Proxy Terminology Explained
New to proxies? This glossary covers the key terms you will encounter when using ProxyPorts.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Proxy | An intermediary server that sits between your device and the internet. Your traffic is routed through the proxy, so websites see the proxy's IP address instead of yours. |
| ISP Proxy | A proxy that uses an IP address assigned by a real Internet Service Provider (e.g., Comcast, Vodafone). These IPs appear as regular residential users to websites, making them harder to detect and block. |
| Data Center Proxy | A proxy hosted on a commercial server in a data center. Fast and affordable, but easier for websites to detect because the IP does not belong to a residential ISP. |
| HTTP Proxy | A proxy protocol designed for web traffic (HTTP and HTTPS requests). The most widely compatible protocol — works with virtually all browsers and applications. |
| SOCKS5 | A lower-level proxy protocol that can handle any type of traffic (not just web). Supports UDP, making it suitable for gaming, streaming, VoIP, and applications that do not support HTTP proxies. |
| IP Whitelisting | An authentication method where you register your device's public IP address on the ProxyPorts dashboard. Connections from that IP are automatically authenticated without a username or password. |
| Thread (Concurrent Connection) | A single simultaneous connection through the proxy. ProxyPorts proxies support up to 100 concurrent threads. One browser tab can use many threads at once. |
| ASN (Autonomous System Number) | A unique identifier assigned to a network (like an ISP or data center) on the internet. Checking an IP's ASN tells you which organization owns it — useful for verifying whether an IP is truly ISP-assigned. |
| CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) | A technique used by mobile carriers and some ISPs where many users share a single public IP address. This causes problems with IP Whitelisting because your visible IP changes frequently and is shared with others. |
| Reverse DNS (rDNS) | A DNS lookup that maps an IP address back to a hostname. Websites use this to check whether an IP belongs to a known proxy, hosting, or ISP provider. |
| Geolocation | The estimated physical location (country, city) associated with an IP address. Third-party databases provide geolocation data, but their accuracy varies and can be outdated. |
| Fraud Score | A risk rating assigned to an IP address by third-party services like IPQS or Scamalytics. High scores suggest the IP has been associated with suspicious activity, but these scores use proprietary algorithms and do not reflect how real platforms evaluate your traffic. |
| Anti-Detect Browser | A specialized browser (like AdsPower, MoreLogin, or MuLogin) designed to manage multiple browser profiles, each with a unique fingerprint. Used for running multiple accounts without detection. |
| Browser Fingerprint | A unique identifier created from your browser's properties — screen resolution, installed fonts, WebGL renderer, timezone, language, and more. Websites use fingerprints to track and identify users even without cookies. |
| TLS Fingerprint | A signature derived from how your browser or tool negotiates an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. Different browsers and tools produce different TLS fingerprints, which websites can use to detect automation. |
| WebRTC | A browser technology for real-time communication (video calls, etc.) that can leak your real IP address even when using a proxy. Anti-detect browsers and extensions can disable or spoof WebRTC to prevent this. |
| Rate Limiting | A restriction on the number of requests you can make in a given time period. Exceeding the limit results in 429 (Too Many Requests) errors. |
| Uplink | The upload bandwidth of a proxy connection. ProxyPorts proxies have a 100 Mbps uplink cap. |