WPAD: Web Proxy Autodiscovery Protocol

The Web Proxy Autodiscovery Protocol (WPAD) is a method used by web browsers to locate the URL of a PAC file automatically, without manual configuration. WPAD can be used with Content Gateway, but is not an option with the Forcepoint Web Security Hybrid Module.

WPAD uses two methods to publish the location of the proxy configuration file—the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and the Domain Name System (DNS). A web browser using this method sends a query to the local DHCP server and if it does not send back the desired information, uses DNS.

For more information about using WPAD with Content Gateway, see Content Gateway Manager Help.