Danger of Proxy Sites
Many Schools and Companies block certain websites. This is being done for many reasons. Companies may want to stop employees to waste time during working hours and Schools may want to ensure that the internet is only being used for educational purposes. Because people still want to use those sites people turn to proxy websites.
By using proxy websites they can get passed the firewall and access the website they want. So people use myspace, facebook, bebo and other websites through a different website. You might wonder what the danger is? Well the danger is the actual proxy website. To understand the danger better we will have a look at how they work.
When you enter a url on a proxy website, the proxy website requests the page for you and changes then all the links on a page so that when you click on a link you will not be send to the real website. When you click on a link you will be sent to the proxy website which will then request the new page for you. This is also the case if you use forms.
If you use Google through a proxy website for example. You enter a search phrase or word in the textbox and the information will be sent to the proxy website first who will then sent it to Google. The result that Google returns will again be changed and then be sent to you. Whats the danger there you wonder? Well the danger is if you look at websites that require a login. Proxy scripts can be easily changed so that they will record all usernames and passwords. The owner can then easily log into your account and steal it from you. He can change password email address and anything he wants. If you use a proxy website to check your online bank account or paypal balance, they proxy owner could log on later and transfer all your money to a different account.
We are not saying that this is actually happening but it is easy to do. So be safe and don't use a proxy website to log onto another one. If could be the last time you do that. ;)