Free Proxy: Security risk for free proxy servers

In search of ways to circumvent the Youtube-GEMA lock or to counter other geoblocking hurdles, many users use free proxy servers. These are computers on the Internet, which bundle all the online traffic of a user and, for example, route it across another country so that the corresponding restrictions are no longer effective and the user can see their desired content.

So-called free proxy lists are found online abhauf. The user simply copies one of the specified IP addresses into his browser settings or even the router and from then on he is anonymous. If an internet site uses the IP address of the user through normal paths, it usually gets the proxy server, not the user's: actually a nice service, and since it is often free, users rarely worry about it The issue of security and risks.


The IT expert Christian Haschek from Vienna made these thoughts and tested a number of 443 proxy servers. The deliberately selected number is also the number of the standard port for an HTTPS connection, which plays a decisive role in its proxy test. Haschek tested with a script whether the proxy servers allow HTTPS connections, whether they manipulate HTML or JavaScript code of a website, and whether they really obscure the user's IP.


Lesetipp: VPN clients in comparison


The result is sobering: Of the 443 servers, 244 were offline - so you have to count on free proxy servers frequently. 79 percent of the remaining 199 servers forced websites to switch from the secure HTTPS protocol including encryption to the uncertain HTTP method. This makes it theoretically possible for the providers to read entered data such as passwords in the plaintext. One in four proxy servers either modified the HTML code or JavaScript elements of a Web page. In addition to advertising, malware could also be distributed. In addition, no proxy server obscured the user's IP.


Lesetipp: Anonymous surfing - so you stay invisible


This is, of course, only a sample, but you must be careful when using a proxy server. If you have found an IP address, you can run it through an online program (proxy check) written by Haschek. This checks the server for security features and suspicious activities. If you want to be safe, we recommend using a VPN program like OkayFreedom VPN. The free use is limited to 1 GB per month. Alternatively, there are some Hotspot Shields that provide more free bandwidth.