Proxies: A Newbies Guide

Proxies: A Newbies Guide

If you're expecting an easy guide that will solve all your problems and completely prevent you from being ICED on Neopets, then forget about reading this. There are more factors that go into you getting iced than just hiding your IP.

If you want to inform yourself a little more and perhaps be pointed in the right direction, then read on. This guide is only intended for educational purposes and you will need to study this topic thoroughly to totally protect yourself from being ICED.


++ How Can I HIde My Real IP Address?? ++

• HTTP proxy server (Transparent, Anonymous, Distorting, elite) : what is it?
  
  HTTP proxy server is a proxy, allowing working on the Internet with HTTP and (not always) FTP protocols. It (as well as other proxy servers) can carry out caching of information downloaded from the Internet.
  
  
  Let's have a more detailed look over its abilities...
  
  Anonymity of HTTP Proxy
  
  HTTP proxy servers have several anonymity levels. It depends on the purposes which a proxy is used for, so an anonymity requirement is not always an essential one. Conditionally HTTP proxy servers by their anonymity degree could be divided into:
  
  Transparent - these proxies are NOT anonymous. They, first, let a web server know that there is used a proxy server and, secondly, "give away" an IP-address of a client. The task of such proxies, as a rule, is information caching and/or support of Internet access for several computers via a single connection.
  
  Anonymous - these proxy servers let a remote computer (web-server) know, that there is a proxy being used, however, they do not pass an IP-address of a client.
  
  Distorting - unlike the previous type, they transfer an IP-address to a remote web-server, however, this address is a phantom: randomly generated by a proxy server or any fixed (not your) IP. So, these proxies distort your IP address from the point of view of a web-server.
  
  High anonymous (elite) – they do not send your IP-address to a remote computer. Also, they do not inform that there is a proxy server being used! So, a web-server "thinks” that it works directly with a client.
  
  High anonymous (elite) proxies are the best proxies you can use.

++ Finding Proxy Servers ++

• There are numerous web sites that provide lists of proxy IP/port addresses (just type "proxy list" into Google). Some of these lists are free and others charge for the best lists, as part of the support industry that has built up around spam.
  
  For the owners of these lists and others there are a number of tools available for the job. The most basic of these is a scanner which looks for open ports where proxies can be found; e.g. 1080, 3128 and 8080.
  
  Some of the places I use to find proxies are at:
  
  http://www.proxz.com
  http://eliteproxy.us
  http://www.checker.freeproxy.ru
  http://tools.rosinstrument.com
  http://www.samair.ru
  http://www.multiproxy.org
  http://www.proxy4free.com
  http://www.digitalcybersoft.com/ProxyLi ... list.shtml
  
  There are hundreds of these places.

++ Testing Your Proxy ++

• There are also a number of websites that provide a free online proxy check. The one I use is: http://whatismyipaddress.com/
  
  NOTE: If you can see your real IP address, then so can Neopets. BEWARE!!! It's very easy for a web site to check to see if a proxy server is being used, and get your Real IP address from it.
  
  Once a proxy server has been located, it needs to be tested to ensure it allows access to the type of connection desired and to ensure it provides anonymity.
  
  After identification and testing the proxy server, only then should it be used. If a proxy server is to be effective then "it must be able to fool the testing stage". There are many approaches to testing proxy servers. In the hacker community a proxy is 'elite' if it provides fast access and total anonymity.

++ Is There Software I Can Use That Will Hide My Identity?? ++

• Yes, there are a number of programs that can hide your IP. The main one most people know about here is Hide IP Platinum. It is available online with cracks/keygens. That is also why it is so widely used. IP Hider is another one that's gaining popularity.
  
  The drawback to using publicly available proxy programs is the fact that there are a limited number of proxies being used, so you can NOT be certain that someone that's ab'ing on Neopets is NOT using the same proxy.
  
  If one user of that proxy gets chain-iced, so will you, even if you aren't doing anything that's against Neopets rules. This rule applies to any publicly available proxy out there. Not all proxies will let you go to Neopets or login to Neopets.
  
  There are also less commonly known programs to help you like Hide-My-IP, ProxyWay, SurfAnonymous. The fastest ones I have found are the ones you have to pay for and they all must be tested by you (see Testing Your Proxy)
  
  Please Note: Some of the programs above will only set the proxy in Internet Explorer. If you use an AB'er that does not have a proxy setting, then you may be using your Real IP to autobuy. Make sure they do a system wide proxy IP change.
  
  Try as many programs as you'd like, but the following way is the easiest I have found:
  
  If you want to better your odds of not being detected by Neopets, than all you need to use a proxy server is built into either your browser or your system.

++ Configuring Your Browser ++

• Balthier created a guide that touched on the subject. It is located at: http://www.neofriends.net/phpBB2/viewto ... 4691#44691 and with his permission
  
  I have included the following:
  
  
  I'd like to expand a little on the above.
  
  Here's where a lot of people mess up, and make it easy for Neopets to ICE you. You have to remember one thing if you configure only your browser.
  
  Example: Let's say you're using both FireFox and Internet Explorer and you've configured your FireFox to use a proxy.
  
  Using FireFox, you can go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ and if you've got a good(elite) proxy, your real IP address will NOT show up.
  
  Thinking that... now you have the false impression your IP Address will be hidden from Neopets. It will be... but only if you are only using FireFox. If you use the Igloo AutoBuyer or some other autobuyer that does NOT have a box to put in a proxy, then chances are, it is using your SYSTEM DEFAULT SETTING. So instead of having your proxy IP being shown, the autobuyer is actually showing Neopets your REAL IP ADDRESS.

++ Configuring Your System ++

• In order to have total anonymity using any program, you have to change your system wide settings. Go into your "Control Panel" and choose "Internet Settings". Once you are in Internet Settings, click on "LAN Settings". You will see a box labeled "Use a proxy server for your LAN...". Confim your proxy settings are in there, or Click the box and Enter the proxy information with the port number. Click OK.
  
  Now your complete system is configured to use the proxy server for all applications.
  
  If you have an autobuyer that has a proxy entry box, you can skip the above and enter it directly in to box. Just remember if you're also using Firefox or Internet Explorer, you have to make sure your browser is also using the proxy.
  
  The main thing to remember is always make sure you load your browser up "after" you change your System Settings. It's easy to change these settings and forget you have FireFox or an autobuyer already running and not realize it's still using your Real IP.
  
  Just Remember: You always have to check your proxy by going to: http://whatismyipaddress.com before you do anything, otherwise, you can easily get yourself ICED.

++ Will A Proxy Speed Me Up or Slow Me Down?? ++

• For the most part a proxy should slow you down. It might be a small decrease in speed, or a very large one. By having a proxy, you are adding multiple links(hops) to get to Neopets.
  
  The rule is always: "You are only as fast as your slowest link"

++ Now... You've got your proxies, and your browsers are set up, how do I protect my main accounts from being linked to my side accounts? ++

• First and foremost, As a habit I go to Google, clear my cache... history... and files. Then and only then do I go on Neopets. I NEVER go on my mains on any IP that's even remotely connected to my side accounts. If my sides were ever to get ICED then at least my mains have a chance of survival.
  
  I don't give anything to my mains, trade anything to my mains, or sell anything to my mains. It's like I'm a totally new user.
  
  Perhaps a year from now I'll slowly transfer things over to my Main accounts, but by that time, the accounts I'm using now, I would have let them sit and not AB'd on them for 6 months to a year and I'll already be on a new set of aged side accounts or I would have stopped ABing completely for 6 months to a year.
  
  Personally, I don't mind having valuables spread all over. I still own them and they'll get more valuable with time.

++ In Summary ++

• 1. Find a proxy
  2. Configure your system to use a proxy
  3. Test the proxy (http://whatismyipaddress.com)
  4. Make sure you do NOT do anything that would connect your mains to your sides.
  5, Don't AB for hours and hours.
  
  Ok... so that's a brief lesson on proxy servers.
  
  The bottom line is: You have to find a proxy that is 'elite' and it provides fast access and total anonymity. This will take you a lot of time to find, and once you find them they are like gold. They also don't last very long, so you'll be looking a lot to find new ones. The only other alternative is to find a pay service that provides elite proxies, but there again, there are no guarantees that someone else is NOT using that proxy to AB.
  
  If you wonder why someone doesn't just give you an IP address of a proxy?? If they are using it... why would they take the chance of getting ICED if you make a mistake?
  
  I hope this guide helps, or at least informs you a little. I'm not saying it's a perfect guide, but I've followed this guide for a long time and I've never been iced by neopets for cheating. At least it'll get you started in the right direction.

Please note: This guide is about proxies. I have not gone into Spoofing, IP Masking or Tunneling. Those are things that are not readily available to users. Besides, if you know what they are, then chances are, you're way beyond this guide anyway.

Have fun!

Edit: Thanks to all that +rep'd for this post! It's very much appreciated!