Proxy Server Verification Methodology
Our verification system exists to answer one question honestly for every proxy we publish: will it actually work for you? This page documents exactly how we test, so you can trust the numbers next to each server. We're transparent about every parameter.
1. The verification system
Testing is fully automated and runs every 2 hours from distributed checking nodes in 10 countries, so results reflect real-world reachability rather than a single vantage point. Each candidate proxy is scored on eight parameters:
| Parameter | How we verify it | Quality bar |
|---|---|---|
| IP:Port | Format & reachability validation | Valid, routable combination |
| Proxy type | Sequential protocol probing (HTTP → HTTPS → SOCKS4 → SOCKS5) | Supports at least one protocol |
| Anonymity | Header-leak analysis, three-tier classification | Elite preferred (no leaks) |
| Geolocation | MaxMind GeoIP2 cross-checked with WHOIS & TTL | ≤ 20 km margin |
| Speed | Average response time over 3 attempts | ≤ 800 ms excellent; ≥ 1500 ms excluded |
| Uptime | Rolling 7-day availability | ≥ 90% stability |
| Response consistency | Repeat checks to filter one-off flukes | Stable across the cycle |
| Safety | Honeypot & abuse-list screening | No known honeypots |
2. Anonymity classification
- Elite (high-anonymity): hides your IP and does not reveal that a proxy is in use — no header leakage.
- Anonymous: hides your IP but identifies itself as a proxy.
- Transparent: forwards your real IP address; useful for caching, not privacy.
3. Accuracy guarantees
- Daily manual re-checks on a random 5% sample of the list.
- Geolocation validated against three independent databases.
- CDN and VPN endpoints filtered out to avoid false positives.
4. Why our approach is different
Most free lists check 3–5 things once or twice a day. We evaluate eight parameters every two hours, with city-level geolocation, multi-protocol support and a real anonymity classification. Proxies that fail are retried with back-off and removed once they go cold — which is why the majority of candidates never make the public list.
See it in practice: browse the verified proxy list or test your own with the free Proxy Checker.