There are many possible ways to connect to the Internet. In fact, there are different ways and devices. We can even surf from a cell phone, computer, or tablet. It is also possible to access the network through a VPN or a proxy server. Which can be very interesting to improve privacy or access geo-restricted content. In this post, we will see how to configure a proxy server in Windows 10.
How to configure a proxy in Windows 10
Windows 10 is the most widely used desktop operating system. Since it is present in most of the domestic users and at enterprise level as well. We can use different programs to configure Internet browsing. However, the system includes several tools related to network management. That is, it is not necessary to resort to third-party applications to modify certain aspects. For example, it is possible to enable and configure a proxy server to connect to the network. This implies that our network activity will pass through it first before going directly to the websites.
As we said before, configuring a proxy server in Windows 10 is very easy to do. The first thing you have to do is press the Win+I combination to enter the Windows Settings. Once there, log in to Network & Internet.
Then scroll down to Proxy
You will see that it is disabled by default. Consequently, you only have to activate the Manual Proxy Setup switch. Next, you just have to enter the parameters. That is the IP address of that proxy, as well as its port. Then, you just have to save the changes. From that moment on, the connection will go through the proxy server we have configured. You can see a list of free proxy servers here.
Using the proxy server with exceptions
Windows gives the option to use the proxy server with exceptions. That is to say, it is probable that we want to access certain pages through our connection and not through the proxy server. For example, there are pages that are restricted to a geographic location. In such a case, we would have to use our usual connection. Therefore, it is sufficient to enter the address of the site in the corresponding box. In addition, we can put as many addresses as we want, separated all of them by “;”.
Reasons to use a proxy server in Windows 10.
Sometimes a proxy is confused with a VPN. This is logical, since their use is similar. In a broad sense, both help to maintain privacy on the network, improve security and also to access certain services. A proxy server acts as an intermediary between our computer (the client) and the site we visit (the server). Therefore, the destination site receives the IP address of the proxy and not ours.
Maintaining privacy
One advantage of using a proxy is to maintain anonymity on the network. As mentioned, by using this service, we hide our real IP. Certainly, privacy on the Internet is vital. Since there are many ways to access our data and the IP address is one of them.
Content blocking.
This tool can be used to block content. Even some proxy servers block unsafe pages. A great way to prevent malware from entering.
Access geographically restricted content
Another great advantage is being able to access geographically restricted content. Suppose you want to access a website that is banned in your country and only available to UK residents. In that case, you just have to set up a proxy server as if you were in the UK. On the other hand, if you travel abroad and want to access exclusive content for residents of your country. Then you only have to configure the proxy corresponding to your area.
Preventing attacks
Obviously, this is a great measure to avoid attacks on our devices. Since we are hiding our identity and protecting our data.
Anyway, we have seen how to configure a proxy server in Windows 10. It is a simple process, but it increases security and privacy when connecting to the Internet. See you later!
