Socks Proxy Vs VPN

SOCKS proxies and VPNs are two specific examples of the many tools one can use to stay anonymous online. However, they are not the same. Because of their use in providing online anonymity and privacy, some people confuse them as one. Not to worry, though. In this article, we differentiate between SOCKS proxies and VPNs. So read on as we explain what both tools are, how they authenticate users, and how they compare against each other across the board.

What are Socks Proxies?

A SOCKS (Socket Secure) proxy is a proxy that operates at the transport layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.  Their notable feature is their ability to handle any type of traffic including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, and more. This is different from other types of protocol-specific proxies like HTTP proxies. As a result, they are more flexible and useful for more applications.

Methods of Authentication

The different authentication methods employed by SOCKS5 proxies to control access include:

1. No authentication (None): This allows users to connect without providing credentials and is the least secure. Its use is only advisable when access control is not a priority or concern.  
2. Username/password authentication: This is the most popular form of authentication and requires users to provide a username and password.
3. GSS-API authentication: Here, the authentication mechanism is the Generic Security Services Application Program Interface (GSS-API). It facilitates and requires mutual authentication from the user and the proxy server and is preferable in situations where strong security measures are needed.

Benefits

1. Versatility. SOCKS proxies can handle many types of traffic and are compatible with IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. This makes them versatile and useful for many applications, a great advantage for their users.
2. Privacy and security. Like other proxies, they act as an intermediary in traffic routing thereby facilitating online privacy. Additionally, it protects users by thwarting attempts at IP-based tracking. On the other hand, SOCKS proxies gain from their extra authentication functionality. It can enhance convenience and online privacy. Because SOCKS proxies support authentication, they can also boast enhanced security even though they lack encryption.
3. Better web scraping. The capacity to handle all types of traffic can give users an edge when integrated with scraping tools.
4. Increased performance and compatibility. You can use IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6 addresses with the best SOCKS proxies. As such, they are compatible with every website and web application, which enhances their dependability and functionality.

Example Use Cases

Web browsing

Because SOCKS proxies work with all addresses (both the more recent IPv6 and the older IPv4), they are appropriate for regular web browsing. Additionally, they can manage any kind of traffic. The suitability of the SOCKS proxy to facilitate data scraping and browsing will depend on the intensity of the scraping exercise and whether the SOCKS proxy is a sticky or rotating proxy.

Streaming

The variety of supported traffic types, performance-oriented design, and authentication support can all help with streaming. This could be especially significant for streamers who use numerous platforms, have a greater range of content preferences, or require additional protection and privacy.

Communication

SOCKS proxies are a handy tool to facilitate secure proxy-mediated communication on platforms that require TCP and UDP.

What are VPNs?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that secures data transmission over the internet and can help simulate other locations . They secure data by encryption plus their ability to allow users to seemingly connect from other locations also helps them facilitate communication and access to resources.

Methods of Authentication

VPNs use the following authentication methods to secure connections between the user and their servers:

1. Username/password authentication. Definitely the most basic form of authentication and requires users to provide a username and password combination. Some VPN providers allow their clients to add an extra layer of security using multi-factor authentication.
2. Pre-Shared Key (PSK). Here, the user and the VPN server share a secret key for authentication in advance.
3. Digital certificates. The user and VPN use SSL/TLS certificates to perform mutual authentication. The most common use of these digital certificates is to authenticate the VPN server to the user, but the reverse is possible.  
4. RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service). This common networking protocol is used in enterprise solutions to provide centralised authentication, authorisation, and accounting.
5. Smart cards and tokens. Authentication tokens are codes or physical devices used to authenticate users. Smart cards are physical and contain embedded certificates, while tokens generate time-based one-time passwords (OTP).

Benefits of VPN

1. Improved security. The VPN uses its encryption protocol to protect data contained in web traffic. It makes it unreadable for hackers or eavesdroppers to understand and leverage.
2. Enhanced privacy and anonymity. VPNs keep user activity private and anonymous by masking their IPs. They also use tunnelling protocols that enhance privacy.  
3. Access to more content. The use of VPNs and subsequent rerouting of requests can help users access otherwise unavailable content like regional data, localised content, etc.
4. Avoiding bandwidth throttling. By using a VPN, users can hide their activity from their ISPs (internet service providers), thus making it difficult for them to identify and throttle targeted activities.
5. Securing remote access. While proxies can be used to gain remote access to resources, VPNs can enable employees to do so securely. This helps to preserve the integrity of organisational data while accounting for hybrid and remote workers.

Example Use Cases

Remote work

VPNs and their private networks are perfect for helping remote and hybrid workers in modern workplaces access company resources securely. They can help such workers tap into the company’s network from different locations.

Streaming and gaming

Individuals can use VPNs to increase their access to video and audio streaming catalogues. The same logic applies to gaming releases in regions otherwise outside your reach. As such, their users can consume region-specific video, audio and gaming content regardless of location. There are also added security benefits because the VPN will protect users from hacks, malicious code injection, doxing, swatting, and DDoS attacks.  

Online Privacy

VPNs are a handy tool for individuals wanting to browse the web anonymously, whether to bypass censorship, avoid targeted ads, or for any other reasons.

Travelling

A VPN can help secure communication and web surfing while using public Wi-Fis on trips. Furthermore, they can facilitate access to local content from the user’s country, helping them stay informed of happenings at home.  

Comparison – Socks Proxy Vs VPN

Encryption

SOCKS proxies do not inherently provide encryption for user traffic. They simply route traffic through their servers and consequently mask IPs and spoof locations. However, they can enjoy the encryption advantages of supporting a secure protocol like HTTPS. On the other hand, VPNs provide robust encryption, with many providers boasting AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard) protocol protection. When a VPN is in use, all data transmitted between the user’s device and the internet is secure. Thus, VPNs are the preferred tool in this regard as opposed to using a proxy server for security.

Server locations

SOCKS proxies offer significantly more locations and a larger IP address pool than a VPN. As such, their users can route traffic from more locations and can better avoid IP blacklisting because of their pool size. VPNs are typically poor in this regard and are limited in the number of servers they provide. Some reputable VPNs might offer a lot more than other VPN vendors. However, if you want more proxy server locations, opt for a SOCKS proxy.

Coverage

SOCKS proxies can handle any type of traffic (TCP and UDP) and are compatible with IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, making them very versatile. However, they are application-specific and will require configuration for each application to exert their effects on an application’s activity. In comparison, VPNs may not be as versatile. However, they handle all internet traffic from a user’s device through the VPN server, providing comprehensive coverage without individual application configuration. So, depending on the need, either option is okay.

Price

Generally, SOCKS proxies are cheaper than VPNs. However, the specific price will depend on the proxy type, with residential and mobile proxies being more expensive than all others thanks to their high anonymity and low detectability. VPNs have added encryption and cost more. Nevertheless, considering the size of proxy pools and their prices, SOCKS proxies provide better value for money for users.

Speed

SOCKS proxies should be faster than VPNs because they do not encrypt and encrypt data in their data transmission cycle. That said, their speed also depends on the quality of the ISP and the location of the server the user is employing. As implied, VPNs slow down internet speed due to their encryption overhead. However, high-quality VPNs minimise this impact compared to paid VPNs. Regardless, SOCKS proxies are the faster option.

Ease of use

SOCKS proxies require manual configuration for each application that intends to use the proxy. This can potentially make them complicated to use. VPNs, however, are easier to use and have dedicated client applications that automatically configure the device to route all traffic through the VPN, thus VPNs are an easier tool to use.

Anonymity

Residential proxies use IP addresses assigned to real residential devices, and SOCKS proxies can be residential in nature. In comparison, VPNs almost always use datacenter proxies because of the efficiency of their setup. In summary, SOCKS proxies can offer better anonymity than VPNs, making them ideal for web scraping and use on sensitive websites.

Can I use SOCKS without a VPN?

Proxy users can employ SOCKS proxies without VPNs by setting their internet applications or devices to route traffic through the proxy server. You can achieve this by configuring the settings of individual applications or the Operating System settings (such as in this Windows proxy settings configuration). Here is how:

1. Obtain the details of the SOCKS proxy. You will need to purchase a reliable SOCKS proxy from a reputable vendor. Upon purchase, you will receive the proxy details, including the proxy server address, proxy server port, and authentication details (username and password), where necessary.
2. Configure applications to use the proxy. If the application supports proxy use, open its settings and find the relevant settings and fields to input the above collected proxy details. If it doesn’t possess such settings and fields, follow the next step below.
3. Configure the OS settings on the device. Using a Windows device as an example, open settings. Once in, open “Network and Internet”. On the left sidebar that appears, choose “Proxy”. Under proxy, you have the option to opt for automatic proxy setup and manual proxy setup. For automatic proxy setup, toggle on “automatically detect settings” and “use setup script”, then paste the script in the relevant field. For a manual proxy setup, leave the automatic setup options disabled, toggle on “use a proxy server”, enter the proxy details in the relevant fields, and save the settings.

Where to Buy Socks Proxy

There are many vendors to choose from, but many options only make it harder to select a proxy with ease. You can skip the search, though. Proxy Cheap has the best SOCKS proxies. Here’s why:

1. Affordable Pricing. ProxyCheap offers competitive pricing for their SOCKS proxies. Their proxies are available to users with budgets of all sizes. Furthermore, their plans are flexible, allowing users to purchase proxies for durations ranging from daily trials to annual plans. Clients looking to purchase many proxies can benefit from bulk purchase discounts as well.
2. High Performance. ProxyCheap’s SOCKS proxies are known for their high-speed performance, being capable of reaching maximum download speeds of up to 10mbps. This is true of all proxy types, but most especially the datacenter proxies available in IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Their proxies represent a healthy change from the slow speeds of poorly maintained free proxies.
3. Reliable Connectivity. They provide reliable and stable connections, reducing the risk of disconnections or interruptions during use. A typical Proxy Cheap SOCKS proxy can support up to 100 concurrent requests and tasks without a significant drop in performance. They also efficiently dole out bandwidth, with some proxy types like mobile proxies offering unlimited bandwidth. This is an upgrade from the bandwidth limitations of free proxies.
4. Large Pool of IP Addresses. ProxyCheap offers a large pool of IP addresses, which facilitates IP rotation where necessary. Their rotating and static residential proxy pool is millions rich and is updated to ensure they are active and secure.
5. Excellent Customer Support. Good customer support is the backbone of any successful service provider. Proxy Cheap offers excellent customer support that is available 24/7 and responsive to requests via multiple media. A free proxy is unlikely to provide customer support, not to talk of one this good.
6. Wide Geographic Coverage. Proxy Cheap proxies span multiple geographic locations and allow their users to choose IPs from over 125 locations to boost accessibility and anonymity.
7. Security and Anonymity. Their SOCKS proxies provide high anonymity and security, ensuring user data and activities remain private. This compares favourably to the potential security issues, data logging and cyber attacks that users risk when they use free proxies.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better SOCKS5 or VPN

SOCKS5 proxies are marginally better than VPNs. When compared, SOCKS5 proxies are generally faster due to lesser overhead accounting for encryption and decryption of traffic. However, they need to be manually configured for every application to enjoy their full benefits. On the other hand, a VPN may be slower, but it provides more comprehensive and convenient coverage for all applications on a device. VPNs are also more expensive and possess small server pools, so SOCKS5 proxies are slightly better.

Can SOCKS5 be detected?

Yes, SOCKS5 proxies can be detected. Three of the most common methods for detecting SOCKS5 proxies include IP blacklisting, deep packet inspection (DPI) or traffic analysis, and the presence of proxy headers. As such, IP addresses associated with proxy use can betray a user, and so can the pattern of proxy use or the inadvertent use of proxy headers by some proxies.

Which costs more: a proxy or a VPN?

VPNs cost more than proxies. Though the cost of a proxy will still depend on the particular type and the vendor providing it, they are cheaper than VPNs. The cost of the VPNs is attributable to the additional features they provide over proxies.

Should I use a free SOCKS5 proxy?

No, you shouldn’t. Free proxies are convenient and cost nothing, but they come with issues and significant risks. For starters, they are a security risk because they make their users vulnerable to data breaches, malicious cyber-attacks, and data theft due to inadequate security measures. Other than security, they are also not trustworthy when it comes to their performance, reliability, or data privacy policies. Users will suffer slow speeds and frequent interruptions while still risking the developer collecting and selling their data to third parties.