{"id":6316,"date":"2023-10-18T14:47:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T14:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royadata.io\/blog\/?p=6316"},"modified":"2023-10-18T14:47:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T14:47:43","slug":"http-proxies-vs-socks-proxies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/royadata.io\/blog\/http-proxies-vs-socks-proxies\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Difference Between HTTP and SOCKS Proxies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Difference\n<\/picture>\n

Not all proxies are created equally. In fact, many proxies have varying levels of effectiveness in terms of speed, security, and routing protocols that make them quite different for users.<\/p>\n

The two main types of proxies<\/a> used today are Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP<\/a>) proxies<\/strong> and Secure Socket (SOCKS<\/a>) proxies<\/strong>. I am going to break down the difference between these two methods on a number of levels. I\u2019ll refrain from extreme technical language (except where necessary) so that beginners who come across this can understand just as well as a fluent programmer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll make comparisons on functionality, speed, security, cost, availability, and practical use.<\/p>\n

Before I dive into that, here\u2019s a brief explanation of how the HTTP protocol functions in general, which both systems are built on.<\/p>\n\n

<\/span>HTTP Protocol<\/span><\/h2>\n

HTTP protocol is the standard proxy protocol for the internet. It\u2019s what you see in every web address: http:\/\/www.example.com. It\u2019s so ingrained in my modern-aged brain that in many ways I don\u2019t see it anymore \u2014 except when writing an article about it, of course.<\/p>\n

The first thing to know about HTTP protocol functionality is that it\u2019s based on the client-server model in a request-response scenario. In most cases, the \u201cclient\u201d is a web browser<\/strong> (i.e. you, using a web browser), and the client sends out a request for information. This request for information is an HTTP request, typed in as Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The \u201cserver,\u201d meanwhile, is an application or another computer with that information. Upon receiving the request, the server sends the resources, which is a myriad of content like images or blocks of text, in an HTTP format back to the client.<\/p>\n

For those scratching their heads, the process above is what happens you go to a website. You are the client, typing in http:\/\/facebook.com<\/strong>, and Facebook (the company) has a server somewhere that holds the information you want to see. HTTP is the method by which the request is made, and then also how the information is provided to you.<\/p>\n

This protocol is essentially how the internet and web-based browsing is set up.<\/p>\n

Proxies come into play when you want another layer in this client-server model. One might want another layer for anonymity, or security, or because the client or the server has a firewall set up and they can\u2019t get through to each other.<\/p>\n

HTTP proxies and SOCKS proxies are two different types of layers. It gets a little confusing because \u201cHTTP proxies\u201d look very similar to the \u201cHTTP protocol.\u201d While both types of proxies are both built on the HTTP protocol, they have some key differences.<\/p>\n\n

<\/span>HTTP Proxy Functionality<\/span><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ll get into more specifics below, but the main standout feature for HTTP proxy<\/a> functionality is that they are built with the very specific HTTP protocol methods in mind. They are mainly used to fetch and receive within that protocol<\/strong>, rather than other types of network connections. This includes specific network ports, which all HTTP traffic is usually routed through.<\/p>\n

Due to these factors, HTTP proxies are the more common of the two types and are usually what people mean when they talk about proxy use. Public proxies<\/a>, elite private proxies<\/a>, and some VPN services<\/a> all use HTTP proxies.<\/p>\n\n

<\/span>SOCKS Proxy Functionality<\/span><\/h2>\n

SOCKS proxies<\/a> operate at what\u2019s called a \u201clower-level\u201d than the HTTP proxy. This means the SOCKS proxies are more general, have more applications, and are not as smart. \u201c<\/strong>Smart\u201d in this sense has to do with programming and proxy methods understanding information that is passed, which I\u2019ll talk about in the security section.<\/p>\n

Programmers also use the SOCKS proxies because, unlike the HTTP proxies which are tied into the HTTP protocol, SOCKS can work on any network protocol and on any port.<\/p>\n

Due to this general use application of SOCKS proxies, they are used more often for non-specific HTTP protocol related matters, and are malleable to programmers in a way that HTTP proxies are not.<\/p>\n

\"SOCKS\n<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Security Comparison<\/span><\/h2>\n

What most people talk about when they talk about the difference between SOCKS and HTTP proxies is how secure, or not, the two are. Proxies tend to be used specifically for anonymity and security, so it makes a lot of sense that this is the primary concern people have. I\u2019ll break down how the two compare below.<\/p>\n

<\/span>HTTP Proxy Security<\/span><\/h3>\n

In general, HTTP proxies are not as secure as SOCKS<\/strong>. That\u2019s true if you\u2019re using an elite private proxy, a shared private proxy, or a public proxy (listed in descending order of safety).<\/p>\n

The main reason HTTP proxies aren\u2019t as secure? They are \u201csmart.\u201d It\u2019s weird, I know. Usually, intelligence implies a higher degree of safety, but in this particular protocol chain that\u2019s just not true.<\/p>\n

The security issue comes into focus when looking at the actual network tra\ufb03c or data that passes between the client and server in the HTTP protocol. Due to this intelligence \u2014 which is really a simple way of saying how the proxy and protocol system is set up architecturally \u2014 the HTTP proxies can understand and interpret this tra\ufb03c.<\/p>\n

This means that the stream of data you, the client, are requesting can be seen by the proxy you are using. That means it might \u201csee\u201d the latest episode of Game of Thrones you downloaded, which is illegal to own without purchasing. It might also \u201csee\u201d a casual web search on woodpeckers. The proxy does not care how sensitive or not the data is, but the fact remains that it can read it.<\/p>\n

This has led to a number of proxy provider scandals. For instance, popular VPN site HideMyAss!<\/a><\/strong> went on record as logging the data of a paying user<\/strong><\/a> who happened to be using its anonymity to help access and steal Sony information. The user\u2019s actions were illegal, and HideMyAss! had every legal right to cough up the information.<\/p>\n

That information could never have been tracked if HideMyAss! was built on a SOCKS proxies platform, rather than with HTTP proxies. In this particular case, the user was at fault. However, many users believe that HTTP proxies are highly secure \u2014 given names like \u201celite private proxy\u201d \u2014 when in reality the companies that own them could<\/em> be logging said data<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/span>HTTP Proxy Caveat<\/span><\/h3>\n

There is a digital caveat to this whole notion that HTTP proxies are not secure<\/strong>. Many of us are now familiar with HTTPS instead of HTTP \u2014 the \u201cS\u201d is commonly associated with a more secure website. In Google Chrome a small padlock icon appears on websites that have https:\/\/ at the beginning, rather than http:\/\/. This is possible through the CONNECT method, which allows an HTTP proxy to establish a secure and direct connection between client and server, also known as a tunnel.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking at buying HTTP proxies, ask the provider if they support the CONNECT method. If they do, you can get great security out of certain connections. If not, you run the risk of your data being read.<\/p>\n

<\/span>SOCKS Proxy Security<\/span><\/h3>\n

As you can probably guess, SOCKS proxies are more secure than HTTP proxies. The main reason this is true is that SOCKS cannot read the data being passed between client and server. It is dumb, in a sense, and that ignorance makes it none the wiser to whatever information happens to be passing between the client and server.<\/p>\n

The technical process behind this has to do with the SOCKS proxy method of connection, which is called tunneling<\/strong><\/a>. With an HTTP proxy, the client and server exchange information through the proxy itself, which stands as a middle man between the two web-based interfaces. With SOCKS tunneling, the client makes a direct request to the client, and with express permission (called a handshake) the tunnel is opened.<\/p>\n

This is a TCP\/IP-based connection, and it is extremely secure because of its directness and sheer transparency. It is clear when the tunnel is open, and it is clear that the SOCKS proxy cannot access the data in the tunnel.<\/p>\n

SOCKS proxies have two main versions, 4 and 5<\/strong>. The most recent version, SOCKS5, adds even more support for security and UDP<\/a><\/strong>. For the basic user, either version of<\/p>\n

SOCKS will work well, and both are very secure.<\/p>\n

For reference, Tor<\/strong><\/a>, the ultra-anonymous and secure site, is built on SOCKS proxy technology.<\/p>\n