031 | Proxy Servers in Action: 3proxy — A Compact and Multifunctional Proxy Server

June 23, 2025

031 | Proxy Servers in Action: 3proxy — A Compact and Multifunctional Proxy Server 🤏⚙️

In our exploration of proxy servers, we’ve already looked at giants like Nginx and HAProxy, as well as the versatile SOCKS-focused Dante. Today, we turn our attention to 3proxy — a surprisingly compact yet incredibly multifunctional solution that could become your Swiss army knife in the world of proxying.

What is 3proxy?

3proxy is free, open-source software that, despite its small footprint (hence the “3”), is one of the most versatile proxy servers available. It is designed to run on various operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, and BSD. Its main strength is its ability to act as a proxy for a wide range of network protocols, often not supported in more specialized solutions.

030 | Proxy Servers in Action: Dante — a Versatile SOCKS Proxy Server

June 22, 2025

We continue exploring the world of proxy servers. After looking into Nginx and HAProxy, which primarily handle HTTP and high-level load balancing, it’s time to look at Dante. This proxy server specializes in the SOCKS protocol, offering lower-level proxying for any TCP and UDP traffic.

What is Dante?

Dante is a free, open-source software designed to function as a SOCKS proxy server. Unlike HTTP proxies, which operate at the application layer (OSI Layer 7) and understand web traffic, SOCKS proxies work at the transport layer (OSI Layer 4). This means Dante can proxy virtually any network traffic, regardless of its contents, making it extremely versatile.

027 | Proxy Servers: Your Reliable Network Middleman — Why You Need Them and How They Work

June 19, 2025

In today’s internet-driven world, where data constantly travels between millions of devices, it’s often not enough to establish a direct connection — you may need a “middleman.” That’s where a proxy server comes in. It acts as a bridge between you (the client) and the destination resource (server), handling network requests on your behalf. Understanding how proxies work is critical for network security, optimization, and access management.

What is a Proxy Server?

A proxy server (from the English proxy — representative, intermediary) is a server in a computer network that acts as an intermediary between a user (client) and other internet servers. All client requests go through the proxy first, which then forwards them to the destination server. Responses from the destination server also return to the proxy first before being sent back to the client.

Redirecting All Container Traffic via SOCKS Proxy Using tun2socks

June 17, 2025

Sometimes it becomes necessary to route all outgoing traffic from a specific container through a proxy server. This can be useful for ensuring anonymity, bypassing geo-restrictions, or for testing network configurations. In this article, we’ll look at how to set up such a system using the tun2socks utility and iptables rules, as well as how to manage this process with systemd.

What is tun2socks?

tun2socks is a powerful tool that allows you to redirect network traffic intended for a TUN device through a SOCKS proxy. It creates a virtual network interface (TUN device), and all traffic flowing through it is encapsulated into a SOCKS connection. This is especially convenient when direct application-level proxying is impossible or undesirable.