Proxy Servers/Web Filtering

What is a Proxy Server and How Does it Work?

Posted on by Violet Butler

In a nutshell a proxy server is an intermediary server that keeps the users away from prying eyes of other browsers such that their anonymity is maintained and remain untraceable. A proxy server also acts as a web filter and speeds up the data requests made by the user. It of course provides several functions, privacy and security, but only as per individual cases or policies of an organization. In other words, when you sent out a request over the net for a website, in this case the proxy server takes the request and forwards the same as if the request has originated from it. When the data from the website is received it is at once forwarded to you again. Through this way your IP address or personal information is never revealed over the internet to others.

This means that the proxy server takes on a new IP address as any computer must always have their own IP address. This gives no chance for others to identify your location or to get any details or spam you in any way making it quite safe for you to browse and sent messages. It is also able to block certain websites and encrypts the data so the user identification is never revealed.

Benefits of Using Proxy Server

There are several benefits to be had when using proxy server. As a user of proxy server you may browse the internet without the fear that someone would be prying or spying on you. This is because of change in IP address would make others like destination server impossible to ascertain as to source of original request. This greatly improves the security of the user apart from privacy.

You greatly enhance your security by asking your proxy server to encrypt your web queries in such a way that no malicious software or spams can touch you or destroy your data.

It is also seen that you get the maximum benefit due to savings you make on your bandwidth. The proxy server for individual users if needed or instructed can save a copy of the websites so that you may get the same when you want to. In other words, when several users pass on their queries of a particular website the proxy server sends only one copy and not one for each individual query. This saves the bandwidth as well increase the speed considerably.

For organizations using a proxy server is a great way for controlling your employees using the internet for purposes other than what is officially needed. In fact, an employee may not be able to access webs due to strict regulations done on employer’s behalf by the proxy server. The proxy server is not only able to check employees from browsing unwanted websites, but also monitor the sites on which the employees take the maximum time.

The same is the case with parents who want to stop their children from reaching out to certain websites that may harm their social outlooks and wire them negatively to rest of humans.

Yet another benefit from proxy server is that you may browse the contents that have been blocked or restricted by some organizations or governments. This is especially so with closed countries and a proxy server may circumvent and easily get you to browse the same without any hassles. However, it must be noted that this proxy server should be one that belongs to the other country or other side. Only then the user gets to browse certain websites belonging to another country.

Proxy Server of Varying Levels of Anonymity

There are numerous types of proxies on the internet as there are always varying levels of anonymity and security demanded by clients who are the users. They are given names like ‘tunneling proxy’, ‘forwarding proxy’, ‘and reverse proxy’ and others. They are named according to each of their individual functions. A tunneling proxy passes out unmodified requests and so also responses. In the case with forward proxy it is used to retrieve data from a large number of sources on the net. The reverse proxy on the other hand offers services based on a front-end control of a server over a private network. They can be used for authentication services, load-balancing and caching services.

There are several proxies like the forwarding proxy that are accessible to any users of the web. These come with varying levels of anonymity. It depends upon the users to respond to the levels of anonymity that they may need for their internet uses.

You may find that reverse proxy is best if you want your clients to make browsing easy and smooth as they appear like ordinary server. The process is forwarded in the usual way and all the original response from the reverse proxy looks like as if it is coming directly from it. Here, the actual user is hidden from view. The reverse proxy is another option.

Apart from SSL acceleration, the reverse proxy can distribute the load to as many web servers it may wish to have. Again, the load time could be considerably speeded up as stated above by compressing the content. It also offloads the content on to web servers by caching pictures and graphical contents.

Internet and Extranet Monitoring and Filtering

The reverse proxy may also send communication to a firewall server that is internally being utilized in an organization. This enables companies to provide access to some of its functions. This is done by communicating easily and transparently with servers behind these firewalls. This is especially done to increase security so that the official data and other information is never leaked to the even the most ruthless spams and malwares.

You may find content-filtering proxy server that provides full control over any contents that comes and goes in both directions. These are used nowadays in both commercial as well as non-commercial organizations especially in educational institutions. This is done by giving support to user authentication to control and usage of web. In other words, many organizations are able to directly control uses of web access by students and employees in a particular area or building.

Most such proxies use web crawling robot that identifies such sites as well as near to that kind of content on the web and simply blocks them from viewing. By clearing cache and cookies make it difficult for web spies or clients to know whether a proxy server is at work or not.

Web Privacy

What Are Opt-In and Privacy Laws in North America and Europe?

Posted on by Violet Butler

Before you even start to consider installing opt-in measures and privacy laws one needs to understand what opt-in is all about. Opting is basically the process under which users take affirmative action when offering their consent. The most technique in which opt-in methods can be implemented is through unticked checkboxes. Whenever users are presented with the option, they often take necessary action to denote their consent. It can be used in a variety of situations such as getting consent to send emails, use cookies or even allow users to agree to your legal policies. Whenever a user registers an account, they are given the privilege to opt in to receive email notifications and agree to the terms of use as well as privacy policy.

How to use opt in

There is a very big difference between opt-in and opt-out. Opt-in is a very integral aspect of privacy law compliance. Online data protection has been a great challenge for many decades hence it’s a great idea to get the consent of legal policies as well as terms and conditions through the use of opt-in. there are certain laws that mandate businesses to receive user consent in their privacy policy by taking affirmative action before collecting personal data.

One of the best ways of explaining your privacy policy is through the use of a consent banner. The banner appears just immediately the user visits the website and it directs them to their privacy policy asking them to take an action.

Opt ins are required by law

It is a requirement by law that all websites should provide users with the option of opting in and out of email communication or agreeing to the privacy and policy terms. There are over 100 billion spams which are sent everyday with unsolicited emails gaining popularity as a tool for fraudulent activities. Businesses have to represent their intentions and identity in an explicit manner and most importantly they need to provide a way for recipients to opt-out.

Legislations

United States have enacted the CAN-SPAM Act which controls the assault of non-solicited pornographic and marketing tools. It covers commercial email messages with the aim of advertising and promoting commercial products and services. Europe have a general data protection regulation which was enacted in 2016. It regulates how organizations gather, use and retain personal data which includes email addresses. This applies to all organizations that process personal data for residents of EU regardless of their location. Canada’s anti-spam regulation was enacted in 2010 and covers all commercial and electronic messages which are sent by non-profit organizations. Commercial electronic messages are often described as messages that have their purpose.

The opt-in legislations in the United States allows direct email marketing to be sent to anyone without prior permission unless the recipient explicitly request that they cease. In Europe messages can only be sent to recipients who have given their prior consent and the same laws apply in Canada.

Online Advertising

Different Ways Companies Advertise to Us Online

Posted on by Violet Butler

These days almost all the companies are using the online platform to advertise their products and services. Technology has a big hand in this, as it has made possible for us to do the marketing and advertising of our companies online. From a start-up to a well-established organization, all are making use of different online platforms for advertising. It is believed that online advertising is one of the easy ways of marketing. As it helps in reaching millions of customers easily and in less time. Also, it is considered to be one of the cost-effective ways of advertising these days. Companies worry that whether they will reach the right audience through online advertising or not. But because we have different ways to advertise online, it has become possible to target different audience also.

Here we are going to tell you about different online advertising ways, which you can use for the advertisement of your company and its products & services. We have made the list of some successful online advertising ways, let’s know about them.

Social Media Advertising

Social Media is no more just a way to hang out with friends in the virtual world. But it is a lot more than that, as it is helping the companies advertise their products and services also. One can see the growth in social media advertising every year. One of the biggest reasons to choose social media advertising is that billions of users are active on social media sites. So, it becomes easier to reach the maximum number of customers there. One can use different strategies for advertising online. There are paid advertising ways, where the customers or targeted audience get to see the ads based on their searches. Another way is to simply place the ads or sponsored stories on social media sites and pages. One can promote posts for reaching the maximum number of people. Some of the social media sites which are popular for online advertisement are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Affiliate Marketing

This type of marketing not just helps the company but it also helps people in earning a good amount. As one can promote any company’s or brand’s product or services. And when the sale is made, the person also earns commissions accordingly. Most of the bloggers use this technique to earn some money and promote the products and services that are relevant to their blogs. In other words, you can also call it a 3rd party advertising. Most of the companies target those bloggers or influencers which have a huge number of visitors or followers.

Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing

Both these online advertising and marketing ways are used to promote the content. These types of online marketing help in increasing visibility. In SEO, the advertisers use different strategies related to SEO to get a high ranking on different search engine results. Some of the strategies used by the advertisers or bloggers are targeting keywords, meta description, creating original and quality content, and linking. Search Engine Optimization is also one of organic online advertising. In the SEM, the bloggers get paid when the users or visitors click on the ads which are there on the website or blog page.

Display Advertising

This type of online advertising is in use for a long time. It is paid advertising, where the ads are displayed on different websites. These ads either contain the images or texts. They are being placed on the website in different forms like popups (when you open the website page), banners, and landing pages. They are placed in such a way, that they can grab the attention of the users easily. They are not like the other types of ads which are placed on the website. Display ads are not visible in search results.

Native Advertising

While using Facebook or other such social media sites or while reading blogs, you will see some of the sponsored ads. These ads are generally placed at the bottom of the page or below any post. These ads are not placed there purposely, but they are the recommended ads. Some friend of yours or some other people may have liked or clicked on the ad, and that is why you get to see that ad. This type of advertising is called native advertising.