How to set up a proxy in your browser

apekillape

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This is a guide by Lorissa, of dcsproxy.com fame. If you want to learn anything about proxies, it's a safe bet you'll find it there. But don't ask dumb questions or she'll hurt your feelings.

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WINDOWS:

This guide shows you how set up your browser to work with an (anonymous) HTTP proxy server.

The proxy address along with the port number should look like this:

124.37.94.216:1789

The address is ?124.37.94.216″. The port is the part behind the colon, ?1789″.

Caution: Please do not attempt to use the above example as it is only numbers pulled from the air and not intended to be used).

Please note: Sooner or later your proxy will stop working or it may not work from the start ... even if you properly tested it first. Regardless, when it doesn't work, simply repeat the process with another proxy.

Firefox 2.x and 3.x

Setting up Mozilla Firefox to use a proxy is a simple and straight forward task. It only differs a bit on each operating system.
  1. Run Firefox.
  2. Click Tools from the menu bar.
  3. Click the Options menu item.
  4. Now click the Advanced icon at the right side.
  5. Click the Network tab.
  6. In the Connection field, click Settings
  7. Click Manual proxy configuration:
  8. Enter your selected proxy it in the correct field. The first field is the address, the second field is the port. If you are using a HTTP proxy then click the box for, "Use this proxy server for all protocols".
  9. Click OK.
  10. Click Close.
It should not be necessary to restart Firefox.


* * * * * * * * * *
Internet Explorer 5.x, 6.x, 7.x with a LAN, DSL or Cable connection:

This method will only work when you are not connected over a dial-up modem. If you are using a dial-up modem, look at the instructions below.
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Click the Tools item in the menu bar, in Internet Explorer 7 it is a button at the right side.
  3. Now click the Internet Options menu item.
  4. Click the Connections tab.
  5. In the ?LAN-Settings? field, click Settings
  6. In the Proxy server field, make sure the Use a proxy server for your LAN box is checked.
  7. Enter the the proxy?s IP in the Address box, and the Port in the Port box.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Click OK again.
It should not be necessary to restart Internet Explorer.


Internet Explorer 5.x, 6.x, 7.x with a Dial-up modem:
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Click the Tools item in the menu bar, in Internet Explorer 7 it is a button at the right side.
  3. Now click the Internet Options menu item.
  4. Click the Connections tab.
  5. In the ?Dial-up and Virtual Private Network settings? field select the connection which you are using by clicking at it.
  6. Now click Settings in the ?Dial-up and Virtual Private Network settings? field.
  7. In the Proxy server field, make sure the Use a proxy server for this connection box is checked.
  8. Enter the the proxy?s IP in the Address box and the Port in the Port box.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Click OK again.
It should not be necessary to restart Internet Explorer.


MAC OSX:

Firefox 2.x and 3.x
  1. Click Firefox in the menu bar.
  2. Click the Preferences menu item.
  3. Now click the Advanced icon at the right side.
  4. Click the Network tab.
  5. In the Connection field click Settings
  6. Click at Manual proxy configuration.
  7. Now, according to the proxy type you use, enter it in the correct field. The first field is the address, the second field is the port.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Click Close.
It should not be necessary to restart Firefox.

* * * * * * *

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

If you have cookies left in your browser, sites may identify you by using them. Therefore, if your goal is to be anonymous, then delete all cookies before using an anonymous proxy. You can also be identified as a specific user if you login to your existing accounts with your proxy connection, if you have previously logged in with your (real) IP. As a result, you always sign up for new separate account that you use only with your proxy or proxies.

ALERT: If anonymity is your goal, never use a proxy without first testing it. Proxies die quickly and/or their status can change momentarily from anonymous one minute to transparent the next.


source: numerous, gathered over time and experience
 
If I use a password manager like roboform (which is a toolbar that remembers my many accounts & form fill-in information on them) will this affect me going undected? or could this be used to identify me and my IP address.

Would it be best to keep them and manage my accounts through an application like notepad etc and just copy and paste the account details when I need them.

How do you manage your all your account details and information?

P.S - Good advice by the way very helpful.

Patrat.
 
One solution is to use multiple firefox profiles.

Code:
hxxp://lifehacker.com/software/firefox/geek-to-live--manage-multiple-firefox-profiles-231646.php

Set each one to be a different "identity", that way you don't have to memorize which one is which.

N
 
Great advice, I now have 3 firefox profiles:

  1. Play - All my resources that waste time
  2. Work - All my legit business resources
  3. Blackhat - where i surf using proxies and carrying out the methods

The only hassle is that I have to create seperate accounts for stuff, like foxmarks for backing up bookmards and social media extensions etc.

Im just using a Blackhat profile for all of it as I think using a different profile for each "made-up" identity would be two much as I would have around 20-30.
 
thanks helpful post

and how do we get working list of proxies?

how do we test a proxy
 
great post.. I will play with the multiple profiles for my browser. thanks
 
Hello,

First, thank you for the post. I am new to all this, but learning fast. Could someone explain how to set up your multiple firefox profiles in Vista?

Thanks,

X
 
Hello,

First, thank you for the post. I am new to all this, but learning fast. Could someone explain how to set up your multiple firefox profiles in Vista?

Thanks,

X
What happens when you try the method I posted above?

N
 
I went to a free proxylist and did what you explained on IE and the browser does not want to connect to the internet. Now, I tried a couple different proxies, so I am not sure if they are working or not.

Still trying to learn more about proxies. Please help.

Thanks,

X
 
Thanks, something that Im looking for, wasted lots of hours while I experiment with BH methods :)

Just to add that Im using firefox version 3.0.4, I realised that in order to run the profile manager ,my firefox application must not be running
 
Take a look at this:
http://www.cloakfish.com/?tab=howto#howto_proxy-configuration-for-firefox
http://www.cloakfish.com/?tab=howto#howto_proxy-configuration-for-ie
Includes screenshots for IE and Firefox and two very nice and important firefox addons to use and switch proxies and the useragent on the fly.
 
How come when I change the proxy in Firefox, http://whatismyip.com/ still shows my actual IP (not the proxy). When I checked on http://whatismyipaddress.com/, it says:

Proxy Server Detected!
Proxy Server IP address: 66.198.41.11
Proxy Server Details: 1.1 proxy11 (NetCache NetApp/5.6.1D24)

Proxy Reports IP as: 63.132.232.569

In other words, it looks like the proxy server is showing your actual IP to any of the sites you're accessing. Am I doing something wrong?
 
Try the analyzer at http://proxy-check.squabbel.com , it shows the HTTP variables sent by the proxy.
And you are right, the proxy is a non anonymous one. Common thing ;)
 
damn i got that proxy off of tubeincreaser's list. guess they use bad proxies...
 
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