How to become a Forward Proxy Expert?

Forward Proxy

Are you curious about various forward proxy protocols? Do you want to set up your own forward proxy servers? Are you searching for an easy-to-use proxy client? This post will guide you toward the answers and set you on the path to becoming a "forward proxy expert".

1️⃣ Forward Proxy Protocols

Forward proxy protocols allow you to route your internet traffic through an intermediary server, masking your IP address and potentially bypassing censorship or geographic restrictions. Here's a brief overview of some popular protocols:

HTTP/HTTPS

• Description: The most basic proxy protocol. HTTPS offers encryption between the client and the proxy server, but the connection from the proxy to the destination server may not be encrypted.
• Use Cases: Simple web browsing, accessing content with minimal security requirements.
• Drawbacks: Easily detectable, not suitable for sensitive data.
• NOT recommended to circumvent GFW

Socks

• Description: A more versatile protocol than HTTP, capable of handling any type of network traffic (TCP/UDP). SOCKS proxies simply forward data without interpreting it.
• Use Cases: Circumventing firewalls, accessing services that don't support HTTP proxies.
• Drawbacks: Lacks encryption.
• NOT recommended to circumvent GFW

ShadowsSocks (ss)

• Description: Like a secure SOCKS5 proxy
• Use Cases: Circumventing firewalls, accessing services that don't support HTTP proxies.
• Drawbacks: Can be identified through traffic analysis.
• NOT recommended to circumvent GFW

Trojan

• Description: Aims to mimic legitimate HTTPS traffic, making it difficult to distinguish from normal web browsing.
• Use Cases: Bypassing censorship, masking proxy traffic.
• Drawbacks: Has TIT (TLS in TLS) issue, and may be detected by GFW.

VLess

• Description: A lightweight and efficient protocol, often used with Xray. It prioritizes performance and simplicity.
• Use Cases: High-performance proxying, situations where encryption is not a primary concern.
• Drawbacks: Relies on the security of TLS and Reality (a kind of flow control).

VMess

• Description: Another protocol commonly used with Xray. It offers strong encryption and authentication features.
• Use Cases: Secure proxying, bypassing censorship.
• Drawbacks: Can be more resource-intensive than VLess. Needs correct time-zone.

Hysteria

• Description: Aims to improve connection stability and speed, especially in challenging network conditions. It uses a custom protocol designed for packet loss resilience.
• Use Cases: Proxying in areas with poor network connectivity, optimizing performance.
• Drawbacks: Requires both client and server to support the Hysteria protocol.

2️⃣ Proxy Server

Xray

• Description: A powerful and versatile proxy platform that supports multiple protocols, including VLess, VMess, Trojan, and more. It offers advanced features like routing, traffic management, and TLS configuration.
• Key Features:
  • Multi-protocol support
  • Flexible routing rules
  • TLS encryption
  • Active community and documentation
• Setup: Xray's configuration can be complex, often requiring editing JSON configuration files. Numerous tutorials and guides are available online.
• Considerations: Suitable for users who need advanced features and are comfortable with command-line configuration.

Hysteria

• Description: Specifically designed to implement the Hysteria protocol, focusing on speed and reliability in challenging network environments.
• Key Features:
  • Optimized for Hysteria protocol
  • Congestion control algorithms for improved performance
  • UDP-based for faster data transfer
• Setup: Relatively straightforward to set up compared to Xray, with simpler configuration options.
• Considerations: Best suited for scenarios where Hysteria's unique performance benefits are desired.

3️⃣ Proxy Client

V2ray

V2rayN is recommended.

Clash

Clash kernel and Clash.Meta kernel. FLClash is recommended.