public proxy question

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

If I use a public proxy to change my IP address, does it interfere with -

1. My Outlook Express e-mail

2. Kazaa

3. Friends who view my current IP address for file sharing

4. How easy is it to return to the cable IP address I have now or to
'switch' the proxy IP on and off.

I don't want to try something that is irreversible or creates a problem.

Thanks.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

"Courtney" <a@b.c> wrote in message news:KCbcd.73942$tU4.68165@okepread06...
> Freddo wrote:
>> If I use a public proxy to change my IP address, does it interfere with -
>>
>> 1. My Outlook Express e-mail
>>
>> 2. Kazaa
>>
>> 3. Friends who view my current IP address for file sharing
>>
>> 4. How easy is it to return to the cable IP address I have now or to
>> 'switch' the proxy IP on and off.
>>
>> I don't want to try something that is irreversible or creates a problem.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
> A public proxy doesn't change your IP address.
>
> All you do is set up that proxy in your Internet settings. Now, whenever
> you surf (or any program that uses your Internet settings), your request
> for www.yahoo.com, for example, will go to the proxy. The proxy changes
> your real IP address to its own, then performs your request. When the
> reply comes back (from www.yahoo.com, for example), that proxy swaps its
> IP address back to yours, then sends the request back to you.
>
> Note that the public proxy will only work if you make the original
> request. (However, there are some out there that do match one of their IP
> addresses with yours--but that kills the whole purpose of the proxy in the
> first place.)
>
> Unless you use an outside source for your email (i.e., not your ISPs) it
> won't work for mail. It also won't work for most online games that don't
> use proxy information.
>
> Switching on or off is easier than you might imagine. Since your IP
> address doesn't really change (just your proxy does). You can simply turn
> it off in your Internet settings. No reboot is required.
>
> Surprisingly, public proxies are not as anonymous as you may think.
>
> courtney sends....

Thanks courtney,
So if I look at a proxy list such as at
http://www.stayinvisible.com/index.pl/proxy_list
where do I go from there? How do I use one in the list? Where in IE do I
enter it and switch it on and off?