In short, HTTP proxies only handle HTTP requests - they only work when accessing websites.

What is the difference between a SOCKS proxy and an HTTP proxy? If you have to use a device that doesn’t allow installing apps (like a VPN app), you can just connect to the proxy server if you can fiddle with the connection settings. Say you have a proxy server set up somewhere. Shielding yourself when VPN is not an option But if you use a proxy, they can only know that you’re connected to it and nothing more. Your internet provider can see what websites you’re connecting to. Hiding the websites you go to from your ISP (Internet Service Provider) So as long as the proxy is in the right place, you can access stuff you couldn’t otherwise. But, with a proxy, the services will only see the proxy’s IP and location. This may lead to some services blocking you due to where you are connecting from. Changing your geographic location onlineĪn IP address can be geolocated to a country or even a city. But what if you don’t want to hand out the digital equivalent of your home address online willy-nilly? Then you can use a proxy, as connecting via a proxy essentially replaces your IP with the proxy’s. Typically, when you connect to a web host (service or website), it records your IP address. But when you’re connected to a proxy, the firewall only sees you trying to connect to the proxy’s IP and allows it through. So, if you want to visit Instagram and, say, your employer has blocked Instagram’s IP, the firewall won’t let you do it.

Network firewalls block connections based on IP addresses. SOCKS5 proxies can be pretty great for a few reasons: Overcoming network firewalls Your information will remain safe and secure, so you can go about your business worry-free. If you use a premium SOCKS proxy provider, this will not be an issue. SOCKS proxies are safe if you’re using the premium versions - just like VPNs! Certain proxy companies have been known to log user data - but that is a problem with free proxies. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark. Implementing a SOCKS protocol alone does not guarantee your privacy and will not keep you safe from government surveillance or attacks on public Wi-Fi.ĭisclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. You may need to look elsewhere if you want to encrypt your data so that nobody can read it. SOCKS5 proxies are ideal for scenarios that require bypassing regional filters or firewalls… and that’s it. Anyone sitting between you and the proxy server (your ISP or a hacker who compromised your favorite public Wi-Fi hotspot) can read your data. On the other hand, while SOCKS offers a few authentication methods (so your device can be sure it’s connecting to what you want it to connect to), it does not provide encryption. The former can cover the entire device’s data transmissions, while the latter can only work for a single website. SOCKS5 proxies are more wide-reaching than traditional HTTP proxies. Once you have that server, let’s configure SOCKS5 on your device. Some “free” options are out there, but they might not be as secure as the other two options. You may create one yourself or purchase a premium proxy server. How to set up SOCKS5įirst of all, you need a SOCKS proxy server that will function as your proxy. It offers three authentication methods and supports the UDP protocol (which is faster but less reliable than a TCP connection). SOCKS5 proxies are no longer plagued by issues present in SOCKS4, the original widely adopted version. SOCKS5 is the most up-to-date version of the SOCKS proxy protocol. This gives you a new IP (Internet Protocol) address for the duration of SOCKS use changing your IP address means that web hosts (read: websites and services) can’t pin down your true physical location. When you connect to a SOCKS proxy, your internet traffic is routed through a third-party server using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). SOCKS is an internet protocol offering users greater anonymity than just browsing the web normally.

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