Differences and what are they used for?

In the world of The Internet, web browsers and web servers need to interact with each other as it is a vital component to make the website target accessible and functioning. 

Now you may have encountered quite often that many websites start with HTTP/HTTPS and you may question what is this and why is it needed? HTTP/S stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol (S – Secure). This protocol is required in order to receive the information that is in the desired webpage that is written in different scripting languages (most common being CSS or HTML) and still is the most commonly used protocol. Such information can be anything visually displayed on the webpage, such as:

1. Webpage itself;

2. Geolocation;

3. Any written text / videos / visuals.

Every time you have to refresh the page or press on a hyperlink that takes you to another subpage, etc., (each request) is treated like an individual request which leads to the new session being initiated on a per-case basis. This type of proxies serves exclusively to be a mediator between the website in target and the usual HTTP/S browsers and ensures better protection for the user.

Now that we are more aware of what HTTP/S is you may start questioning what is this SOCKS/5 and what is the difference? SOCKS (SOCKet Secure) is very much alike to HTTP/S as they both serve to connect user with target website being used as a mediator in-between the two sides. The main difference between the two is that SOCKS is built to withstand higher traffic volumes as more accurate representations are such as:

1. Various types of streaming (Data / AV);

2. Peer-to-peer usages (such as torrenting).

SOCKS allows users to bypass the geo-based restrictions while allowing them to keep their maximum anonymity and uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) which makes the connection more secure and stable and also uses end-to-end encryption which ensures that only requesting side access and downloading the data in question. Useful when needed to access hardly accessible open-source data which is restricted by such factors as firewalls. Transmission of group information that is crucial for analysis and processing is used in data which is an equivalent of a “Zip file”. 

Is there a difference between SOCKS and SOCKS5? What do 5 stand for?

In OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model SOCKS5 is named as “layer 5” protocol which will form a working friendship and willingly accept requests with such protocols as:

HTTP/S;

POP3;

SMTP;

FTP

SOCKS exists in 2 options:

SOCKS4 – Protocol that is not so favorable for tasks that require authentication. Socks5 on the other hand is built to be under a load of authentications.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is supported in SOCKS5 whereas in SOCKS4 it is not supported.