What are Web proxies?

A Web proxy is an Internet connection in which the user's computer connects to a remote computer, called a proxy server, which transmits data to and from the Web and user on behalf of the user. The primary reasons for proxy use are privacy and security.

One common type of Web proxy is a virtual private network, or VPN. Most people use VPNs for security reasons or to access to content restricted by the user's geographic location or security clearance level, both of which are determined by the client computer's IP address. Criminals may also use Web proxies, sometimes in multiple linked layers, to hide their IP addresses and thus conceal their identities and geographic locations.