How to Access Blocked Websites, View Restricted Sites

Most of us find ourselves in situations where a website we wish to visit is blocked by a software or by our ISP (Internet Service Provider). So the question arises, how can we access blocked websites. The answer to this is simple: Proxy Servers. Before going into details, let us know a bit about proxy servers.

Proxy Server

A proxy server acts as an intermediate source between the user and server the site being contacted is hosted on. Users send requests to proxy servers which convey them to the site's server. The reply received to the proxy server is forwarded to the user's computer. This gives an impression to ISP's and softwares that the user is visiting the site on which proxy server is hosted but in reality, s/he is visiting the site which was blocked. Thus, proxy servers provide extra security to users by making them browse the web almost anonymously.

Commonly Blocked Web Sites

The sites which are most commonly blocked by ISP's at workplaces, schools and offices are social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and Twitter. In some countries, social bookmarking sites like Digg and Reddit are also blocked. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China have even blocked access to mainstream media websites like The New York times. A proxy server can be used to visit them and also to access websites which are restricted to particular countries and block users from other countries from accessing them. So, a proxy server becomes an absolute necessity for users who must visit blocked sites and supporters of free uncensored information.

Types of Proxy Servers

There are two types of Proxy Servers. First, the ones which are hosted on a website and have interactive design and second, the ones which do not have a website and interactive layout and only work on the basis of IP Addresses and Port Numbers. Proxy servers are also segregated on the basis of anonymity into Anonymous, Transparent and High Anonymous.

How to Find Proxy Servers

A simple google search containing the word "proxy servers" is likely to return a lot of proxy servers. But most of them are likely to be proxy servers which you can setup using IP Address and Port Number. So, in order to find interactive proxy servers, you will have to search "Facebook Proxy Server" or "Orkut Proxy Server". A search like this is most likely to return interactive proxy servers with which you can access your website by simply entering the URL in URL field. If you want additional security and anonymity, you can opt for a paid proxy server.

Note: The reason why links to proxy servers are not given is that most proxy servers stay up for short periods of time. Thus, a list containing outdated proxy servers will be of no use.

How to Setup Proxy Servers

If you wish to visit your blocked website using an interactive proxy server, you do not need any setup. But, if you wish to use proxy servers using IP Address, you must set them up.

Google Chrome and Internet Explorer Users

Google Chrome uses the same network settings as Internet Explorer. So, in order to use a proxy server in Google Chrome, you have to setup proxy server in Internet Explorer. You can setup a proxy server in Internet Explorer by following the instructions given below:-

Start Internet Explorer.
Click on Tools, Internet Options.
Click on Connections Tab, select your Network Connection and click on Settings.
Check on Use a Proxy Server for this Connection.
In the Address field, add the IP Address of your Proxy server and In the Port field, enter the Port Number of your Proxy Sever.
Click on OK and OK again.

Mozilla Firefox Users

Mozilla Firefox users can setup Proxy Servers by following the instructions given below:-

Start Mozilla Firefox.
Click on Tools, Options.
Click on Advanced Tab.
Click on Network tab.
Click on Settings.
Circle Manual Proxy Configuration.
Enter the IP Address and Port Number in the appropriate category. In most cases, it will be a HTTP server.

After you have successfully setup the proxy server, you will be able to access blocked websites.

Related - Best Ways to Access Blocked Websites