A proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between your device and the websites you visit. Instead of connecting directly, your traffic is routed through the proxy server, which forwards your requests and returns the responses.
Why Are Proxies Used?
Proxies are used for many legitimate and questionable purposes:
- Privacy and anonymity online
- Accessing region-locked or blocked websites
- Controlling and monitoring employee or student internet use
- Speeding up web access through caching
- Bypassing bans or restrictions
At the same time, proxies are often used by bots, scrapers, and attackers to hide real location or identity, rotate IP addresses, and evade security measures.
Main Types of Proxies
1. HTTP Proxies
- Work at the HTTP protocol level
- Only forward web (browser) traffic
- Can add or modify HTTP headers (often detected by security tools)
2. HTTPS (SSL) Proxies
- Similar to HTTP proxies, but support encrypted HTTPS traffic
- Often used for privacy and secure browsing
3. SOCKS Proxies
- Work at a lower level (TCP)
- Can forward any type of traffic (web, email, torrents, games)
- More flexible, often used for anonymity
4. Transparent Proxies
- Do not hide the fact that they are proxies
- Forward headers like
X-Forwarded-For or Via
- Often used for content filtering or logging
5. Anonymous Proxies
- Hide the user’s real IP, but identify themselves as proxies
- Used to bypass bans or geo-restrictions
6. Elite/High-Anonymity Proxies
- Hide both the real IP and the proxy’s own identity
- Harder to detect, often used by advanced bots
7. Residential Proxies
- Use IP addresses assigned to real devices by ISPs
- Look like normal users, often rented in bulk by scrapers or attackers
How BotBlocker Detects Proxies
Free Plan: Simple Header Analysis
On the free plan, BotBlocker detects basic proxy usage by scanning for suspicious HTTP headers commonly set by proxy servers, such as:
X-Forwarded-ForViaForwardedClient-IP
If these headers are present or abnormal, the connection may be flagged or blocked as a likely proxy.
Pro Plan: Database & Behavioral Detection
On the Pro plan, BotBlocker uses an advanced proxy detection database that:
- Contains millions of known proxy IPs (including residential, mobile, datacenter, and elite proxies)
- Tracks proxy reputation and history
- Identifies new and rotating proxies in real time
This approach catches not only basic proxies but also stealthy, high-anonymity, and residential proxies used by sophisticated bots.
Why Proxy Detection Matters for Security
- Stops scraping and spam bots that hide behind IP rotation
- Blocks attackers using proxies to brute-force logins or bypass bans
- Protects analytics and SEO from fake visits and fraud
FAQ
Can legitimate users be flagged as proxies?
Sometimes, especially with public Wi-Fi, VPNs, or corporate networks. BotBlocker minimizes false positives with smart analysis.
Is the advanced proxy database available in the free version?
No, the most powerful detection (with historical proxy analysis) is exclusive to the Pro version.
How to enable proxy detection?
Basic detection works out of the box. Pro features require activation of your license.
Learn more about all BotBlocker security features
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