Classification of proxy servers

There are several types of proxy servers. Each type of proxy is designed to solve a range of tasks, but they have much in common, their capabilities are very similar.

HTTP proxy

This is the most common type of proxy servers and simply saying “proxy”, they mean it is. Before using this type of proxy you can only view web pages and pictures, download files. Now, new versions of programs (ICQ, etc.) are able to work through HTTP proxy. With this type of proxy are able to work and all versions of browsers.

Socks proxy

These proxy servers know how to work with almost any type of information on the Internet (protocol TCP / IP), but their use in programs must be clearly indicated the possibility of working with socks proxy. To use a socks proxy in the browser requires additional software (browsers do not know how to work themselves through the socks proxy). However, any version of ICQ (and many other popular programs) can work perfectly through the socks proxy. Finally, note: when working with socks proxy must specify its version: socks 4 or socks 5.

CGI proxy (proxies)

With this type of proxy servers can work only through a browser. In other programs, their use is difficult (and unnecessary – there is HTTP proxy). However, since this type of proxy was originally designed to work through a browser, simply use them exclusively. You can easily not only to use anonymizer in their work, but no problem to build a chain of CGI proxy.

FTP proxy

This type of proxy servers separate from the corporate network is quite rare. Usually, its use is associated with the fact that the organization has a Firewall (security system computer from intrusion), which prevents direct access to the Internet. Using this type of proxy provided in many popular file managers (FAR, Windows Commander), download managers (GetRight, ReGet, …) and in browsers.
This type of proxy is highly specialized and designed to work only with FTP servers.