A web proxy generally only protects the traffic within that specific browser tab. It does not encrypt your entire device’s internet connection like a VPN would.
By masking your IP address, these proxies prevent websites from tracking your physical location and identity.
The IWP uses machine learning models trained on human behavior to guess what you will want next. If you are reading a scientific paper from Earth, the proxy will pre-fetch the cited references, the author’s other papers, and even the raw data sets—all without you asking. Over a 4-year light delay, speculation is not optional; it is survival.