Proxy Authentication
The process of proving you are allowed to use a proxy, usually with a username and password or by pre-approving your IP address.
Full Definition
Proxy authentication is how a proxy provider verifies that a connecting client is an authorised user. The two main methods are: (1) Username/password authentication, where credentials are included in the proxy URL (e.g. user:pass@gateway:port) or sent in HTTP Proxy-Authorization headers — this allows connecting from any IP; and (2) IP whitelisting, where the client's IP is added to an allowlist in the provider's dashboard — no credentials are needed, but the connecting IP must match. Username/password is more flexible for dynamic infrastructure; IP whitelisting is more secure. Some providers support both simultaneously.
