Distorting Proxy: How does it work?

The importance of online privacy and security in this digital era cannot be overstated. With the increasing threat of cyber-attacks and data breaches, organizations urgently seek practical solutions to protect their digital identities. As a result, many have opted for distorting proxies as the best solution against online privacy threats. Distorting proxies not only helps protect user data but also plays a crucial role in circumventing geographical content restrictions and broadening access to global information resources.

What is a Distorting Proxy?

A distorting proxy is the type of proxy server that masks the real IP address of the user by passing a false one in the HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) header. This way, it creates the impression that a user is from a different location, giving them a chance to access remote websites while successfully preserving anonymity.

How does it work?

A distorting proxy operates by altering the HTTP headers in the client’s request. When a client sends a request to access a resource on the internet, the request is first directed to the distorting proxy server. This request includes the client’s IP address and other relevant HTTP headers.

The distorting proxy server processes this request and modifies the ‘X-Forwarded-For’ field in the HTTP headers. It replaces the client’s original IP address with a different one, effectively ‘distorting’ the source of the request. The server then forwards the modified request to the target server on the internet.

Upon receiving the request, the target server perceives it as originating from the proxy server’s IP address, not the client’s. The server processes the request and sends a response back to the proxy server, which then forwards the response back to the client.

This process of distorting the client’s IP address provides a level of anonymity, as the target server cannot accurately determine the client’s real IP address. However, it’s worth noting that a distorting proxy does not provide complete anonymity. Some websites or servers may detect the use of a proxy and block or restrict access.

Advantages and disadvantages of distorting proxies

To decide whether it is the right solution for you, it’s integral to weigh all the benefits and drawbacks. The following are especially important to note:

Pros of using distorting proxies

• Improved anonymity – while using it, your IP address isn’t simply hidden but presented as a different one. This feature is exactly what provides you with the desired amount of privacy when surfing the web or performing scraping jobs.
• Easy access to geo-blocked content – with governments closely monitoring online activities and websites implementing location-based restrictions, a distorting proxy is definitely one of the best workarounds. It assigns you a false IP enabling access to content from a completely different location.

Cons of using distorting proxies

• Inconsistent – as mentioned earlier, it is not trustworthy enough to be used in complex processes, such as web scraping. Remote websites can identify and block them, leaving you without a chance to extract the required public data.
• Security risks – on one hand, it may seem obvious that masking IPs, and distorting proxies successfully protect users from hackers or cybercriminals. But once you dig deeper, several important questions arise, such as where these IP addresses come from, whether they’re sourced ethically, and what purpose they served before you acquired them. While in the case of distorting proxies, it’s hard to give clear answers to these questions, the likelihood of your security being compromised becomes high.

Distorting proxy use cases

Let’s have a look at some of the most popular use cases of a distorting proxy, now that you know what it is and how it differs from other types of proxies.

Identity protection
Its primary function is to protect your identity by providing you with a false IP address. This significantly increases privacy and prevents hackers or malicious websites from accessing your sensitive information.

Location-restricted content
A distorting proxy is also an excellent solution for accessing geo-blocked content. It creates the impression that you’re browsing from a different location, making it easy to bypass geo-restrictions and access the public information you require. However, it’s worth noting that targets can still detect a distorting proxy and prohibit you from accessing a specific URL.

Caching
Distorting proxy servers can be used for caching purposes, much like transparent proxies. By supporting fast caching, they help users access different websites with decreased load time and reduced bandwidth usage.

Web scraping
It is also commonly used in web scraping, as they are great at protecting one’s identity and bypassing IP blocks, allowing access to highly localized information. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that distorting proxies are not as reliable and anonymous as premium proxies (residential or datacenter), meaning that remote websites may identify and block them over time. To work around this issue, using high-quality rotating proxies in your scraping jobs, which assign a new IP address for every connection, can make your activities untraceable and allow for smooth and block-free data gathering.

Difference Between a Proxy And a Distorting Proxy

The difference between the standard proxy and the distorting proxy is frequently misunderstood. Actually, there isn’t much of a difference in how they operate on a fundamental level. The maintenance of the users’ anonymity is the basic goal of both kinds of proxies.

These two proxies only have one fundamental functional difference: how they work. A distorting proxy will change the HTTP header associated with the IP address to hide the user’s identity.  Whereas the normal proxy just makes use of a proxy address to act on the user’s behalf.

Conclusion

Distorting proxies are a popular tool for enhancing online privacy, security, and access to geo-restricted content. They work by changing the user’s IP address and other identifying information to mask their online activity.

While there are several types of distorting proxies available, users should choose a reputable provider to avoid potential risks. Overall, it offers an effective solution for maintaining online anonymity and security in an increasingly dangerous online environment.