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Proxies that focus on WWW traffic are called web
proxies. Many web proxies attempt to block
offensive web content. Other web proxies
reformat web pages for a specific purpose or
audience (e.g., cell phones and PDAs or persons
with disabilities). Network operators can also
deploy proxies to intercept computer viruses and
other hostile content served from remote web
pages.
Many organizations — including schools,
corporations, and countries — use proxy servers
to enforce acceptable network use policies or to
provide security, anti-malware and/or caching
services. A traditional web proxy is not
transparent to the client application, which
must be configured to use the proxy (manually or
with a configuration script). In some cases,
where alternative means of connection to the
Internet are available (e.g., a SOCKS server or
NAT connection), the user may be able to avoid
policy control by simply resetting the client
configuration and bypassing the proxy.
Furthermore administration of browser
configuration can be a burden for network
administrators.
Access control: Some proxy servers implement a
logon requirement. In large organizations,
authorized users must log on to gain access to
the WWW. The organization can thus track usage
to individuals.
A proxy server that removes identifying
information from the client's requests for the
purpose of anonymity is called an anonymizing
proxy server or anonymizer.
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