Free Proxy Tools That Support HTTPS and SOCKS5

Free Proxy Tools That Support HTTPS and SOCKS5

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The Multiplicity of Proxies: HTTPS and SOCKS5 in the Wild

Let us wade into the shimmering waters of free proxy tools, where encrypted streams and shadows of TCP packets dance. HTTPS and SOCKS5: these are not mere protocols, but portals—gateways to obfuscation, liberty, and the digital masquerade. Each tool, a brushstroke on the canvas of anonymity, brings its own palette of features and quirks.

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Table: Quick Comparison of Free Proxy Tools

Tool Name	Protocols Supported	Platform	GUI/CLI	Authentication	Key Features	Official Resource
Shadowsocks	SOCKS5, HTTP/HTTPS	All	Both	Yes	Encrypted proxy, pluggable transports	https://github.com/shadowsocks/shadowsocks
Privoxy	HTTP/HTTPS	All	CLI	No	Filtering, privacy tweaks, chainable	https://www.privoxy.org/
Squid	HTTP/HTTPS, SOCKS5*	All	CLI	Yes	Caching, access control, authentication	http://www.squid-cache.org/
Proxychains	HTTP/HTTPS, SOCKS5	Linux/Unix	CLI	N/A	Proxy chaining, dynamic config	https://github.com/haad/proxychains
3proxy	HTTP/HTTPS, SOCKS5	All	CLI	Yes	Lightweight, flexible, IPv6	https://3proxy.ru/
Dante	SOCKS5	Unix/Linux	CLI	Yes	High performance, access control	https://www.inet.no/dante/
Proxifier	HTTP/HTTPS, SOCKS5	Windows/Mac	GUI	Yes	App-level proxying, rules	https://www.proxifier.com/download/

*Squid requires third-party modules for SOCKS5.

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Shadowsocks: An Encrypted SOCKS5 Proxy

A poem in code, Shadowsocks [https://github.com/shadowsocks/shadowsocks] is the darling of the circumvention community. At its heart, it is a lightweight, fast, and encrypted SOCKS5 proxy, supporting both command-line and GUI interfaces.

Key Features:
– Encryption: Ciphers from AEAD to classic stream ciphers.
– Cross-platform: Clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
– Pluggable Transports: Obfsproxy, v2ray-plugin for disguising traffic.

Installation (Linux):

# Install via pip
pip install https://github.com/shadowsocks/shadowsocks/archive/master.zip

Sample Configuration:

{
  "server": "example.com",
  "server_port": 8388,
  "local_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "local_port": 1080,
  "password": "your-password",
  "timeout": 300,
  "method": "aes-256-gcm"
}

Start the Local Proxy:

sslocal -c config.json

Your system, now, can direct traffic through 127.0.0.1:1080 as a SOCKS5 proxy.

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Privoxy: The HTTP/HTTPS Scrubber

Privoxy [https://www.privoxy.org/] stands as the sentry filtering HTTP/HTTPS traffic, a privacy-obsessed artisan. It does not natively support SOCKS5 but can chain with SOCKS5 proxies via configuration.

Key Features:
– Ad and tracker removal
– Customizable filtering rules
– Chaining with other proxies

Chaining with SOCKS5 (Privoxy to Shadowsocks):

In config:

forward-socks5 / 127.0.0.1:1080 .

Now, Privoxy listens on its port (default 8118), passing requests via Shadowsocks’ SOCKS5.

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Squid: The Titan of Caching and Filtering

Squid [http://www.squid-cache.org/] is the grand old sage—its HTTP and HTTPS proxying is legendary, while SOCKS support is piecemeal (via squid-socks).

Key Features:
– Extensive access controls
– SSL bumping and filtering
– Authentication

Basic HTTPS Proxy Configuration:
In squid.conf:

http_port 3128
https_port 3129 cert=/path/to/cert.pem key=/path/to/key.pem

Proxy Chaining Example:

cache_peer 127.0.0.1 parent 1080 0 proxy-only default login=user:password

For SOCKS5, wrap Squid with tsocks or similar.

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Proxychains: The Chain-smith

Proxychains [https://github.com/haad/proxychains] is not a proxy itself, but a tool for forging proxy chains. It injects itself into applications, cascading requests via HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4/5 proxies.

Key Features:
– Dynamic and random chain modes
– Easy configuration
– No root required

Sample Configuration:

[ProxyList]
socks5 127.0.0.1 1080
http   127.0.0.1 8080

Usage:

proxychains curl https://check.torproject.org/

A waltz through multiple proxies, each step unseen.

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3proxy: The Swiss Army Knife

3proxy [https://3proxy.ru/] is a lithe, compact suite—lightweight yet formidable. It supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5, all with IPv6 grace.

Key Features:
– Multi-protocol support
– Flexible authentication
– Traffic limiting

Sample Configuration:

auth none
proxy -p3128
socks -p1080

Start the Proxy:

3proxy /etc/3proxy/3proxy.cfg

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Dante: The Industrial-Grade SOCKS5

Dante [https://www.inet.no/dante/] is a robust, high-performance SOCKS5 server, tailored for heavy-duty environments. While HTTP/HTTPS is not its domain, it is a paragon of SOCKS5 purity.

Key Features:
– Fine-grained access control
– Authentication
– Supports thousands of concurrent connections

Sample Configuration:

logoutput: /var/log/danted.log
internal: 0.0.0.0 port = 1080
external: eth0

method: none
user.notprivileged: nobody

client pass {
    from: 0.0.0.0/0 to: 0.0.0.0/0
    log: connect disconnect error
}
pass {
    from: 0.0.0.0/0 to: 0.0.0.0/0
    protocol: tcp udp
}

Run Dante:

danted -f /etc/danted.conf

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Proxifier: The GUI Whisperer

Proxifier [https://www.proxifier.com/download/] brings a luminous GUI to the orchestration of HTTP/HTTPS and SOCKS5 proxies, harnessing rules to direct specific applications.

Key Features:
– Per-app proxy routing
– Rule-based configuration
– Detailed logging

Usage Example:
1. Install and launch Proxifier.
2. Add a proxy server: SOCKS5 127.0.0.1:1080.
3. Create a rule: “All traffic from Firefox → use this proxy.”

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Table: Feature Matrix

Feature	Shadowsocks	Privoxy	Squid	Proxychains	3proxy	Dante	Proxifier
HTTPS Proxy	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
SOCKS5 Proxy	Yes	No*	No**	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GUI Available	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Authentication	Yes	No	Yes	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chaining Support	Pluggable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Platform	All	All	All	Linux/Unix	All	Unix	Win/Mac

Via chaining
*Via third-party modules

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Actionable Recipes

Setting Up A Dual-Protocol Proxy Environment

1. Install Shadowsocks (SOCKS5) and Privoxy (HTTP/HTTPS)
2. Configure Privoxy to forward HTTP/HTTPS to Shadowsocks:
   forward-socks5 / 127.0.0.1:1080 .
3. Point your browser or app to Privoxy (localhost:8118). All HTTP/HTTPS traffic is now encrypted and anonymized via SOCKS5.

Proxychains with Multiple Backends

1. Install Proxychains.
2. Edit /etc/proxychains.conf:
   [ProxyList]
socks5 127.0.0.1 1080
http 127.0.0.1 8080
3. Run apps through proxychains:
   proxychains firefox

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References and Further Reading

• Shadowsocks GitHub
• Privoxy Official Site
• Squid Official Site
• Proxychains GitHub
• 3proxy Official Site
• Dante SOCKS Server
• Proxifier Download
• tsocks GitHub

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The digital flâneur, with these tools in hand, may stride unseen through the alleyways of the internet, shielded by the twin veils of HTTPS and SOCKS5—each tool a stanza in the poem of privacy.