The SOCKS5 proxy server can improve anonymity and speed up your traffic routing. However, it does not provide security as it operates without data encryption. In this article, we will explain what a SOCKS5 proxy server is, its advantages, and its use cases.
Socks proxy is a type of proxy that transfers data using the Socket Secure protocol. It helps ensure secure communication at an unnoticed level for the user. These proxies route traffic through a firewall and facilitate communication with a server. The proxy does not modify or alter any data: the traffic is redirected as it is. As a result, websites cannot see the client's real IP address or that they are using a proxy.
Socks proxies:
Be cautious when using free Socks servers as they have a higher risk of data leakage and increased advertising. We have already compared them to paid proxies in our article "Paid vs Free Proxies".
Authentication is the method of connecting to a proxy. With authentication, your data is slightly better protected, and the risk of being banned while parsing is reduced. In other words, SOCKS5 proxy servers provide more secure connections compared to HTTP protocol. You can connect to SOCKS5 using one-time passwords, SMS codes, authentication codes, and more.
SOCKS5 offers three types of authentication:
There are two generations of Socks proxies:
SOCKS5 proxies are often referred to as SOCKS proxies since SOCKS5 is the more popular version. Therefore, the digit "5" is usually omitted. Both terms can be used interchangeably.
SOCKS proxies can be used for the same purposes as HTTP proxies, such as speeding up website loading by caching, bypassing restrictions, and maintaining confidentiality while working on the network.
Unlike HTTP, SOCKS5 can be used outside the browser. The protocol operates at the session layer, which is the fifth layer in the OSI model. This means that the protocol allows the transmission of any data without encapsulation.
The OSI model is a model for protocol operation, interconnection, and the coordination of different device functions. It illustrates the stages of data transmission from the program to the cable.
Host levels in the OSI model
Level |
Data Type |
Functions |
Examples |
7. Application |
Data |
Access to network services |
HTTP, FTP, POP3, SMTP, WebSocket |
6. Presentation |
Data |
Data representation and encryption |
ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI |
5. Session |
Data |
Session management |
SOCKS5, RPC, PAP, L2TP, gRPC |
4. Transport |
Segments and datagrams |
Direct communication between endpoints and reliability |
TCP, UDP, SCTP, Ports |
3. Network |
Packets |
Route determination and logical addressing |
IPv4, IPv6, IPsec, AppleTalk, ICMP |
2. Data Link |
Bits and frames |
Physical addressing |
PPP, IEEE 802.22, Ethernet, DSL, ARP, network card |
1. Physical |
Bits |
Working with transmission medium, signals, and binary data |
USB, RJ (twisted pair, coaxial, optical fiber), radio channel |
However, data encryption in SOCKS5 is not mandatory. Therefore, any party involved in the data transmission can see your data. But the advantage is that the data transmission speed is the highest among all proxy protocols, even faster than VPN.
Dedicated (non-shared) SOCKS5 proxy servers can be configured for increased protection, similar to VPN servers. For example, through a private server with an encrypted SSH tunnel (Secure Shell Protocol). The traffic will then go through the remote server. Do not confuse this with SSL encryption. In essence, you can create a local proxy using the PuTTy utility.
Thanks to SSH, all traffic, including SOCKS5 traffic, can be directed from the client through a private encrypted SSH tunnel to the remote SSH server. This can help hide traffic and bypass more advanced (L7-DPI) firewalls. However, advanced configuration skills are required for this.
The connection will look schematically like this:
Previously, different types of SOCKS proxies only worked with the TCP protocol, while SOCKS5 proxies handle UDP traffic as well. Therefore, we recommend using SOCKS5 as it is more versatile.
These protocols complement each other well.
When the client exchanges TCP data, SOCKS forwards the data through an established connection. If the client exchanges UDP data, it may be necessary to use a TCP connection to establish an initial connection since UDP can only send data. After that, TCP is only needed for successful SOCKS5 proxy server responses and instructions for sending UDP packets. More details about the differences between the protocols can be found in the article on Spiceworks.
You can configure SOCKS5 proxies at any level. SOCKS5 can be applied at the application level. That means you can choose which programs will route their traffic through this proxy. This is important if you only need to enable the proxy server for one specific application. SOCKS proxies are commonly used in browsers or file-sharing P2P clients like BitTorrent.
For regular downloading, uploading, and content transfer, SOCKS proxies are the best option because they:
They are suitable for typical tasks that other proxy options can handle. However, they demonstrate greater efficiency in the following scenarios:
The main drawback of SOCKS5 is the lack of data encryption. This can lead to: