What is a proxy? Please DESCRIBE their importance to the average internet user.

[samoth]

I thought they were for people who wanted to surf child pornorgraphy, hack into government databases, or create alters on message boards without getting caught. How are they relevant to the average internet user? How do they work?

TYIA

 

[needtogetarmy]

It routs the data you send through the internet via other computers thus hiding your true location.

It is good if you get your IP banned from a board because the proxy IP is what is recognized. Also, it is good for buying things like steroids in the US, or pork in a Muslim country, and other items that might not be legal in some countries. For example, if you use the proxy server to check your E-mail, and your ISP records the IP address, it is recording an IP address that is not yours.