Set up your browser to use a proxy server

A proxy server is an anonymous computer somewhere that will fetch web pages for you, so that your identity or origin is not known to the site visited. This is useful for many purposes, among them visiting Malaysia Today and especially for posting comments there. Here’s a basic guide. Use this only if you are fairly confident of your computer skills.

• Remember, if the site is down, or hacked or attacked, no proxy server can help you get through. This is what seems to be happening to Malaysia Today recently, of combination attacks of blocks, hacking and DOS — Denial of Service — or other means.

Malaysia Today readers see also these posts:

‣ Getting access to Malaysia Today
other ways to read RPK’s postings
http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/getting-access-to-malaysia-today/

‣ Behind the attack on Malaysia Today
an explanation of who could have attacked Malaysia Today and how
http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/behind-the-attack-on-malaysia-today/

‣ Malaysia Today site not available again
what happened when Malaysia Today was attacked on Friday
http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/malaysia-today-site-not-available-again/

‣ The secret Cabinet papers
The Cabinet memorandums on the RM12bil Port Klang Free Zone debacle
http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/proxy-bookmarks-for-malaysia-today/

Set up your browser to call a proxy server.

‣ This requires tinkering with your browser Preferences. (Side-effects: Google will think you are in France or China or wherever the proxy server is and send you pages in that country’s language. Just search by loading google.com.my or google.com)

• First, visit Proxy4free. This is a list of anonymous proxy servers around the world. You can check the Whois link at the right, to get the details of each server, in case you are nervous.

• Choose one of the servers. Copy the IP number from the far left column. For example, 94.23.16.156 Look at the “Port” number in the second left column 3128 and remember it.

• Firefox settings Go to your browser’s Preferences. Click “Advanced” on the main row of buttons, then click “Network” on the second row of tabs. Click on “Settings”.

• Click the button for “manual proxy configuration”. In the box for “HTTP proxy”, paste [Control V] the IP number you had earlier copied [Control C].

• In the box for “Port”, type in the number you had earlier memorised. Or just click “OK”, then “Close”, go to the free proxy page again and copy the port number. Open the preferences again and get to the “port” box and paste.

• Click “OK”, then “Close”. After this, your browser will send all Internet requests to the proxy server, which will then fetch the page for you.

(If you have any problems, remove all proxy settings — Go to preferences, Advanced, Network, Settings, and click “No proxy”. Then click “OK” and “Close” and your browser will go back to its usual behaviour.)

• Again, remember that if the site is down or hacked or under attack, no proxy server can help you get through. Attacks can be made by DOS — Denial of Service — or other means.

© 2009 uppercaise

sha1sum:d4538f21a38c8e1c97449a97487abf5579e76777
updated 2009-09-28: 01:00

The above is presented in service of keeping alive free speech and a free press in Malaysia. I hope you find it useful.