|
Proxy servers - The dangers of free and open
proxy servers:
Whenever you search the internet or visit web sites for
advice about how to unblock web sites or how to surf
securely, there are a multitude of people erroneously recommending 'free proxy
servers' or 'open proxy servers'. However, in the end, they can
cost you bundles -- in more ways than you ever imagined!
In order for a proxy server to deliver secure or unblocked traffic, it
must
have a connection to a large internet pipe. It needs bandwidth to
deliver information back to you, and hundreds if not thousands of
others, in a reasonable period of time. The
thing about bandwidth is that it costs money. Therefore, large amounts of
bandwidth costs a lot of money. Tack onto that the cost of the
servers, proper maintenance, as well as keeping up with the
latest security patches, and you have a very expensive proposition. So,
you have to ask yourself -- how/why are people out there spending lots of
money putting up open proxy servers, for free? The only logical
answer is that they are creating a method of getting a return on
their investment.
Some people create
proxy servers in their home or off low other bandwidth connections.
Their goal is to stuff the session with advertisements that you
click on which generates money for them. The click through on such
advertisements and the payout is extremely low. However, since they
are offering virtually no bandwidth and the connections are
painfully slow their costs are minimal. The ads always take
precedence over your surfing. The plan is that while you are waiting
you will click on some ads! Like all proxy servers, these will get
blocked in short order by most firewalls, resulting in dwindling
revenue for the aspiring entrepreneur. When that happens he signs up
for a few new domain names, renames his servers and spams the forums
with his latest "fresh proxies". The cycle then repeats over and
over again.
The fact is,
most open or free proxy servers are run by hackers. Their "return on
investment" is in stealing your information and getting access to
your computer. If you have ever used a free proxy server, you might have
wondered why they seem to go away all the time. Part of the reason
for this is that the server accounts are set up by hackers who are using
stolen credit cards. When they are discovered, they are shut down by
the hosting companies.
Hackers commit
many illegal acts, including credit card fraud. They mine your data
while you're connected to their proxy server and access credit card and personal information,
in order to acquire credit cards in
your name. Although this in itself is more than enough reason to never
use a free proxy, it actually gets worse.
When these hackers
commit their illegal acts, they must cover their tracks. They need
to make sure nobody knows their true internet (IP) address and identity. The easiest and most efficient way to do this
is to create a chain of computers that are under their control but
which belong
to unsuspecting people. By connecting through your computer to do
the crime, they ensure that your IP address gets logged as the place
where the hack originated. Then they sit in some far away land,
stealing credit cards, ordering goods with those cards, or even
planning some other crime, all in your name.
When hackers set
up an open proxy, the term 'Hacker Pot' is used. It comes from a similar
term called a 'Honey Pot'. A Honey Pot is a server, set up by
government agencies or security professionals, to entrap people who
are looking for free proxies. Many hackers have been tracked down
through the use of such machines. However, even if all you are
trying to do is unblock your favorite social site, you have reason
to be concerned. Most web sites that recommend free proxies are full of Honey Pots. Even if
you do nothing
illegal while accessing this machine, you are committing a federal
felony. The reason is that unauthorized access of a government
computer is a felony in itself and you can go to jail for it. They
don't have to announce to you that this machine is a government
computer. Since you are accessing the computer without permission,
you are breaking the law. It's your responsibility to know where you
are connecting to. Is it worth even the
remote possibility of having the FBI knock on your door
some day by using a free proxy?
The bottom line is, using a free proxy server is pretty much guaranteed to
have your identity stolen, allow your computer to be taken over or
put you in
violation of federal law.
|