- 1). Run a Google search on the keyword "proxy software" or "proxy server." This will take you to a series of proxy forums or proxy-checking engines. These forums carry lists of proxy software providers.
- 2). Check out the software. Visit forums or websites to see the listed proxy software packages. Use the ratings provided by the proxy checking engine to assess the quality of the software. A higher rating obviously implies greater reliability.
- 3). Assess the credibility of the proxy checking engine. Study the criteria on which the engines base their listing. Those that assign ratings on the basis of access time, performance and lifetime are reliable. Check if the checking engine itself owns some proxies or carries advertisements of proxy owners. The credentials of such engines are suspect.
- 4). Learn the cost of individual proxy servers. Some of them -- including Free Proxy Server, PublicProxyServers.com and Gadgethack.info -- offer free service. Other providers, such as Proxz.com, ask for payments. The payment schedules can vary from monthly to pay-per-use options. A few proxy servers are for the exclusive use of private groups.
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