What's the difference between a proxy and a vpn?

sorry if my question didnt fit this forum,
because others talking this, may i ask something?
what is difference of proxy and vpn?
and how to use proxy and vpn?
and if its' possible can c language program do something about the proxy and vpn thing?

Have you tried something simple, like using google to search for "proxy" and "vpn" to find out what they are?

You would probably learn more through a little investigative work of your own, rather than just throwing random questions on a forum and hoping to be spoonfed.

Urban Dictionary: Time Vampire

sorry,
by me i rather asking whether searching with search engine services like google,
because sometimes search engine has flaws, wasting my time,
sorry if my question didnt related to the c forum :(

Sure, so you'd rather waste time of other people, by getting them to spend effort answering questions - even when information you're asking about is readily available.

Yes, it is true, sometimes a search engine will turn up low quality information. But, that is true of any source of information, including forums like this, magazines, textbooks, etc etc. Part of the learning process is putting in the time to look at a few relevant information sources, exercising some judgement about what is relevant and what is not. Sure, you'll get it wrong sometimes. But, making mistakes like that - in the long run - helps you learn.

And asking questions, with the expectation of being spoonfed, is actually the best way to become misinformed. Some people will give good answers. Some will make well-meaning but honest mistakes. Some people will deliberately feed misinformation to you. That is why there is no alternative to doing the work for yourself. Use books, google searches, forums like this as resources - but still remember that NONE of them can eliminate the need for effort by YOU to sift good information from the bad.

And, when you find good information, remember the people who provide have probably put in the time to learn - and they are still imperfect. And they will not appreciate you implying your time is more important than theirs.

Little Hint: There is a free online encyclopedia which is in many cases the best starting place if you are searching for an explanation of a special term. I think it starts with "Wiki" :-).

Bye, Andreas

Quote:

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Originally Posted by google

prox·y
/ˈpräksē/
Noun
The authority to represent someone else, esp. in voting.
A person authorized to act on behalf of another.
Synonyms
deputy - representative - agent - substitute

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by PC Magazine

virtual private network

A private network that is configured within a public network (the Internet or a carrier's network) in order to take advantage of the economies of scale and management facilities of large networks. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are used by enterprises to create wide area networks (WANs) in order to provide site-to-site connections to branch offices and to allow mobile users access to the company LAN.

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does this help?

That hardly sounds like what proxy and VPN means in the computer world.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elysia

That hardly sounds like what proxy and VPN means in the computer world.

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that was the point. if they're going to ask time-wasting questions, it seems appropriate to give time-wasting answers.

Perhaps. But time wasting answers are not outright wrong answers.

again, exactly my point. the definition of each was factually correct, even if out of context. now the OP will get to waste his/her own time to find that out. it took me about 30 seconds to provide that answer - far less time than I spend on a serious response. :)

That missed my point. The point was that there is a difference between not providing any helpful information and providing incorrect information. What if the OP had actually believed that? Then you would have provided incorrect information knowingly. That is not something the OP deserves.

I find it amusing that it's more important to you that someone provided incorrect information rather than correcting bad information.

Correcting it would go against what everyone else here has mentioned (find it out yourself). I generally honour other members unless I find them to providing incorrect information.
If I had mentioned nothing, no one would probably complain.
If I inject an opinion without providing correction, then people start to complain... what a world. Perhaps I share the feeling that the OP should put some effort into finding the information him/herself.

Elkvis answer was actually correct. That's what a proxy is. Replace person with server. To the good listener, half a word is enough.