Exploring the Use and Risks of Free Proxy Lists in Online Privacy

Exploring the Use and Risks of Free Proxy Lists in Online Privacy1. IntroductionThe use of free proxy lists is a common practice on the Internet, especially to increase privacy and bypass censorship. These lists are available from a wide range of specialized websites and forums with updated addresses, usually listed along with port number and type of proxy. Despite the availability and scrutiny reserved for virtually all other privacy solutions, the risks associated with proxy lists are rarely discussed. This paper aims to quantify the reliability of current free proxy lists and analyze potential attacks for malicious consumption. From our…