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Question

Auto proxy setter

Oct 1, 2011 6:22PM PDT

Hi all. Can anyone recommend a free utility that will *automatically* detect my internet connection, then adjust my proxy settings accordingly? My wired work connection requires a proxy connection, while my wireless home connection does not. I have found numerous programs that will make these changes *with one touch.* However I am out of shape, so that one touch is very taxing. Thanks in advance

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Out of shape?
Oct 1, 2011 8:42PM PDT

None of my business of course but since that "one touch" would appear to be a 'one click of the mouse' and you would be using the mouse all the time anyway, I am not sure I understand this out of shape problem.

I don't know any auto proxy setters, perhaps others here will, but I do see a workaround.

Use different browsers. It isn't the OS that needs proxy settings because the OS should simply detect the type of internet connection anyway. It is the browsers that use them.

I know IE can be configured to accept proxy settings, or not, as the case may be, but I also see that Firefox can as well and that makes me suspect that all browsers can.

So, the workaround is, set IE to connect at work to the proxy server, but set Firefox to use "No proxy". Then just use both browsers, IE at work and Firefox at home.

Mark

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Answer
I'd keep searching.
Oct 2, 2011 4:42AM PDT
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Thanks
Oct 2, 2011 1:55PM PDT

Thank you. I had done a cursory Google search with a big long string like "How can I change proxy settings automatically?" but didn't find anything. I also searched the CNET downloads extensively. But it appears there may be something built in to Windows or IE8. Unfortunately the Microsoft website is blocked here at work for some reason, so I'll look into that later.

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Just remembered NETSWITCHER
Oct 3, 2011 3:11AM PDT
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Update
Oct 3, 2011 4:36AM PDT

Thanks again. Netswitcher requires a click and is not free (should have specified that I'm looking for something free). From the first page of hits from the google search you provided, they all either required a click, were not free, or were for non-IE browsers (I should have specified IE preference too).

I found another utility though, Net Profiles, that *may* do the trick. I'll know more when I play with it at work tomorrow. I'll keep you posted

Also, ONE of the hits from the Google search led me here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_auto-config

It looks simple, but requires interacting with utilities slightly out of my range of expertise. If I need it, I'll try it and report on any problems.