How to create SOCKS proxy on Windows

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.

1. Download PuTTY from the official website.

   https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html

2. Launch PuTTY.
3. Go to Connection → SSH → Tunnels from the category menu.
4. 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

5. Make sure Auto and Dynamic radio buttons are selected.
6. Click on Add button.
7. Go to Session from the category menu.
8. 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.
9. Log in to the server with a valid credential.
10. Configure your applications to connect to the newly created SOCKS proxy running on the selected port using SOCKS5 option.