Proxy servers and the danger from hackers
Proxy servers serve as an intermediary between a computer and the Internet or a service on the Internet. The proxy receives all data that is sent between the two sources. Through this intermediate stop, the server sends the data on under a new IP address, which allows an anonymous stay on the Internet. Hackers also make use of this option.
Proxy server: How it works
The proxy server is an additional server that interposes itself between the computer and the server and intercepts all data. When we surf the internet, we continuously send data to a server and the server sends data to us or our computer or another end device. This includes the IP address, among other things. If we connect a proxy between the server and the end device, the proxy intercepts the IP address, among other things, and sends the data on with its own IP address. This makes us anonymous on the Internet. Internet users use proxy servers for various reasons:
- Security: Proxy servers disguise your own IP address. This makes it more difficult for hackers to intercept data and track individual users via their addresses.
- Country blocks: It is possible to bypass country blocks with proxy servers. Not all websites are accessible in all countries. For example, the websites of TV stations are usually only accessible from the country in which the station is based. It is therefore not possible to access the media library of these broadcasters. This problem can be avoided with a proxy server.
- Faster surfing: Proxies have a cache for the cache. This means that websites that have already been visited load faster afterwards.
The primary purpose of using a proxy is therefore to bypass blocks and speed up data traffic. There are different variants of proxy servers for this purpose:
- Transparent proxies do not conceal the IP addresses, but pass on data openly.
- Distorting proxies send a false IP address but indicate that they are interposed so that the target site is informed that a proxy is present.
- Anonymous proxies hide IP addresses and ensure anonymity on the Internet. With very high anonymity, the presence of the proxy is also concealed. This means that recipients do not know that the user is surfing the Internet anonymously.
However, the use of proxies also has disadvantages. The networks within a proxy server are not always secure. Other users in the same network could therefore track the activities. This is of course an invitation for hackers. However, they also use proxy servers themselves for targeted attacks.
Hackers on the proxy server
Wherever there is an opportunity to move around on the Internet, shady characters are not far away. Hackers are always looking for new methods to obtain data, take over accounts or cause damage in other ways. Proxies offer hackers an invitation to intercept data without users noticing. To do this, hackers place the proxy between the user and the website. Neither the user nor the target site knows about this proxy. Therefore, they do not know that all data traffic between the two is now being read by the proxy. In this way, hackers obtain data such as passwords and can use them, for example, to gain unauthorized access to other people’s accounts. This is known as proxy hacking. Adversary-in-the-middle attacks are a common use of proxy servers for hacker attacks. Another variant is DNS spoofing. This involves hackers changing the IP address of a computer and gaining access to the data in this way. Proxy hacking is particularly dangerous because it is relatively easy to implement. In addition, hackers can easily conceal their identity or act undetected in these attacks.
Conclusion
Proxy servers can be useful for certain projects. However, the security risks should not be underestimated. You should be particularly careful with important data if a proxy server is used as an intermediary. Hackers pose a greater threat to the protection of data and accounts. They place unseen proxies between the user and the website in order to intercept data and gain access to other people’s accounts.
