WordPress is one of the most general CRM platforms for website creation. It offers many features, including e-commerce. Content automation, and customizable themes and plugins.
Most WordPress users are unaware that it allows you to create proxy servers using plugins. But first, let’s understand what a proxy server is and how it works.
What Is a Proxy Server
A proxy waiter is a valuable layer of security that a router system uses to forward your web requests to the websites you’re trying to access. It serves several functions but ensures that users aren’t tracked by their IP address.
While most proxy servers are designed for privacy, you can choose one to enhance security and access blocked content. In addition to accessing blocked content, you can prevent your employees from accessing websites that use proxy servers designed for this purpose.
Proxy servers are also critical if you don’t plan to scale your servers yet, but need a solution capable of handling increasing traffic.
Residential proxy servers, which use physical servers to forward your requests, are considered the best option for any business due to privacy concerns, but they can be expensive.
Types of Proxy Servers
You can choose from several types of proxy servers.
Reverse Proxy
Reverse proxies are typically servers that forward client requests to websites. They’re so named because they work with users, not websites. They also protect your audience from accessing sensitive website data.
Datacenter Proxy
Many users use data centre proxy servers, which are typically significantly cheaper than other dedicated proxy servers. The best data centre proxy servers change IP addresses after a specific time, thus protecting your connections from other users.
Free Proxies
If content is blocked based on your geolocation, a free proxy list is one way to bypass the restrictions. These lists hide your location by directing traffic through a server in another country.
Web Server Proxy
With web server proxies, only the URL is transmitted, not the path. Web server proxies forward HTTPS requests. Examples of these proxies include Apache and HAProxy.
Anonymous Proxy
Anonymous proxy servers attempt to hide user activity from malicious hackers.
Transparent Proxy
Transparent proxy servers hide your IP address only from those who share it. This type of proxy is often used by companies that don’t want their employees to know they’re using them.
Distorting Proxy
The WordPress proxy server we’re reviewing in this article is considered a distorting proxy. It changes your IP address based on the website you visit.
Forward Proxy
Direct proxy servers are commonly used between groups of workers or companies that use an internal network for work. Proxies evaluate data based on predefined policies to forward it or establish a complex connection.
Why Do You Need Your Own Proxy
A proxy server is essential for any online business that requires privacy and data collection. But if you’re willing to pay a high monthly fee for proxies that don’t meet your specific needs, or use free proxies that sell your data for advertising, your only option is to create your own.
Benefits of using a WordPress proxy server:
- Complete control over proxy server operations;
- Implementation of firewalls for your security and that of your employees;
- Site caching for faster content loading for your audience.
- Ensures email newsletters don’t end up in the spam folder.
Using WordPress to Create a Proxy Server
Setting up a proxy server with WordPress isn’t that difficult. All you need is:
- A website built with WordPress.org
- Free proxy plugins, like RePress
Once you have all the requirements, let’s get started!
Step 1:
Enable a permalink for your WordPress installation.
Step 2:
Select your preferred permalink format in your WordPress dashboard and go to Surroundings → Permalinks.
Step 3:
Now energy to the plugin from the same console, search for RePress in the repository and install it.
Step 4:
Go to RePress settings and select the websites you want to redirect. Add them to the allowlist.
Step 5:
Visit the websites you’ve allowed and check if they’re working. You can access them through your new proxy server using the following link:
Keeping your main website separate from the proxy server you created is recommended, as this can increase your site’s load due to proxy requests.
Since pages installed by RePress are redirected using NoFollow and NoIndex. Search engines are unlikely to detect them.
Benefits of Using a Proxy Server
Protecting Personal Data
Even if your company’s policy requires strong passwords, you won’t be able to prevent data theft from users’ personal devices if their IP address is compromised. To prevent this, proxy servers hide your IP address from cybercriminals.
User Filtration
You may need to block some users from accessing your website to ensure the security of your data.
Let’s say you’ve uploaded an article that hasn’t yet been indexed. If a competitor steals it and downloads the content from your site—and by chance, this happens before yours—search engines will penalise you for violating DMCA rules.
Website Caching
The most crucial factor affecting bounce rates is slow website loading. Your website needs to load faster; otherwise, your customers will unlikely return soon. To achieve this, you can use proxy servers to cache web sheets so they load faster.
Examining Packet Headers
Your social media accounts are difficult to track. To analyse their performance, you need to use a proxy server.
The Bottom Line
This article defines in detail how to create a proxy server with WordPress. A proxy server is essential for protecting yourself against malicious activity from cybercriminals or preventing your employees from accessing certain websites, such as social media.
To create a proxy server with WordPress, you must install a plugin and follow the instructions above; almost all plugins work the same way.