Where To Buy SOCKS5 And SOCKS Proxies (And Why Use …
To some, following protocol is a waking nightmare, but to me, my rule-adhering heart is a sucker for a set of guidelines. I live for roadmaps and rule books. In fact, I have never played a game without an extensive look into how to play and why the game is played in a certain way. It might be an obsessive trait to have but it is effective. Call it overly cautious all you want, but in my mind, it is strategic. And strategy will get you in far less trouble than entering into a new situation like my physical presence in this world, I keep a tight grasp on my online life. I do not like to jump into websites or web browsers without all the facts regarding your protection and online security. There are too many variables and too many web users to take unnecessary risks while on a device. Proxies help me to do this with much success. And SOCKS proxies allow me a greater understanding of the protocol I am using and why I am using does this fit in with the topic at hand? Glad you asked. In this blog, I am going to take you through what SOCKS proxies are, differences between this kind of proxy and others, and discuss where to find the best proxy for your needs. By the end of this blog, I am willing to bet you will love following protocol just as much as I do. But let’s not waste any more time, time to dive right of Contents1. Let’s Discuss The SOCKS Proxy Protocol2. What Are SOCKS proxies? 3. Differences Between SOCKS and SOCKS5 Proxies4. Should I Use a SOCKS Private Proxy? 5. Where to Find the Best SOCKS ProxyLet’s Discuss The SOCKS Proxy Protocol Before we talk about SOCKS proxies. We need to discuss where the SOCKS proxy gets its name and the different proxies you might come across when discussing SOCKS. To start, SOCKS proxies use a web protocol called SOCKS. A web protocol is a way for different parts of the internet to communicate with other parts. SOCKS, or Socket Secure, is a network protocol that offers communication from a client to a server through a proxy server. The latest version, SOCKS5, supports authentication given by a proxy provider and is often thought to be even more secure than the previous version known as while SOCKS is the most important protocol to discuss for our purposes here today, it is also important to note two other protocols: HTTP and HTTP(S). HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is a connectionless text-based protocol that sends requests from clients to web servers. HTTP proxies are built for the HTTP protocol. The HTTP protocol has specific functions like the ability to understand the traffic that is coming over a TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, Connection. For this reason, HTTP proxies are incredibly popular tools for browsing the last protocol I want to discuss is HTTP(S). While similar to HTTP, HTTP(S) is secured, and HTTP is not. This means that information coming and going is encrypted and therefore your connection is more secure than an HTTP connection. For this reason, you can probably gather how an HTTP(S) proxy can keep you safe and secure while of the information above is incredibly important to remember when discussing proxies. While you might not care a great deal about protocols just yet, understanding the means of communication between different corners of the internet will make your online experience streamlined and stress-free. In terms of protocols, I have only just scratched the surface, but before you buy your own proxy, you might want to know even more about the differences between SOCKS and HTTP. If so, take a look at our blog here! What Are SOCKS proxies? Now that we have a better understanding of where SOCKS proxies come from, I want to talk about the actual proxy and what it does. Think of a proxy as your gateway to the internet. Every single device that you own bears a unique identifier called an IP address. This IP address can be seen and tracked by whatever websites you visit. While not horrible on the surface, using your own IP address limits your ability to get around the internet. SOCKS proxies solve this problem by shielding your old IP address with a new one. It is kind of like covering a wall with a fresh coat of paint, the old paint still exists but just hides below the surface. In addition to hiding your old IP address, proxies intercept the communication between the sender and the intended receiver. This means all your communication is funneled through the proxy, a proxy that is able to protect your identity. Another key benefit to using a proxy is the ability to bypass geographic restrictions placed on websites. Proxy providers offer a wide variety of geographical locations to choose from. Say you want to access websites in the United States but are unavailable in your current location. Rather than writing up a change of address card, you need only buy a SOCKS5 proxy with a proxy server located in the US. Proxies grant you access to parts of the internet you might otherwise not be able to access, all while keeping your original IP address hidden and your identity safe. Differences Between SOCKS Proxy and SOCKS5 Proxy Earlier I mentioned the difference between the standard SOCKS proxy and SOCKS5 proxies. But I want to dive into this discussion a little bit further. SOCKS5 proxies have three different types of authentication methods: null, username:password, and USS-API. As you might be able to guess, the variety that comes with three different types of authentication offers enhanced security while browsing the tting the updated version of SOCKS will help with a few different things. First, additional security happens from authentication because it establishes a full TCP connection and uses the Secure Shell (SSH) encrypted tunneling method in order to send traffic through. In addition to this, a SOCKS5 proxy is able to bypass any internet blocks. While not a fun thought to have, IP addresses do get blocked by websites on occasion. While frustrating at first, if this does indeed happen to you, routing the internet traffic through a proxy can unblock the site. You can not go wrong with as much security as possible while bouncing between different websites and possibly different web browsers. Understanding the differences between the standard version and the updated version of SOCKS will help minimize any confusion while purchasing and setting up your I Use a SOCKS Private Proxy? Now, the big question: should you use a dedicated SOCKS5 proxy. With so many different kinds of proxies out there, it can be difficult to comprehend which one is right for you and which one will leave you in the dust. Before I go through different reasons for buying SOCKS proxies. I want to define a more specific type of proxy: dedicated. A dedicated proxy is a proxy that is used by you and you alone. Unlike shared proxies, dedicated proxies can only be accessed by one person, thus creating a more secure connection between you and the internet. I am bringing this up because much of what I am going to discuss below relates back to, or is safer, using a private, this proxy has the capability of accessing back-end services behind a firewall. Rather than exposing backend services to the public or whitelisting the client in order to allow traffic in, a SOCKS5 private proxy (with dynamic port forwarding using SSH) can be employed. This is a much simpler solution if you are looking to access any backend services that are running inside a, a SOCKS5 proxy does not require a special or complicated set up in order to use the tool. In addition to this, because this kind of proxy routes TCP and UDP, User Datagram Protocol, traffic through SSH tunneling, no layer 7 application-related special proxies are required in order to use the proxy itself. This allows for a speedier, more reliable connection. Plus, these proxies transfer small data packets, which allows for a shorter downloading, the proxy is not limited to the traffic within that protocol. While HTTP proxies are only able to interpret information that comes from HTTP AND HTTP(S) websites, our lovely SOCKS5 proxies can work directly with any traffic arriving from any protocol. As an added bonus, these proxies do not rewrite data packet headers. By not rewriting headers as other proxies do, performance speeds increase and the chance for errors significantly to Find the Best SOCKS Proxy Now that we have talked through what SOCKS proxies are, it is time to discuss the best proxies available and where you can find them. Choose a paid proxy provider that values high-quality proxies at low prices. Here at Blazing SEO, we know a thing or two about quality proxies and we are here to help you find the best proxy for your needs. Not only do we offer proxies in 26 different countries and nineteen US cities, but we also have proxies that are specific to items you like to shop for online. When you buy a proxy from us, you will be able to choose the number of proxies you need and the duration with which to keep the offer SOCKS authorization, making your life a whole lot easier. Best of all, our customer service team is ready and available to answer any and all of your questions about SOCKS proxies, setting them up, and how to use them. With Blazing SEO on your side, you will be on your way to browsing the internet anonymously and bypassing internet restrictions. Want to get started right away? Take a look at our proxy checker video, which helps new users understand the proxy checker ThoughtsAs you can tell, I am a stickler for following a set of steps laid out before me. The more I adhere to those steps, the more I am able to use technology correctly and without major glitches. Internet protocols make me giddy to my core. Not only do they show us mere humans how the internet works on a basic level, but they also map out rules of communication. This kind of communication offers a framework for the proxies we discussed today. The greater the knowledge we have of these protocols, the better off we will be when using SOCKS proxies. Biggest tip of all, do not get swindled into setting up a free proxy on your device. While initially enticing, free proxies are less secure and far less reliable than paid proxies. With the help of proxy providers like Blazing SEO, you will be all set up to use SOCKS proxies on your device. Anonymity online pairs perfectly with additional security and the knowledge that you are getting a glimpse into all the internet has to offer you. Trust us to do the tough job of building proxies for you. You need only rely on us to present you with the best SOCKS proxy out there. The information contained within this article, including information posted by official staff, guest-submitted material, message board postings, or other third-party material is presented solely for the purposes of education and furtherance of the knowledge of the trademarks used in this publication are hereby acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.
What is SOCKS5 Proxy and How to Set Up and Use It for Free
Updated on July 13, 2021: From now on, traffic filtering, malware protection, and suspicious DNS activity blocking are available as a part of the separate DNS Firewall CKS5 is a popular choice for netizens looking to protect their online activities, hide their real location, or bypass geo-blocking. KeepSolid offers SOCKS5 proxy for free, which you can learn how to get it in the following section of this article. But what is SOCKS5 proxy? How to setup and use free SOCKS5 proxy server? What’s the difference between SOCKS5 and VPN services? Let’s dig right into it! Get started with our reliable VPN solution and make your browsing more secure What is SOCKS5 Proxy
SOCKS (SOCKet Secure) is an internet protocol that forwards the user’s internet traffic through a proxy server. Any third-party observer will only be able to see the IP address of the SOCKS proxy server, not your real one.
This ensures that your online activities, sensitive information, physical location, and identity are protected from ISP, corporate, and even government surveillance (the extent of such proxy protection is limited, but we’ll discuss this later in the piece).
Difference between SOCKS4 and SOCKS5
SOCKS5 is the latest iteration of this free proxy protocol. It brings enough improvements to the table to make it unambiguously preferable than its predecessors in any situation. Here’s a quick summary of the differences between SOCKS4 and SOCKS5:
SOCKS5 is more universal. It supports a variety of authentication methods, while SOCKS4 doesn’t support authentication at all.
SOCKS5 proxy is more secure. It supports IPv6, TCP, and UDP proxies, while SOCKS4 only supports TCP.
How to Setup SOCKS5 Proxy
Then again, there is no reason not to try using SOCKS5 proxy and see how it fares. After all, you may not want to install a full-fledged cyber-security solution if all you need is a free SOCKS5 proxy to unblock Telegram.
Here’s how to setup SOCKS5 proxy and use SOCKS5 servers for free:
Consult the developer, documentation, or manuals of the app you want to use SOCKS5 proxy with to see if the application supports such an option.
Unless specified otherwise by the developer of the app in question, open its settings and find the section for SOCKS5 proxy configurations.
Enter the address and port of the server you want to connect to. SOCKS5 proxy servers currently available for free are:
USA NY (server address 142. 93. 68. 63, server port 2434)
Netherlands Amsterdam (server address 82. 196. 7. 200, server port 2434)
Singapore (server address 159. 89. 206. 161, server port 2434)
Enter login vpn and password unlimited
Benefits of SOCKS5 Proxy
As mentioned before, SOCKS5 protocol, if used properly, can be quite helpful in many occasions. The trick here is to know when it’s best to use proxy servers, and when you need other solutions. Let’s take a look at what free SOCKS5 proxy is best for.
Hide your location
As part of the modus operandi of the SOCKS5 protocol, all user traffic goes via a proxy server. This hides users’ actual location, instead causing the traffic to look like it originates from the location of the SOCKS5 proxy server.
Bypass geo-blocking and content censorship
Geographic content blocking occurs when a website, service, movie or show, video, etc. is banned in a particular region. But with SOCKS5 proxy you can virtually hop to a different location where the content is available (by selecting a respective server). An example of such use is that with proxy SOCKS5 you can access Telegram for free, even if it’s blocked in your country.
Improved security over other proxies
Proxies are universally considered quite unreliable and insecure. And even though SOCKS5 doesn’t eliminate all the perils associated with its counterparts, it’s still significantly more secure than them thanks to using internet protocols more secure than the common UDP.
Works at the application level
Since you set up SOCKS5 proxy server at the app level (we’ll explain how to do this later in the article), you can choose which programs on your device you want it to affect. This can be important if you only need free SOCKS5 proxy for a single specific app, or have complete control over which applications are affected.
SOCKS5 setup is only required once per app
After you’ve configured SOCKS5 proxy for an application, it will always automatically fire the proxy server connection upon launching the app (unless you wish to disable this option in the settings, obviously). Thus, you won’t have to remember to start it manually. Get top-notch protection on the web with VPN Unlimited SOCKS5 Proxy or VPN?
Now, let’s discuss shortcomings of SOCKS5 proxy and why an all-around privacy service like KeepSolid VPN Unlimited can be a more preferable choice in some cases.
Lack of security
The most prominent drawback of any proxy server, SOCKS5 proxy included, is the lack of data encryption. This means that whatever personal data or sensitive information you send off is totally unprotected from any malefactors. And you may be surprised to know how many cyber criminals are lurking about in the hunt for your passwords, credentials, online banking info, photos, private messages, search requests, etc.
Lack of independence
Another big issue of SOCKS5 proxy is its dependence on specific apps and their developers. You can only set up and use a SOCKS5 proxy server with an app if the application in question supports this option to begin with. Moreover, it means that if you wanted to connect multiple apps to the server, configuring them all will be quite a hassle. Compare it to VPN Unlimited, where you can protect the whole device (or, to be more precise, up to 5 devices with a single account) at once.
Lack of flexibility
Last but not the least, SOCKS5 proxy is less flexible than VPNs. Even the best free SOCKS5 proxies usually offer very few servers that are often cramped (causing lags) and inconveniently located. Compare this to VPN Unlimited servers: over 400 servers in 80+ locations all around the world, dedicated servers for torrenting and unblocking streaming services like Netflix, ability to buy Personal servers. Not to mention that you can switch servers on the fly, whereas with SOCKS5 you’d have to manually enter the new server’s settings every time.
SOCKS5 proxy vs. VPN Unlimited comparison
All in all, it’s highly recommended you use VPN Unlimited over SOCKS5 proxy if you are concerned about your online security and the integrity of your personal data, or need anything more than hiding your IP or bypassing basic geo-blocking. If you’re still not sure, you can try VPN Unlimited for free to see if it suits your needs. Get started with VPN Unlimited right now Grab your 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee to check out KeepSolid VPN Unlimited features!
How to Securely Bypass Blocks, Safe Torrenting, Free Proxy List …
The internet is in a strange place right now. It’s no longer the open, free place it used to be. Increasingly, users are being subject to website blocks, attacks, and surveillance. For true safety or anonymity, precautions must be taken. Thankfully, there many ways for you to protect yourself, one of them being Socket Secure (SOCKS) proxies.
While many have heard about SOCKS Proxies not many truly understand their purpose, how they work and the security-privacy levels they can offer. SOCKS proxies are often mistakenly considered an alternative or equivalent to VPNs causing major confusion amongst users and providing false sense of security.
In this article we’ll be covering a wealth of topics relating to SOCKS Proxies, SSL, Configuration advise, Torrenting via SOCK, compare them with VPNs and much more so let’s take a quick look at what we have in store before diving deeper:
Introduction to SOCKS Proxies
Understanding how HTTPS Encryption – SSL & HTTPS Proxies work
How SOCKS5 Proxy Works
Why Would I Use a SOCKS5 Proxy?
When to Use SOCKS5 Proxies, VPN or Both
Combine a SOCKS5 Proxy and a VPN
SOCKS5 Proxy vs VPN for Torrenting and P2P
Configuring SOCKS5 Proxy for Torrenting (qBittorrent, uTorrent)
Configuring Firefox and Chrome to Use SOCKS5 Proxy
Free Proxy vs Paid
Using SOCKS5 Proxy for US Netflix
Like HTTP, SOCKS is an internet protocol, but it offers a further degree of anonymity. Connecting to a SOCKS proxy routes your traffic through a third-party server via TCP, assigning you a new IP address in the process. Because the IP address is different, web hosts can’t determine the physical location.
This has the add-on effect of bypassing regional filtering. However, unlike a VPN, SOCKS doesn’t provide encryption. This means users don’t have true privacy and aren’t safe from attacks on Public WiFi and government surveillance. In addition, SOCKS doesn’t run through every application, meaning regular browsing is not always safe.
However, this lack of encryption does provide some benefits. The main one is speed. A SOCKS proxy doesn’t need resources to encrypt traffic and has far less overhead, so it’s usually faster than a VPN. Though proxies don’t provide protection from monitoring, they are a nice middle ground between HTTP and VPNs.
The security of a SOCKS proxy also depends on the version it utilizes. Most modern proxies use either SOCKS4 or SOCKS5 to protect users, and there are some fundamental differences. As you would expect from a lesser version, SOCKS4 has fewer features.
One example is the lack of support for UDP protocol-based applications. This cuts out programs that need faster, more efficient transfers, like games. SOCKS5 also supports IPv6 and Domain Name Resolution. This means the client can specify a URL rather than an IP address. This feature is also supported by SOCKS4a.
As well as SOCKS, users can utilize the HTTP/HTTPS proxy method. HTTP proxies work similarly to SOCKS5, but utilize the HTTP protocol instead. This is the same method that transfers data to your computer when you type. These proxies fetch and receive primarily in HTTP and are generally used for web browsers. Some applications support HTTP proxy, others SOCKS proxy, and many both. HTTP is more intelligent than SOCKS5, but also less secure.
Due to lack of UDP support and limited TCP support, HTTP proxies don’t fully support torrenting. Often, they will filter out this type of data or block it. This blocking is especially prevalent in public HTTP proxies. In addition, HTTP tries to re-write the headers of the data in transit. The result is extremely slow or non-existent torrenting.
Understanding How HTTPS Encryption – SSL & HTTPS Proxies Work
HTTPS proxies utilize something called the Secure Socket Layer. In your browser, you’ll notice this as a green padlock next to the URL bar:
In short, SSL creates a secure connection between the web server and the user’s browser. When you request a URL, the server sends your browser a copy of its SSL certificate. The browser verifies that it’s authentic, and the server then sends back a signed acknowledgment. Upon arrival, both start an SSL encrypted session and can share data safely.
This encryption uses a method called public key cryptography. A server using SSL has both a public key and a private key. When a server first negotiates an SSL session with a client, it sends a copy of its public key. The client’s browser verifies the certificate and then uses the public key to create a symmetric key which is then sent to the server. The private key is never sent and always kept secret.
The symmetric key is unique to the SSL session and used to encrypt/decrypt data exchanged between the client and server.
HTTPS proxy works slightly differently. Using the CONNECT method, requests are converted to a transparent tunnel. However, this feature isn’t available in a lot of proxies and, when it is, users can still be vulnerable.
Some versions of SSL are still open to attack through the Heartbleed bug. This serious vulnerability was discovered in 2014 and allows attackers to steal private keys from servers, eavesdropping on communications and gaining access to passwords, emails and instant messages. Vulnerabilities in SSL and its predecessor TLS have been found several times since then, including man-in-the-middle attacks that downgrade the user to a less secure version.
While an HTTP proxy is designed to work in the web browser, a SOCKS5 proxy is more wide-reaching. SOCKS sits on the higher levels of the OSI model, below SSL, which sits on the seventh application layer, and above TCP and UDP on the transport layer (Layer 4). This offers several advantages. TCP works by forming a physical connection between the client and the server, trying to guarantee that every packet arrives at the destination in the same order it was sent. To do this, it puts all the content into a fixed format.
Another use of UDP is in the Domain Name System (DNS), which allows for translation of URLs into IP addresses. The combination of both TCP and UDP creates a more flexible and reliable experience.
The low level of SOCKS5 also means it can handle several different request types: HTTP, HTTPS, POP3, SMTP and FTP. As a result, SOCKS5 can be used for email, web browsing, peer-to-peer and more. More importantly, users can do this in a somewhat anonymous fashion.
When you connect to a website, the traffic usually runs through a firewall on the router or by the ISP. A SOCKS5 proxy routes your data through its proxy server, creating a path through the network’s firewall. In doing so the user is assigned an IP address, which makes it look like they’re browsing from a different location and protects their identity.
As mentioned before proxies don’t encrypt data like a VPN, which means you can access these services with very little slowdown. This is because there is no need to re-write header data. This, in turn, leads to less chance of errors, and fewer errors means more speed.
Although it doesn’t handle encryption, SOCKS5 does provide methods of authentication, as mentioned earlier. In general, a SOCKS5 handshake looks like this:
The client sends a connection request, stating the list of authentication methods it supports.
The server looks at these methods and chooses one. In the case that none are acceptable, it sends a failure response.
Once accepted, information can pass between the client and server. The client can send a connection request and the server can respond.
This authentication removes many of the security concerns that plagued SOCKS4. The proxy isn’t open to anybody with the details, resulting in less chance of malicious attacks. Usually, authentication comes in the form of a simple username and password combination. However, SOCKS5 also supports GSSAPI (Generic Security Services Application Program Interface) and IANA methods.
Now that you know the features of SOCKS5 proxies, you may be wondering why you even need one. One of the main uses is to circumvent internet censorship. If your ISP blocks access to movie streaming websites, The Pirate Bay or other questionable content, a proxy will circumvent it. This can be useful on restricted networks. Work and school connections are often monitored and block access to social media, games, and anything else that isn’t relevant. Broad sweeping policies can often cause issues if you need to access one of those sites for research or you just want to slack.
You’ll also be able to access services that are limited to certain countries. BBC iPlayer, for example, is only available from a UK IP address. A proxy located in the UK would allow you to watch British TV without a TV license. This also applies to services like Netflix, which has significantly more content in the US region than others. Utilizing a SOCKS5 proxy from several different locations can significantly expand your viewing catalogue.
On home networks, users must be careful about their privacy, especially when torrenting. Using a SOCKS5 proxy can provide fast download speeds while adding a layer of protection against copyright holders. Many BitTorrent clients support a weak form of encryption when using SOCKS5, which prevents further obstacles.
SOCKS5 torrenting doesn’t offer the same protection as a VPN, but it’s better than nothing at all. In addition, it can give an obscured connection from only one application on your PC. As a result, you can perform fast P2P downloads while still using location services such as Google Maps. You’ll retain your normal download rate for any other browsing or streaming.
When to use SOCKS5 Proxies, VPNs or Both
For the privacy and security conscious, VPNs are a great option. They are superior to a SOCKS5 proxy in almost every way. The Best VPN Service Providers give unparalleled protection from government agencies, copyright holders and hackers. Many of them even provide proxy services as a free add-on. Other than speed, VPNs do everything SOCKS5 does and more. However, VPN subscriptions can be more expensive and require extra setup to run. In some situations, a proxy is the most economical option.
When it comes to accessing content with region restrictions, for example, a SOCKS5 proxy is great. You can easily spoof a different location, and don’t have to worry too much about security – repercussions are rare. You can find a proxy from almost every country on the planet, often free of charge. A VPN will provide the same benefit, but comes from a trusted provider who has put considerable thought into the safety and privacy of its users.
SOCKS5 proxies can hide your identity from web servers. Low stakes tasks like voting on polls multiple times from the same computer are fine. Most don’t make use of cookies or JavaScript to track the same browser across multiple IPs.
However, if you’re accessing blocked content, things are a little different. While a proxy is good for low stakes, it doesn’t remove identifying information other than the IP address. It’s open to snooping from anyone with access to your data stream, such as your ISP and government. Accessing censored file-sharing websites and other questionable content is best done through a VPN.
This lack of protection from those with network access can pose considerable risk in public. No encryption means little protection from prying eyes. On a WiFi hotspot, attackers can still see and interpret your data. Browsing websites without SSL encryption could result in password and information compromises. Furthermore, the previously mentioned security issues in SSL mean that hackers could get hold of it even then. For public WiFi safety, a VPN is the only true option.
It’s clear that there are some merits to using a proxy over a VPN. The extra speed makes them suitable for a wide range of low-risk tasks. It’s advantageous to be able to utilize both a VPN and a SOCKS5 proxy. Thankfully, any of the Best VPN service providers supply this at no extra cost. IPVANISH and Private Internet Access are great examples of this. Switching the two methods in and out is a no-brainer, but what about using both at once?
Using both in tandem usually results in increased privacy, if it’s supported by your VPN provider. Be that as it may, the benefits are limited. If a VPN is connected already, you probably won’t see speed increases. Instead, the advantage comes as a safety net. If your VPN cuts out and the Kill-Switch fails, you still have some protection from SOCKS5 VPN proxy, and vice versa. This is relevant if a provider hands over your details – the copyright holder will only see the IP address of the other service. Using both creates an extra barrier to entry.
For most users, this extra barrier is far from essential. A properly configured VPN should pose little problem. However, if you’re doing something particularly sensitive the combination is a good option. For the best security, you should email your provider and make sure your SOCKS5 VPN proxy has no logs.
Speaking of torrenting, it’s important to be aware of the benefits and limitations of using a VPN SOCKS5 proxy for it. SOCKS5 torrenting will show only the IP address of the proxy server if a media company is looking through a certain swarm and provides a small amount of encryption. This gives the small degree of protection mentioned earlier.
However, there are still many avenues of attacks for copyright holders. The encryption method torrent clients use is shaky and not reliable. It can be cracked quickly, revealing the information beneath. Although this wouldn’t reveal the user’s IP address, it could give information such as the version of the client, the operating system, settings and download speed. Copyright holders could use this to narrow down to an individual user and their ISP. They can then send a legal request to that ISP for information. The lack of proper encryption means the ISP can clearly see what a user is doing on its network.
SOCKS5 torrenting does provide an increase in speed, but it comes at a price. A determined copyright troll or government entity may still get leverage over the user. In the end, it’s up to the individual to decide if the speed increase is worth the risk. This will probably depend on how significant the difference is.
SOCKS5 VPN proxies come with an additional caveat. A fully-fledged VPN won’t just protect you from copyright holders, it will also bypass ISP throttling. It’s becoming increasingly common for service providers to set speed limits on peer-to-peer downloads, resulting in speeds that are as much as one fifth of normal speed. Service providers can only do this if they can interpret and categorize the data, so VPN encryption provides a natural wall.
Proxies do not generally provide encryption, and you may experience significant throttling. This can easily offset the speed gains of SOCKS5, so proxies are only the best option if your ISP does not throttle. You can test for throttling though web services like Glasnost. Even with the encryption built into torrent clients, most service providers can tell if you’re using P2P. If you’re unsure, you can always test with a free proxy.
Configuring SOCKS5 Proxy for Torrenting
Thankfully, setting up a SOCKS5 proxy for torrenting is very simple. It requires fewer steps than a VPN, and all you’ll need is a torrent client. In our examples, we’ll be showing uTorrent and qBittorrent, using a VPN SOCKS5 proxy from IPVANISH and Private Internet Access. Both providers give the functionality free of charge and provide a premium service and no logs policy.
Set up a SOCKS5 Proxy with IPVANISH and qBittorrent
To emphasise the divide between the two services, IP Vanish’s SOCKS5 details can’t be found in the regular VPN client. Instead, you’ll have to go to the My Account section of its website and click on the SOCKS5 Proxy tab.
You’ll want to note down these credentials for use later. The username and password are specific to you, and provide the SOCKS5 authentication mentioned earlier. The hostname,, is thanks to SOCKS5 and its Domain Name Resolution feature. If you’re using a different proxy, just take note of those details instead.
For an extensive review on PIA, including security tests, DNS Leak tests, Torrent Protection, Kill-Switch test, Netflix support and much more, read our Best VPN Review: Private Internet Access (PIA)
Now, in qBittorrent, head to Tools > Options. On the left-hand side, you’ll see the Connection tab. Click it. You should be presented with the following menu:
Under the Listening Port heading, disable Use UPnP/NAT-PMP port forwarding from my router. Then input the following details under Proxy Server:
Type: Socks5
Host:
Port: 1080
Use proxy for peer connections: Yes
Disable connections not supported by proxies: Yes
Use proxy only for torrents: Yes
Authentication: Yes
Username: IP Vanish SOCKS5 generated username
Password: IP Vanish SOCKS5 generated password
For extra privacy, head to BitTorrent and change Encryption mode to Require encryption. This will force the in-application encryption discussed earlier. Also tick Enable anonymous mode. This will remove the peer ID from the client’s fingerprint and force all incoming connections through SOCKS5.
Finally, hit Apply and Okay. Restart qBittorrent just to be safe.
Set up a SOCKS5 Proxy with Private Internet Access and uTorrent
Finding your SOCKS5 VPN proxy settings for Private Internet Access is equally simple. Go to the client sign in page and login with your username and password. Scroll down until you see a heading with the label PPTP/L2TP/SOCKS Username and Password. Click Generate Username and Password and note down the details:
The hostname isn’t listed here, but a support article reveals that it’s that down too, or the details of your free proxy. Launch uTorrent and go to Options > Preferences (Ctrl + P).
Under the Connection subheading, disable Enable UPnP port mapping and Enable NAT-PMP port mapping. Then enter the following settings under Proxy Server:
Type: SOCKS5
·Proxy:
Username: PIA SOCKS5 user
Password: PIA SOCKS5 password
Use proxy for hostname lookups: Yes
Use proxy for peer-to-peer connections: Yes
Disable all local DNS lookups: Yes
Disable all features that leak identifying information: Yes
Disable connects unsupported by the proxy: Yes
To enable encryption, go to the BitTorrent subheading and look under the Protocol Encryption menu. Change Outgoing to Forced. Be aware that this could impair your ability to connect to peers. Click Apply and OK. SOCKS5 torrenting is now enabled.
Configuring your browser to use SOCKS can be a little more difficult. At this moment in time, neither Chrome nor Firefox support SOCKS5 with authentication by default. Instead, you can use the Maxthon browser. After install go to Settings > Advanced > Proxy Settings.
Now tick Use custom proxy setting and hit Manage Proxy. Click Add. Fill in the fields as follows:
Name: IPVanish SOCKS5
Address:
Hit OK. Below the config, you’ll see a Bypass proxy server for heading. Here you can set exceptions for websites for which you need to keep your local IP, such as Google Maps. You can also switch this to Use proxy server for and only use the VPN SOCKS5 proxy on certain websites.
Though premium paid SOCKS5 proxies like the one above are often best, it’s possible to get one free of charge. Many websites even compile free proxy lists that are open for anyone to use. Here are just a few examples:
If you already have a VPN, you may have access to a free SOCKS5 proxy without even knowing it. It’s becoming increasingly common for the Best VPN service providers to offer this service. Some of the major ones include:
IPVANISH – Netherlands
Private Internet Access – Netherlands
NordVPN – 25 Severs across multiple countries
It may be tempting to just grab the first free SOCKS proxy you see, but there are a few things to consider. A free anonymous proxy isn’t going to be fast. It’s more common for download speeds to sit in the kilobytes rather than megabytes. You’ll also notice far less reliability, so you’ll probably have to switch between different servers for long downloads. This unreliability extends to response time.
In addition, a free anonymous proxy often lacks security. In many cases, they have no security at all, leaving users open to hackers. In many cases free providers keep logs, which may cause issues for P2P downloads and other illegal activities.
In all, you’ll be hard pressed to find a good, reliable free proxy. If you want to protect your identity, paying is almost essential. In some cases, you can pick up a full VPN service for the same price or less than premium SOCKS5 services, making it a no-brainer. You’ll have access to strong encryption when you need it, and a proxy when you’re just looking for speed.
One of the best uses of a SOCKS5 proxy is for Netflix. The catalogue of the service has been limited of late, and people outside the US seem to be particularly affected. Thankfully, you can trick Netflix into giving you shows from regions across the world. Here’s my Netflix UK homepage before using a proxy:
In this example, we’ll be using Firefox. Go to the flyout menu on the top right, then select Options. Go to Advanced and click the Network tab. Under Connection > Configure how Firefox connects to the Internet, click Settings…
First, change Configure Proxies to Access the Internet to Manual proxy configuration. Under SOCKS Host enter the URL or IP address of your proxy server. Under Port, enter the number your Netflix SOCKS5 proxy has provided. Tick SOCKS v5 and Proxy DNS when using SOCKS v5.
You can now click OK and head to. You should immediately notice a change in your browsing catalogue.
Unfortunately, those with a free SOCKS proxy may get stuck here. Netflix monitors proxy lists and blocks them to stop users accessing content they aren’t supposed to. You’ll know if you receive the following error when trying to play a show:
Trying to access Netflix US via Free SOCKS Proxy fails
You may be able to find a free proxy that Netflix hasn’t gotten around to yet, but it’s quite unlikely. A paid, private SOCKS5 proxy is less likely to be blocked, as the provider changes things often. You should notice much faster buffering times, so it’s worth paying the small monthly fee.
Most VPN SOCKS5 proxies use authentication, which isn’t supported by Firefox or Google Chrome. Instead, you’ll want to use the previously mentioned Maxthon browser method. This should give you fast, unblocked access to different films.
Summary
While SOCKS5 proxies offer better protection than HTML or nothing at all, they don’t shield the user from spying by ISPs or government. Free anonymous proxies offer even less protection, and can be open to hackers, cut out, or have slow download speeds. However, subscription-based proxies remain a great way to bypass regional blocks and carry out other, low-risk tasks.
Unfortunately, the price of a standalone SOCKS5 proxy is high compared to other services. In many cases, users can get a VPN subscription from IPVANISH or Private Internet Access and a VPN SOCKS5 proxy for the same monthly fee. This gives users access to the full, hardened security of a VPN, while also providing a fast, less secure proxy if they need it. At this moment in time, VPN providers like PIA, IPVANISH and NordVPN offer superior value for money.
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Frequently Asked Questions about socks 5 proxy buy
Where can I buy SOCKS5?
SOCKS5 proxy servers currently available for free are:USA NY (server address 142.93. 68.63, server port 2434)Netherlands Amsterdam (server address 82.196. 7.200, server port 2434)Singapore (server address 159.89. 206.161, server port 2434)Feb 16, 2020
How do you get Socks 5 proxy?
Under Connection > Configure how Firefox connects to the Internet, click Settings… First, change Configure Proxies to Access the Internet to Manual proxy configuration. Under SOCKS Host enter the URL or IP address of your proxy server. Under Port, enter the number your Netflix SOCKS5 proxy has provided.
Can you buy proxies?
It is easy to buy an IP from multiple sources. A residential IP can be purchased from an ISP such as AT&T, Xfinity or Verizon, a proxy service such as Bright Data offering multiple IP types, or a data center IP – a machine-generated IP purchased from a data center farm.Feb 27, 2020
