How to turn off proxy on your computer

Disabling a proxy can be both necessary and risky, but here’s how to do it

2 mins Read
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A proxy server is an intermediary between your device and the public web. It masks your IP address, adds a firewall between your device and the web, and can help to block mal/adware from connecting with your device. If properly configured, a proxy can be a reliable privacy and security tool, but it is by no means as comprehensive as a good Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be. Before disconnecting from your proxy, read up on the difference between a proxy and a VPN.

Users may encounter many issues when using a proxy server: connection problems, latencies, configuration errors, and desired web services getting blocked. For these reasons users may want to turn off their proxy server temporarily. The big downside of proxies is that they are usually application specific rather than system-wide, so you will need to manually enable and disable the proxy settings on each desired application (e.g., on your browser, operating system, or communications apps, etc.).

If you need to do so, Nym will walk you through the privacy risks in disconnecting from a proxy, as well as the steps for managing your proxy’s settings on both your operating system and in particular browsers. You should keep in mind that problems with a proxy server might be avoided altogether by using a privacy-focused VPN instead.

Would you like to know more about proxies? Read our article that explains what a proxy is.

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