Proxy

Software agent that performs a function or operation on behalf of another application or system while hiding the details involved.

• A software agent that acts on behalf of a user. Typical proxies accept a connection from a user, make a decision as to whether or not the user or client IP address is permitted to use the proxy, perhaps does additional authentication, and then completes a connection on behalf of the user to a remote destination.
  http://www.atharmahboob.com/courses/security/glossary/glossary-firewall.htm∞

• An intermediary program which acts as both a server and a client for the purpose of making requests on behalf of other clients. Requests are serviced internally or by passing them, with possible translation, on to other servers. A proxy must interpret and, if necessary, rewrite a request message before forwarding it. Proxies are often used as client-side portals through network firewalls and as helper applications for handling requests via protocols not implemented by the user agent.
  http://www.freesoft.org/CIE/RFC/1945/3.htm∞

As defined above, a proxy can be a good thing. As such, open and abusable proxies fell into the list of things 'good' about the 'net' that spammers learned to abuse. These days, with spammers and virus writers teaming up, open/abusable proxies are no longer only something set up by an ISP/Hosting service, unfortunately cropping up around the world on home/end user computers. Folks, install and update anti-virus and anti spyware tools, get that firewall installed. Learn to use them all.

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