# Proxy settings **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644 "2010-06-27T00:01:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644/1 "2010-06-27T00:01:23Z")
Can someone please tell me how to set the proxy settings? My other puter can’t connect because it says the proxy settings are stopping it. What the hell? Thank you in advance! (I hope) ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644/2 "2010-06-27T00:13:55Z")
You are unlikely to be using any kind of proxy if this is a home connection but to check your proxy settings in IE go to: Tools \> Internet Options \> Connections \> LAN Settings The bottom of this screen will list your proxy settings. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644/3 "2010-06-30T19:26:18Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > You are unlikely to be using any kind of proxy if this is a home connection but to check your proxy settings in IE go to: > > Tools \> Internet Options \> Connections \> LAN Settings > > The bottom of this screen will list your proxy settings. Now it says “acquiring network address” but it can’t seem to find one. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644/4 "2010-06-30T19:35:34Z")
Note that when you see something configured for proxy settings it pays to investigate. This setting is normally used to tell your browser the address of a special gateway machine that you might be required to use to access the Internet in a corporate environment (hence the comment that you probably don’t need this at home). Some software will set up a web server right on your own machine that does something useful like block ads or filter bad sites, and your browser could then have a proxy of “127.0.0.1:12345” (i.e. port 12345 on your local machine) or some other high port. This allows the special software to insert itself between the Internet and your browser. If you find that this has been done, you want to question yourself what software you may have installed that did this, and if you have not installed anything, be wary of a possible virus. Some time back I was looking at some machines at the kids’ school and found them pointing to a local machine proxy. I did a little Googling and found that the kids were using some malware-laden utility to get past the blocker software to the dark underbelly of the Internet. The principal was pleased to hear this. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644/5 "2010-06-30T20:45:31Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > Now it says “acquiring network address” but it can’t seem to find one. > > Any suggestions? Try downloading and running the [Winsock fix](http://majorgeeks.com/WinSock_XP_Fix_d4372.html) and see if that gives you any joy. Do you have any other computers you can connect to the same router/modem to confirm it is working? ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proxy-settings/544644/6 "2010-06-30T21:08:05Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > Try downloading and running the [Winsock fix](http://majorgeeks.com/WinSock_XP_Fix_d4372.html) and see if that gives you any joy. Do you have any other computers you can connect to the same router/modem to confirm it is working? yes the computer I am on now is working fine, using the same modem etc Thanks for the link.