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Simply put, SOCKS5 (Socket Secure 5) is a protocol responsible for managing the transmission of requests or data packets from your device (computer) to the internet, through a proxy server, and back.
Compared to its predecessors like SOCKS4, SOCKS5 comes with improved privacy, flexibility, improved speeds, and performance. Here is how SOCKS5 takes the effectiveness of its predecessors a notch higher:
How SOCKS5 Works?
SOCKS5 operates primarily at the transport layer as defined by the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. It defines how a proxy server operates, ensuring reliable transmission of data packets between your device, the proxy server, and the target website’s server.
If you route your web traffic through a SOCKS5 proxy, there is no direct communication between your device and the internet. The proxy manages the interaction, preventing the target server from tracking or identifying you. This is how it goes:
Configuring a device to route requests through a SOCKS5 proxy
Whether you want to use a SOCKS5 proxy installed on a private VPS (Virtual Private Server) or one obtained from a reliable SOCKS5 proxy provider, you must obtain the relevant server details. Only then can you configure your device to establish a connection to the SOCKS5 proxy.
The proxy server details may include:
- Proxy server address: Either the proxy server’s domain name or IP address.
- Port number: To facilitate traffic transmission to the correct destination (proxy server).
- Authentication details: SOCKS5 proxies support various authentication mechanisms, such as username/password authentication and GSS-API (Generic Security Services Application Program Interface) for Kerberos. Authentication ensures that only you or an authorized entity can access the proxy server, reinforcing security.
The server details you obtain vary depending on the SOCKS5 proxy server’s configurations. Some proxy servers may include or exclude the authentication feature. Some may provide you with an IP address plus the port number rather than the domain name.
After obtaining the server details, you configure a select device like a laptop or smartphone to connect to the SOCKS5 proxy server. The specific configuration process depends on the operating system installed on your machine.
If configuring your device becomes challenging, consult relevant SOCKS5 proxy documentation. Remember, you can also set your device to bypass the proxy for certain applications or websites.
Sending requests to the proxy server
Once you’ve configured the device, you can start sending requests to the proxy server.
Launch your browser of choice and type in the domain of the target website, or use a search engine to find the website. Once you send the request, it does not go directly to the target website’s server. The request is first sent to the SOCKS5 proxy server.
The request includes details like your original IP address (IPv4 or IPv6), the domain name or target address, target port number, and traffic type or protocol (TCP—Transmission Control Protocol or UDP—User Datagram Protocol). These details help the server know exactly where to route the request packets.
The proxy server records your device’s IP address only as a unique identification of the session. It does not share your IP address with the target website’s server or other network entities, reserving your privacy.
Forwarding requests to the target website server
Having received your request and understood where to send it, the SOCKS5 proxy strips your original IP address from the packet header and replaces it with its own IP address. This ensures the target website’s server does not get to know your original IP address.
After masking your IP address, the proxy server forwards your request to the target server.
All traffic to the target server appears to come from the proxy server. And to ensure utmost privacy, the proxy server isolates every session or request you send. This means that even if you send multiple requests simultaneously, the proxy server keeps each request separate and anonymous.
When the target website’s server responds to the forwarded request, it sends the response data packets to the proxy server’s IP address. Then, the proxy server replaces its IP address with your IP address and sends the packets to you. And the cycle continues.
To improve your browsing experience over a SOCKS5 proxy, some proxies cache frequently accessed content, speeding up access.
Moreover, SOCKS5 proxies can also optimize the route taken by data packets and distribute traffic across several servers to balance load, improving overall performance and experience.
Besides improving your browsing experience and elevating your privacy, here are more benefits of a SOCKS5 proxy:
Benefits of SOCKS5 Proxy:
Security against tracking
Most websites record your activities, especially for data analysis and personalized marketing purposes. They use cookies and tracking scripts to monitor your activities.
So, having a proxy intercept your traffic before forwarding your requests to the target website disrupts the target site’s tracking strategy.
The website’s bots find it challenging to compile an accurate profile of your activities because the IP in use is not yours.
Gives you access to geo-restricted content
Some streaming platforms or certain websites may restrict you from accessing certain content. There are also online services or stores offering services or products at different prices based on one’s location.
Connecting to a SOCKS5 proxy in the region where restricted content is available or the prices of certain products or services are affordable gives you the liberty to consume the content and enjoy fair prices.
You can also get access to better deals or a wider range of products that are currently unavailable in your region.
Enhances anonymity for sensitive activities
If you want to access or share sensitive information without revealing your identity, a SOCKS5 proxy could be your best shot. Other than hiding your IP address, a SOCKS5 proxy can resolve domains.
Rather than resolving a domain before forwarding a request to a server proxy, you can send the domain name directly to the proxy server. Doing so hides your DNS queries, adding another layer of anonymity as your DNS requests do not appear on the network.
In addition to domain resolution, you can use a SOCKS5 proxy alongside data encryption protocols like SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) to enhance your anonymity further.
Closing Words
As you navigate the vast online landscape, you leave a trail that could be used to profile you—a profile capable of defining your behavior beyond your understanding. Sometimes, some websites block your path, forcing you to waste a lot of time looking for ways to access the restricted content.
Well, all these troubles begin vanishing in the presence of a SOCKS5 proxy. Find out more from this post!
