What are forward proxies?

Forward proxies are used when the user's outgoing data is routed through the proxy server. This gives the user improved personal security, anonymity, and the ability to change locations. Every web request the user makes must pass through the forward proxy, which forwards the request to the internet via a firewall. The website or web application you use will only see the IP address of the proxy server, not your actual address.

Types of forward proxies

Residential Proxies. Residential proxies are the most common type of forward proxy. These proxies have real IP addresses assigned to them by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and come from a physical location. Residential proxies are significantly slower than datacenter proxies. This is because their creation requires significant effort when setting up systems, buying servers, etc., and managing maintenance and cost associated with each residential address.

Datacenter Proxies. The second type of forward proxies is known as datacenter proxies. These don’t have any legitimate location or address. Instead, they redirect their internet traffic through other servers using virtual locations. Datacenter proxies help reduce latency and allow access to restricted websites that filtering based on IP addresses would usually block. However, they tend not to be as reliable as residential ones due to their shared nature. This is why users should be cautious when using them for anonymity needs. Additionally, firewall settings can easily block them, making them ineffective against certain sites.

Why use forward proxies

Forward proxies offer several benefits and are best used for personal tasks. This includes enhancing privacy and anonymously browsing the internet, accessing geo-restricted content, and using automation tools for web scraping. They can also be used to bypass bans and blocks on websites.

What are reverse proxies?

Reverse proxies are used to route incoming traffic to the proxy server instead of outgoing traffic. This allows the server to hide its identity from clients or users. When a web request is received, it goes through the reverse proxy before being sent to the backend server. The website or client that sent the request will see the proxy server as the receiver, not the backend server.

Types of reverse proxies

Regular reverse proxies are a powerful tool for protecting web servers, servers, and networks from malicious attacks. They act as an intermediary between client applications and the server that hosts the requested resources. The proxy filters incoming requests, performs authentication tasks, and blocks malicious activity. They also help enforce various security policies. As a result, it effectively shields the targeted back-end systems from all sorts of unauthorized access and malicious activities.

Regular reverse proxies enable an organization to provide scalable services with increased efficiency. A proxy can cache content which helps reduce latency. This increases the overall turnaround time for each request. It can also filter out unwanted elements, such as ads or malware attempts in website assets, before these reach the visitor's browser. These make it an optimal solution for securing resources and improving application performance.

Why use reverse proxies

Reverse proxies provide increased security for backend servers by hiding their information from clients or users. This helps prevent cyber attacks and malicious intent. They're also best used to balance incoming traffic on multiple servers to prevent website crashes. This makes them ideal for organizations that handle sensitive information.

Reverse proxies VS Forward proxies

Forward Proxies

Direction: Outgoing traffic
Purpose: Hide the user's identity
Location: Between the client and the internet
Benefits: Enhanced personal security and anonymity
Use cases: Personal browsing, web scraping, geo-restricted content
Example: Used by users to access blocked websites

Reverse Proxies

Direction: Incoming traffic
Purpose: Hide the server's identity
Location: Between the internet and server
Benefits: Increased server security and load balancing
Use cases: Load balancing, security for sensitive information
Example: Used by websites to handle incoming traffic efficiently

Can a forward proxy act as a reverse proxy?

Forward and reverse proxies have a lot of similarities. But they are vastly different in terms of intended use. A forward proxy is an organization or individual’s computer, acting as an intermediate between the end user and another server on the internet. It is mainly used by companies to filter requests from users and block malicious traffic that may come through it. While a reverse proxy is typically used to provide better performance and security for server-side applications that are running on clients due to its ability to cache requests.

Simply put, a forward proxy cannot act as a reverse proxy as they each have separate software designed to support them in their respective roles. A forward proxy could use something like NGINX for load balancing and caching services, while a reverse proxy requires something like Apache HTTP Server for web application acceleration. So even if they might resemble each other from the outside, what makes them unique lies within their dedicated software components, which are tailored for particular tasks that these servers must perform.

Ensuring using the correct proxy type for your needs is essential for maximizing their benefits. If you’re looking for a reliable and efficient solution for web scraping and enhancing your online security, consider Geonode’s residential proxy offers.

Reverse Proxy VS Forward Proxy: Understanding the Difference