Anyone can feel a little like a hacker when using a proxy server. Proxies were created to preserve anonymity online, but today they are used for many different purposes.
There are legal proxies whose use is not prohibited by law, as well as botnet proxies—malicious servers used to conceal cybercriminal activity.
LEGAL PROXY SERVERS
A proxy server sends requests from its own IP address, allowing it to hide the user’s real IP address partially or completely.
Proxies may be anonymous or non-anonymous. Anonymous proxies conceal the computer’s address, while transparent proxies pass it in headers available to the server administrator. Such headers can also be falsified.
The server acts as an intermediary between the internet and the user’s computer. Its purpose is to help preserve anonymity and make network communication safer. This matters when you do not want to expose your real IP address.
TYPES OF LEGAL PROXIES
- Private proxies are used by one customer and provide a high level of anonymity and stable connections.
- Elite proxies conceal connection details, providing a high level of online anonymity.
- Dedicated proxies are reserved for one customer, preventing delays caused by other users.
- Unlimited proxies do not impose data transfer limits, making them suitable for intensive browsing.
- Bulk proxies are purchased in larger quantities, reducing their cost for high-volume use.
- Datacenter proxies run on data center servers and provide fast connections.
BENEFITS OF USING PROXIES:
- Masking your real IP address.
- Hiding visits to specific websites.
- Accessing blocked websites.
- Protecting personal information from attackers.
Proxy servers can provide access to resources that are unavailable from your real IP address. Masking helps protect sensitive data and bypass regional restrictions.
BOTNET PROXY SERVERS
Every program and operating system can contain security vulnerabilities. An attacker may exploit them to install malware and force someone else’s computer to carry out malicious tasks. Users often do not realize that their computers have become “zombies.” Tens, thousands, or even millions of compromised computers around the world may work for an attacker at the same time, executing commands from a controlling system and returning the results. This illegal network is known as a botnet.
A botnet proxy is malicious software that uses a compromised computer as a proxy server. This is often a basic capability, allowing the attacker to route traffic through each infected device and conceal their real location.
One comparatively minor misuse of a compromised proxy server is trolling forum users without risking a permanent ban.
More advanced attackers use this capability to commit cybercrime while hiding behind compromised computers. The device owner may then have difficulty proving that they were not involved.
Building botnets is a criminal business and should be avoided.
Botnets are also used in information operations. Public relations companies may purchase compromised accounts in bulk and use them to promote messages within online communities. These are unethical methods of influencing an audience.
Compromised machines can transmit tens of thousands of email addresses that are later used for spam campaigns. Credential stealers collect passwords for social media, messaging, and FTP accounts, which are then used to expand the botnet. A familiar example is an unexpected ICQ message from a friend containing an amusing link that silently installs a Trojan.
Botnet proxy servers have significant disadvantages:
Each task may be handled by a different bot, changing the outgoing IP address. This makes it difficult to work with websites that require authentication. Workarounds exist, but they require specialized knowledge.
There may be a substantial delay between requests and responses. The timing depends on the quality of the compromised computer’s internet connection, and connections may sometimes take an excessive amount of time.
A botnet proxy typically remains available for only a few hours or days. There is no guarantee that the server will operate reliably.
Botnets harm the owners of the computers carrying the traffic. While serving the attacker, these machines may slow down or freeze during legitimate use. They may also consume substantial bandwidth and create additional costs for the owner.
Most importantly, anyone who knowingly uses such infrastructure may be breaking the law and can become an accomplice.
Using a botnet can lead to real legal penalties, from substantial fines to imprisonment. A defense may be difficult because proving that you did not perform the malicious activity can be challenging, and the device may become evidence in a criminal case. Hackers in the United States and Europe have received lengthy prison sentences.
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