FAQ's - WebGhost

Why does WebGhost want my administrator password?


The first time your run WebGhost it will ask for your administrator password. It needs this password in order to change your system's proxy configuration. WebGhost does not install any system software or make any low-level changes to your system. It only alters your network configuration.

 

How does WebGhost work?

WebGhost routes your web connection through a web proxy server. It achieves this by altering your system's network preferences. Browsers which adhere to Apple's system configuration protocol will pick up on these changes, and automatically send your connection through a proxy as opposed to connecting to the target site directly.
A. Your computer's web connections are managed by the WebGhost application. (see screen below)

B. Every time you launch WebGhost, it connects to the WebGhost server to obtain an up-to-date list of public proxy servers. The proxies on this list are then tested by your computer to ensure connectivity. (see screen below)

C. Direct: By clicking the "Direct" button in WebGhost, your web connections are routed directly to the Internet with no proxy protection.
(see screen below)

D. Public Proxy By clicking the "Public Proxy" button in WebGhost, your connections are routed through one of the public proxy servers in WebGhost's list. These proxies are not run by WebGhost, and their reliability cannot be guaranteed. They do, however, do a good job of performing WebGhost's primary function, which is to hide your IP address from the sites you visit.
(see screen below)

E. WebGhost Proxy By clicking the "WebGhost Proxy" button (available only to registered users,) your connections are routed through WebGhost's private proxy server. This is a high-bandwidth fully anonymous proxy server, located in the United States and maintained by WebGhost. It is non-logging, and it supports HTTP and HTTPS. (see screen below)
How WebGhost Works

What is the difference between Public Proxy and WebGhost Proxy?

The Public Proxy option will select a public HTTP proxy server from WebGhost's list. These servers are freely available for everyone's use, and they can become heavily trafficked. For this reason, their reliability cannot be assured.

The WebGhost Proxy option connects you through Macware's own anonymous proxy server. This server is fully anonymous and non-logging, and because it is private and accessible only to WebGhost users, it receives much less traffic than a public proxy generally does. The WebGhost proxy is available only to registered users of the program.

The WebGhost Proxy is a low-cost subscription-based service. The purchase of WebGhost includes a one year subscription to the WebGhost Proxy server. This subscription can be renewed at $10 for each additional year.

What protocols does WebGhost support?

Public proxy servers support HTTP. The WebGhost Proxy server supports HTTP and HTTPS.

Can WebGhost make my connection anonymous for Mail, Acquisition, Limewire, etc?

At this time WebGhost only masks your IP for web connections.

What do the dots mean?

The Public Proxies in WebGhost's list are categorized with one, two, or three dots to represent good, better, or best anonymity.
Good (•): The proxy server sends your computer's IP address to the target host in a special HTTP variable. This means that the host is able to find out your IP address, but will have to take special measures to do so. The host will need to know what field to look at for your IP address, and specially log it. Most hosts do not go to this trouble.
Better (••): The proxy server does not send your IP address to the target host. It does identify itself as a proxy server. Although the target host cannot determine your IP address, it can tell that you are using a proxy server.
Best (•••): The proxy server does not send your IP address to the target host. Nor does it identify itself as a proxy. The target host is unable to determine your IP address. It is also unable to determine that you are using a proxy.

Why do some of the public proxies not work?

WebGhost makes every effort to provide a reliable list of public proxy servers, but these servers become so heavily trafficked that they frequently go down or become unbearably slow throughout the day. WebGhost's server contacts all the proxies in its list every night, and measures their response time. This data is sent to the WebGhost client program so that your list is always current. Unfortunately reliable public proxies are becoming increasingly rare, as the threat of Windows spyware has recently prompted many Windows users to use anonymous proxies. The WebGhost proxy is generally your best option, as it is a dedicated Mac-only proxy which handles comparatively small amounts of traffic.

Why does WebGhost want my administrator password?

The first time your run WebGhost it will ask for your administrator password. It needs this password in order to change your system's proxy configuration. WebGhost does not install any system software or make any low-level changes to your system. It only alters your network configuration.

What kind of system is the WebGhost Proxy server?

2.1GHz AMD Athlon, 1GB RAM running Fedora Linux, Core 2. Located in a North American datacenter with multiple backbones, central UPS and redundant HVAC. Proxy software is Squid 2.5 STABLE7.

Is WebGhost Multilingual?

WebGhost 3.2 currently supports only English.


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