A SOCKS proxy allows supported applications to tunnel their connection through a remote, third-party server using SSH connection. Tunneling enables your traffic to seem to originate from the remote server though it's not implemented at the system level as a VPN is.
You can create a SOCKS proxy between an SSH client and an SSH server with AllowTcpForwarding enabled. SOCKS proxy from a Windows host to an OpenSSH server can be made using PuTTY, a free program that you can download.
Related: How to create an SSH SOCKS proxy
Steps to create SOCKS proxy using PuTTY:
- Download PuTTY from the official website.
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html
- Launch PuTTY.
- Go to Connection → SSH → Tunnels from the category menu.
- Enter the port number that you want the SOCKS proxy to listen to in the Source port field.
Use unprivileged port which is from 1024 to 65535
- Make sure Auto and Dynamic radio buttons are selected.
- Click on Add button.
- Go to Session from the category menu.
- Enter the Host Name / IP address and Port of the server that you want to create a tunnel to and click on the Open button.
- Log in to the server with a valid credential.
- Configure your applications to connect to the newly created SOCKS proxy running on the selected port using SOCKS5 option.
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Author: Mohd
Shakir Zakaria
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is an experienced cloud architect with a strong development and open-source advocacy background. He boasts multiple certifications in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, underscoring his expertise in cloud architecture and system administration.
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Mohd Shakir Zakaria is an experienced cloud architect with a strong development and open-source advocacy background. He boasts multiple certifications in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, underscoring his expertise in cloud architecture and system administration.
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