What Is SSL Proxy and How Does It Work?
Cyber insecurity is accurate, and anyone who ignores it does so to their peril. It is getting more unsafe to be out on the internet with millions of criminals watching and waiting to pounce on your data.
Upon breaching your data, you could get impersonated or targeted with all kinds of malicious content. These are some of the reasons why you can’t leave your online protection to fate alone. It would be best to be proactive by using proxies every time you surf the internet.
There are different proxies; some differ by the type of internet protocol (IP) addresses they come with, while others vary by the type of protocol they use to function.
In talking about protocols, you may be familiar with the HTTP and SOCKS proxies, but you might not have heard of the lesser-known counterpart, SSL proxy.
But precisely what is an SSL proxy? How does it work? And what are the benefits of using this tool? These are some of the questions we will answer in this article. You can also read this handy article for more information.
What Are SSL Proxies?
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, and it is defined as a proxy that uses the SSL encryption and protocol to serve internet users. Like all proxies, the SSL proxy stands between the user and the internet and accepts requests from users to deliver them to the target destinations.
But this proxy does more than accept and deliver connections while concealing users’ details because it queries the destination servers and demands certification with matching authentication keys. And this helps to make the links more secure. This type of server’s extra layer of security helps avoid malware being sent from servers to unsuspecting users.
If the above explanation doesn’t fully answer the question of what an SSL proxy is, think of it like this; an SSL proxy is a unique type of proxy that performs encryption and decryption between the user and the target servers with the target servers realizing the requests are being made through a proxy.
How Do SSL Proxies Work?
The way an SSL proxy works can be explained as seen below:
- The user requests a connection;
- The connection is routed via the SSL proxy, which delivers it to the target destination in an encrypted form;
- But before delivering the connection, the SSL proxy demands certification from the server on behalf of the user;
- Once the certification is sent, the proxy decrypts the connection and interacts with the server to collect the results for the request;
- Once collected, the results and other details are encrypted again before being sent to the user;
- The returning connection reaches the user, and the proxy again performs decryption;
- Doing this allows for better security and ensures that no prying eyes can read your data back and forth.
Benefits of Using SSL Proxies
Following the methods through which an SSL proxy works, there are several benefits it offers the user, including the following:
They Provide Extra Protection
Online security is so important that you can never be too safe. The safer the proxy and options you use, the more friendly the internet. The encryption and decryption tactics and the frequent demand for certification ensure a higher level of security and protection for the users of this proxy.
They Offer Better Anonymity
Security is important, but it is often not enough. While you want to stay protected online, you also want to maintain as much anonymity as possible.
Being anonymous ensures that no one can see you online, track your activities or know what you do. It also ensures the servers won’t ban you as they can’t even tell it is you requesting the first place. SSL proxies are great at hiding your details to keep you as anonymous as you need to be.
They Can Bypass Geo-Restrictions
Making you anonymous also translates to another benefit; bypassing geo-restrictions. SSL proxies can encrypt all of your data and make it impossible for anyone to tell it is you. This is an easy way to bypass geo-restrictions and access websites even from forbidden locations.
Where Can SSL Proxies Be Used?
There are several areas where you can comfortably employ and use this type of proxy, including the following:
- They can be used for web scraping and automatically gathering publicly available data in large quantities and from multiple sources
- They can also be used for ad verification and ensuring the right placement of ads while preventing hackers from hijacking an ad.
- They can be used for social media management and monitoring multiple accounts across different platforms without prompting a block from any of them.
- They can be easily used to monitor and protect a brand’s reputation against infringement and online damages.
Conclusion
If you have ever wondered what SSL proxy is, we hope the above explanation answers your question. It is a high-level proxy that takes your security and anonymity very seriously, keeping you well secured from the harms of the internet.
