based on your IP address and other data. But sometimes you prefer to be on the Internet anonymously, for example to watch a video that has been blocked for German users due to Gema disputes. Web proxies are a great way to hide your IP address. We'll tell you whether the free proxy servers are also suitable for protecting your privacy.
Web services like CyberGhost encrypt your data and mask your IP address.
Surf anonymously - what does that mean?
What does a proxy server do?
Proxy server on the web
Vtunnel com
Anonymouse
ProxyPronto
CyberGhost
HideMyAss
What do you have to pay attention to when using an anonymous proxy server?
Proxy servers on the web and their uses
Proxy alternative: VPN
Surf anonymously - what does that mean?
As soon as you visit a website with your web browser, the browser reveals some details about you and your identity. In addition to technical details about the configuration of your computer, the website you are visiting can query your Internet provider and its location. But that's not all: Visited pages can also determine how many tabs are currently open in your browser, how big your screen is and what size you are currently using your browser, as well as which operating system and which browser you use to surf. There are also numerous other technical details and unique IDs. All the data in combination results in an almost unambiguous footprint, by which every page can recognize you without you having to log in.
Anonymous surfing is about transmitting as little information as possible or hiding the information so that you will not be recognized when you visit again. This is especially useful if you want to use the Internet unfiltered and protect your privacy. There are some countries in which some websites or content are blocked due to the origin of the user - including Germany. For example, some videos on YouTube are not available for German users. You can only circumvent the censorship by not identifying yourself as a German user.
What does a proxy server do?
You can set up a proxy server in your own network or use a server on the Internet. A good synonym for proxy is "intermediary", because, in simplified terms, the proxy server basically has an input and an output. It fulfills its mediating role in the network by receiving your computer's request and forwarding it to the destination via an outgoing connection. As part of this task, he can change the data depending on the desired functionality.
Free proxies
You can find free proxy lists here. You can use these with the programs discussed in the article.
Show proxy list
For example, proxy servers cache data so that web content can be accessed more quickly. In order to surf anonymously, the proxy changes personal information such as your location or removes or falsifies technical parameters. The recipient only sees the data from the proxy server, but not the data from the actual sender. The proxy server sends the response from the contacted website back to the actual sender. Information is exchanged even though the sender and recipient were never in direct contact. This means that the website cannot check the origin of the sender, but only knows where the proxy server is.
Proxy server on the web
Normally, software must be installed on the user's computer or the network settings must be adjusted so that the user can surf via a proxy server. If you rarely need a proxy server, you can use a free service on the web. This eliminates the need to install software because you call up the website of the proxy service and enter the desired URL in a field. You use web proxies on your desktop PC as well as on mobile devices. But you shouldn't entrust your personal data to all services.
Vtunnel.com
On the website you will find an input field for the address of the website that you want to visit with disguised data. In addition, you choose whether you want to use cookies, the last visited website should be transmitted and whether scripts should be blocked on the visited website. Then just click on "Begin browsing" to open the page. Unfortunately, you cannot choose the location of the proxy server yourself. Encrypted connections via HTTPS are supported. In our test, Vtunnel was ad-free and very fast. YouTube could be used without any problems, which is not a matter of course. Vtunnel partially saves accesses for a limited time.
Anonymouse
With Anonymouse you have to forego all settings. It is also not possible to use encrypted transmission of the data. In our test, the YouTube website could not be used as usual. Videos could only be played if the direct link to the video was entered on the web page of the proxy service. You cannot choose the location of the proxy server either. Anonymouse removes the location information completely. It can happen that while surfing you lose the connection via Anonymouse without warning and surf with your own identity again. Since no encrypted connections are supported, Anonymouse is not recommended.
ProxyPronto
ProxyPronto changes your location and your IP address. If desired, the proxy server will block scripts and cookies on the website. However, the anonymizer continues to transmit your operating system and the browser used. Since many websites are not displayed correctly via ProxyPronto, surfing with it is not fun. Videos on YouTube could not be viewed in our test.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost gives you many setting options for a web service. So you can choose a proxy server from four different countries. Scripts and cookies can also be switched off to protect your data. In addition, you can choose which browser you want to use when you are out and about. For example, you can use the user agent on the desktop computer to simulate an iPad or iPhone or, instead of the Google Chrome browser, Internet Explorer. You can also manipulate the referrer that transmits the last website you visited. Either you specify that no referrer is transmitted or you enter an individual page.
In the test, the websites visited were loaded very quickly, so there was hardly any difference to using the Internet without CyberGhost. The only drawback: CyberGhost does not play videos from YouTube or other websites, as only selected video streams are supported in the free version. Encrypted connections are supported.
HideMyAss
With the free proxy service HideMyAss, you choose whether or not you want to access a page via an encrypted connection. In addition, you can not only select the location of the desired proxy server, but also a specific IP address at the location. No other web proxy offers this. However, the usage scenarios for this setting are likely to be very limited. Unfortunately, video streams are not played on YouTube or any other website.
What do you have to pay attention to when using an anonymous proxy server?
If you want to use a web proxy, you should ensure an encrypted connection and a detailed data protection declaration as with CyberGhost. The service provider does not collect or use any personal data and also declares that "no logs that allow conclusions to be drawn about the IP address, the time or the content of the data traffic" are stored.
Proxy servers on the web and their uses
Via a proxy server, you can call up websites that are not regionally accessible by manipulating your own location. For example, a proxy is suitable for calling up a video that is blocked in Germany on YouTube or a website. However, the providers mentioned above show that this is partly not possible either. Aside from their slow speed, anonymous web proxy servers are not a good way to protect your privacy.
Contrary to the opinion of many users, this actually increases the user's risk. Because often little or no information is known about the operators of the services. These could record the entire network traffic and thus, for example, gain access to personal and confidential information when entering a password. Therefore, you should only use an anonymous proxy server on the Internet if you can trust the provider. You should never transmit confidential information and personal data via an untrustworthy proxy server.
Proxy alternative: VPN
VPN tools are an alternative, which we compared in more detail in this test of VPN services on netzwelt.
