Corporate browsing restrictions can cause a lot of trouble. They typically use an extensive category of "banned sites" that have removed all but a few popular ones.
In some cases, none of the regular proxy servers worked, and even Google Translate failed. If you experience these issues, you can set up your own working proxy server in minutes. We also looked at how to set up a VPN at home.
Create your own proxy server: Prerequisites
There are a few things you need if you want to know how to create a proxy server.
Web host: In theory, any web host will do if it complies with other requirements; an old computer in your basement or even a free online web host.
PHP7 or greater and cURL: Find this on your web host's website. If it's paid hosting, you can almost count on it. cURL is a feature that will be disabled on most free hosts.
Permissions: Some web hosts will forbid you from creating online proxy servers — or chat rooms, for that matter — in terms of their content. You can expect them to find out if you do.
1. Download and Install PHP-Proxy
PHP-Proxy is a free, standalone PHP script. That means it's lightweight and incredibly easy to configure. You can download it from the website.
Next, upload the files to a subdirectory on your webserver. If you see a folder called 'www' or after your domain name (e.g., domain.com), create the subfolder in there. You need to avoid using the word “proxy” because some companies pick up on it. Instead, use “web” or “surf.”
There are a few different ways to upload your files. Here they are, arranged from the least to the most effort.
Upload and unpack ZIP: Look in the file manager for an “unpack” or “extract” option. Depending on your web host, what this looks like and how you access it may be different. Ask your hosting service for help if you can't find it. You can then extract the proxy files to your public directory.
FTP access: You can also use an FTP application to access your web host and let it transfer the files while you fetch some more coffee. Most hosts support this option.
Manual upload: You really don't want to do this. Are you sure the previous two alternatives are blanked out? Your last resolve will be to manually upload all the files and folder structures or start looking for a different host—it might not be such a bad idea.
2. Ready to use
Only one step is really needed after you have these files installed. Edit the file config.php to add a random value to $config['app_key']= ' '; in between quotation marks. Once you've filled in that field, save the file and your proxy is ready to use.
Just point your browser to the directory where you put all those files (e.g. domain.com/surf) and PHP-Proxy will pop up. Then you can type any URL you want in the search bar and browse freely.
After setting up PHP-Proxy, you can use it however you want. Proxies like these hide your IP address so you can search anonymously, which also helps you access restricted content.
3. SSL Encryption Settings
https://certbot.eff.org/instructions
While you can continue to use PHP-Proxy without any extra steps, it's not ideal. If you want to use your proxy server securely, you should also install SSL encryption, which PHP-Proxy does not include by default. Thankfully, this step is also quick and easy.
There is a free automatic certificate tool called Certbot that you want to install. Visit its website and it will give you customized instructions on how to install it based on your operating system and server.
Whenever you see YourDomainName.com in the script during installation, replace it with your actual domain name. At the end of the process, Certbot will ask if you want to redirect all traffic to HTTPS. Choose to redirect everything, as that is the safest option and then you can safely use PHP-Proxy.
How to set up a proxy in Windows 10
If you use Windows 10, there is an even easier way to use a proxy. Here's how to set up a proxy server using Windows 10's built-in settings.
1. First, open your Settings then click on the Network & Internet section.
2. Click Proxy, then make sure the Automatically detect settings is turned on.
3. Turn Use setup script on,, then enter the script address for whatever proxy you want to use.
4. After you click Save, Windows will automatically run internet traffic through your proxy.
If Windows has trouble detecting your proxy, you can set it up manually. Under Proxy Settings, switch Use a proxy server under Manual proxy setup. Instead of entering the script address, you will have to enter the proxy's IP address and port number.
You should be able to get this information from your provider. Once you fill in these fields, click Save and you can use your proxy.
Once you know how to set up a proxy server in Windows 10 or your own, you can use the Internet however you choose. You can access Facebook when blocked, protect yourself from malicious websites, and even save bandwidth.
If you want to delegate the hard work to someone else, you can use one of these popular web proxies instead. You can also bypass blocked websites without a proxy if you don't want to get in trouble. If your Firefox proxy server doesn't connect or you get a proxy server error in Windows 10, we'll help you fix the problem.
How to set up a proxy in Windows 11
Just like Windows 10, Windows 11 has a built-in proxy server setting.
1. Press the Windows key and type Change proxy settings. The first option that pops up will take you to the correct settings.
2. Turn on Automatically detect settings
3. Then click Set up next to Use setup script..
4. Turn on Use setup script and enter your proxy script address in the dialog box that appears, then click Save.
If you want to set up your proxy settings manually, click Set up under Manual proxy setup in the proxy settings pane. Switch Use a proxy server on, then enter your proxy's IP address and port number. You can also enter any addresses you don't want to run through your proxy. Once you've filled out everything, click Save.
Creating a proxy server may seem technically demanding, but in reality you can get a server up and running in just a few minutes. No matter what operating system you are using, you can use a proxy server easily. Then you can browse comfortably without worrying about security or privacy.
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