How to Download through an Anonymous Proxy Server

Are you looking to hide your IP address while you download files online? Then you are on the right page as we would be showing you how to set up proxies for browsers and even the popular Internet Download Manager.

Setup Browsers to Download Via Proxy Servers

Are you looking forward to downloading a file or document from the Internet but do not want to reveal your real IP address as you do that? It is no longer news that as you surf. The Internet accessing resources from web servers, your device hand out your real IP address as a standard procedure in other to identify itself.

These web servers are becoming cunning with their use of the UPs of their users – some use it for tracking your activities both on the website you visit or as you move around the Internet as in the case of ads companies. In some scenarios, you are blocked because of your location and your IP address is what is used in getting your actual location.

There is also not soo good use of IP address that will make you want to keep your IP address hidden from websites you download from. You wouldn’t want to get a lawsuit or get harassed by copyright trolling because you downloaded copyrighted material. Fortunately for us, with the help of proxies, you can mask your real IP address as you download from the Internet without anyone knowing you are the one that downloaded the file.

We will be showing you how to download through proxy servers in this article. You will learn how to get that done on your browser and using the Internet Download Manager (IDM). You will need a fast proxy server to be able to follow this guide. Smartproxy dedicated datacenter proxies are some of the best for downloading.

Smartproxy-Launched-Dedicated-Datacenter-Proxies


How to Setup Browsers to Download Via Proxy Servers

In this section, we would be showing you how to use popular web browsers to download files through proxies. These browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox.


Google Chrome on Windows

Google Chrome on Windows does not have application-level proxy configuration support, you will have to get that done from the global proxy setting. Below is the steps to get that done.

Step 1: Go to “Settings” and click on “Network and Internet”

Network and Internet Settings

Step 2: From the left panel, select “Proxy”

Proxy option from network

Step 3: Toggle “Use a proxy server” ON and provide the proxy address and port in the appropriate input box and then save.

Manual Proxy Setup

Step 4: Go to Chrome and attempt to use it, you will be asked for a username and password for authentication if the proxy server is paid – provide the username and password. From then, all of your web requests would be routed through the proxy server including downloads.

username and password for authentication

Read more,


Google Chrome and Safari on Mac

As on Windows, Google Chrome uses the global proxy settings – so does Safari. So, below is the step-by-step guide on how to set up proxies for Mac to use for downloading on Safari and Chrome.

Step 1: Go to “Preferences” from the menu after clicking on the Apple logo.

Step 2: Click “Networks” and then click on “Wi-Fi”.

Networks option on mac

Step 3: You will see the “Advanced..” button on the bottom left-hand side of the interface – click it.

WiFi Advanced option on mac

Step 4: From the tabs, click on “Proxies”

Mac Proxies option

Step 5: From the next page, choose HTTPS (Secure Web Proxy) and check it. From the right-hand side, fill in the proxy details including proxy address, port, username, and password, and then save.

HTTPS Secure Web Proxy on mac

Step 6: Go to either Chrome and Safari and download the file you want to download.

More, Safari Proxy 101: How to Set Up Proxy in Safari for macOS

Firefox

Firefox proxy settings can be done from the Firefox interface if you want to use the proxy server from the application level. Below are the steps to follow.

Step 1: From the Firefox menu, click “Tools”, and select “Options”

Firefox menu Options

Step 2: Go to the “Advanced” panel and select “Network”

Firefox advanced Network option

Step 3: Under “Connection”, select “Settings” and then select “No proxy” from the options available and then click on “OK”.

Firefox No proxy settings

Step 4: Go and download the file you want to download and the download would be through the proxy you set up.


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How to Setup Internet Download Manager (IDM) with Proxy Server

The Internet Download Manager (IDM) has received a lot of awards and has been regarded as the best Internet downloader by many reputable sources. This tool makes your downloads 5 times faster and even more reliable.

It comes with other advanced features that include a powerful download engine, built-in scheduler, customizable interface, organize downloads into categories automatically, among others. This downloader has support for popular browsers and with it installed, download attempts from these browsers would be done by this downloader.

You can set up proxies on IDM so that all of your downloads would be through proxies, making you download anonymously from the Internet. As earlier advised, Smartproxy dedicated datacenter proxies are some of the best for downloading from the Internet.

Step by step guide to Integrating Proxies in Internet Download Manager (IDM) for Anonymous Download

Step 1: Visit the IDM official website to download IDM. It is a paid tool but allows you to use it for free for the first 30 days as a new user.

IDM official website

Step 2: Install it and launch it.

internet download manager setup

Step 3: Click on the “Options” tab.

internet Download Manager option tab

Step 4: The interface that opens has 9 tabs. Click on the “Proxy” tab

Step 5: Check the “Use HTTP Proxy” checkbox.

Advance proxy Settings

Step 6: Provide the proxy address, port, username, and password

Here is the sample of smart proxy's datacenter proxies,

sample of smartproxy

Step 7: Click on “OK”.


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Conclusion 

With proxies, your downloads do not have to be done with your IP address if you are concerned about your privacy online and want to keep the trolls and trackers a mile away from you. Following the guide above, you are able to set up proxies and use them to download online while remaining anonymous.

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