SOCKS5: Apa itu dan untuk apa itu

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.

What is a socks5 proxy

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:

• Are suitable for all types of protocols and data, not just browsers, but for all programs that do not directly use a proxy (ports 1080 and 1081).
• Do not encrypt traffic, so be cautious when transmitting sensitive data. However, there are solutions to address this, which we will explain further.
• Offer different types of authentication.
• Are good for bypassing restrictions and provide stable and fast connections, which is useful for streaming media, P2P, and online gaming.

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".

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Types of authentication

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:

• Null authentication - No authentication is required to connect to the proxy server.
• Username and password authentication - You need to enter login credentials to access and connect to the proxy server. Usernames and passwords help limit the number of proxy users.
• GSS-API authentication - Both you and the server use operating system-level authentication methods to verify identity.

What is Socks5

There are two generations of Socks proxies:

• Socks4: Does not support IPv6, authentication, and remote DNS queries. It exclusively supports TCP connections.
• Socks5: Supports both IPv4 and IPv6, multiple authentication methods (such as username and password authentication), remote DNS queries, TCP and UDP connections, and SSH tunneling for traffic relay.

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

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.

Can security be increased?

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:

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TCP and UDP

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.

• TCP is a protocol used to ensure message delivery between a client and server. It is necessary for reliable connections. TCP is best suited for accurate data delivery, such as media content and messaging.
• UDP, on the other hand, does not guarantee delivery, and it is a connectionless protocol. It helps transmit traffic faster as no time is spent on retransmission. UDP is best suited for P2P traffic, voice transmission, and streaming video.

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.

Advantages of SOCKS5

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:

• Bypass restrictions. SOCKS5 is one of the best ways to bypass website blocking. This is useful if your IP address or SOCKS5 IP has been blacklisted.
• Offer speed and connection stability. Previous versions of SOCKS used only TCP for uninterrupted and secure data transmission. SOCKS5 works with the UDP protocol, which improves speed.
• Provide performance. Unlike other types of proxies, SOCKS proxies do not interfere with data packets. There are fewer errors during transmission.
• Enable faster downloads. Data packets are much smaller, which speeds up downloads, especially when using P2P platforms.

Use cases for SOCKS5 proxies

They are suitable for typical tasks that other proxy options can handle. However, they demonstrate greater efficiency in the following scenarios:

• Web scraping and SEO - these tasks with high traffic volumes can be performed. For example, a dynamic IPv6 proxy server can help stay hidden using anti-scraping technology and provide effective and fast results. Of course, data can be collected using HTTP proxies, but SOCKS5 allows parsing data from any connection - TCP or UDP - and from different sources like video streams, VoIP calls, etc.
• Anonymous connection when you need to mask your real IP address.
• Online gaming, video and voice chats.
• P2P and torrents. Here, high protocol speed between nodes and masking the real IP address are necessary.
• Access to MySQL databases, LDAP service.

The main drawback of SOCKS5 is the lack of data encryption. This can lead to:

• Hacking. We do not recommend working with confidential data when using SOCKS5. While passing through an external server, hackers can quickly steal personal information.
• Intrusive advertising and viruses. Proxy servers often profit by sending advertisements to connected users. These ads and pop-ups not only annoy but can also pose a threat in the form of malware that sends data to hackers.
• Network vulnerability. When connecting to a SOCKS proxy server, you share your personal data, such as hostname, with unknown people. Your identity can be used for malicious purposes or sold on the darknet.