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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsMicrosoft Proxy Server 2.0 was a Windows NT Server gateway announced in 1997. It combined internet access controls and firewall functions with web caching for organizations’ network clients. It is a historical product, not a current proxy recommendation; Microsoft’s later security bulletins document vulnerabilities that required patches.
What was Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0?
Microsoft announced Proxy Server 2.0 at NetWorld+Interop in Atlanta on October 8, 1997, for Windows NT Server. Microsoft described it as a gateway between an organization’s internal network and the internet. The server could cache content for internal users, helping reduce repeated downloads and outgoing bandwidth use. Its Winsock Proxy service could also let internet applications communicate through the server without requiring a separate gateway for each protocol, according to Microsoft’s launch announcement and its 2003 security bulletin.
What features did Microsoft announce?
The 1997 announcement listed the following capabilities. These are Microsoft’s launch descriptions, not independent test results or confirmation of present-day availability.
- Scalable caching: Array-based and hierarchical caching options for organizing cache capacity.
- Dynamic packet filtering and real-time alerting: Security and monitoring features Microsoft said were included.
- Reverse proxy and SOCKS support: Additional ways to handle network traffic and application connections.
- Third-party add-ons: Microsoft named Trend Micro InterScan Web Protect for virus scanning, Cyber Patrol Proxy for content filtering, and Market Wave Hit List and TELEMATE.Net for reporting. Their mention documents the product’s intended extensibility; it does not establish current availability or compatibility.
The launch announcement characterized Proxy Server 2.0 as combining firewall security with web caching for networks of different sizes. That describes its historical role, not a modern security assessment.
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What did Proxy Server 2.0 cost at launch?
Microsoft’s October 1997 announcement listed an estimated retail price of $995 and offered a free 30-day evaluation copy. Those were launch-era terms, not current prices or proof that evaluation copies or original media are available today. Microsoft also claimed performance improved by “up to 40 percent” over Proxy Server 1.0; this was the vendor’s launch claim, not an independently verified benchmark. See the 1997 announcement.
What security issues were documented?
Microsoft published security bulletins documenting vulnerabilities and patches for Proxy Server 2.0. They make clear why the product should be understood as legacy software rather than treated as a safe option for a current network.
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Winsock Proxy denial of service
In April 2003, Microsoft reported a denial-of-service vulnerability involving the Winsock Proxy service. The bulletin said the service was enabled by default in Proxy Server 2.0 and that a specially formed request could make the server stop responding. Microsoft recommended installing the patch; installation required a reboot. Details are in MS03-012.
Content spoofing in Service Pack 1
In November 2004, Microsoft documented a content-spoofing vulnerability affecting Proxy Server 2.0 Service Pack 1 and provided security-update information, including a prerequisite and restart requirement. See MS04-039.
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Earlier Service Pack 1 patch
A June 2002 Microsoft bulletin also recorded a patch applicable to Proxy Server 2.0 Service Pack 1 and stated that a reboot was needed. See MS02-027.
These bulletins document historical security issues and updates; they are not current deployment instructions. They do not establish an exact product-specific end-of-support date, so no precise lifecycle date should be inferred from them.
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Should you use Proxy Server 2.0 today?
No. The available documentation establishes that Proxy Server 2.0 was a Windows NT Server gateway with caching and security features, and that Microsoft later issued vulnerability bulletins and patches. It does not establish that the product is currently supported, safe to deploy, or suitable for modern networks. Treat it as a legacy product of historical or archival interest, not as a current proxy solution.
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