Think Twice Before Using an Open Proxy Server

A server that is accessible to any user in the Internet is said to be an “open proxy.” Unlike most proxies that are firewall protected, it does not require any sort of user log-on for identity verification making open proxy usage a very risky business. For this reason, a lot of companies offering Internet services have started examining a user’s connection to see to it that he is not connecting through this kind of a proxy. The Internet service company probes a user’s computer to determine if any of its common proxy ports are open. If so, it tries to make a connection. And, if a connection is made, the company checks if it is password protected. If not, the company server immediately stops transacting with the user. If the user is trying to shop on-line, for instance, he will be unable to make any purchases or transact any business whatsoever.
Internet service companies go through this precautionary measure because they can never be sure that the user is who he claims to be. Because of its very nature, the Internet is a fertile ground for hackers who hide behind the veil of anonymity in committing credit card fraud and other cyber crimes. A user who innocently connects to an open proxy to gain anonymity and add a layer of protection against spammers, is exposing himself instead to attacks and other risks. Unscrupulous operators often times use proxy servers to lure unsuspecting users for the purpose of gathering vital information such as IP addresses, names, email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers and other information about the identity of the user. Because of this, the user stands the risk of identity theft and any site that he has visited, including emails or IM messages sent or received can be accessed surreptitiously by the hacker.

To be sure, the picture is not that gloomy because there are some secure servers that use SSL and other protocols operated by reliable Internet companies which have a track record of not using personal information. If there is an absolute necessity for you to surf the Net anonymously, another alternative is for you to use your own proxies, which is moderately easy to build. All you have to do is to construct a free website on a free PHP host which you may then access from the Internet putting you safely in charge of your own proxy server.