What is a proxy server and how does HideMyAss function as one?

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between a user's device and the internet, effectively masking the user's original IP address with its own. HideMyAss, known for its VPN services, functions as such by routing a user's internet connection through its servers located around the globe. This re-routing process not only conceals the user's real IP address but also encrypts their data, providing an additional layer of privacy and security online. When a person accesses a website or online service through HideMyAss, the destination server sees the request originating from the HideMyAss proxy server rather than the user's actual device, thus making it more difficult for websites to track and identify the user's true location or digital identity.