Compare the differences between SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 agents - WHOER

As a widely used network proxy protocol, SOCKS provides an efficient channel for data transmission between the client and the server. In this protocol family, SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 both play the role of data routing, but there are some obvious differences in function and application. This article will delve into the differences between SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 agents to help readers better understand the two agent agreements.

1. Introduce the SOCKS protocol

SOCKS protocol is a proxy protocol widely used in today's Internet world. It plays an important role in network communication. First of all, let's have an in-depth understanding of the nature and role of the SOCKS protocol.

The term "SOCKS" actually stands for "Socket Secure, "a name that reveals the core goal of the protocol, which is to ensure the security and privacy of network communications. On the Internet, when data needs to be transmitted between the client and the server, the SOCKS protocol intervenes and acts as a data relay, transferring data from the client to the target server, and then transmitting the response from the server back to the client.

①What are the common characteristics of a good IP agent?

The SOCKS protocol works like a postman. Just as the postman is responsible for getting the letter from the sender to the recipient, the SOCKS server is responsible for delivering the network packet from the client that initiated the request to the destination server, and then delivering the server's response back to the client. The role of middleman is of great significance in network communication.

Another key function of the SOCKS protocol is to realize the anonymity and access control of network applications. By using a proxy server, the real IP address of the client is hidden, making it impossible for the target server to directly recognize the true source of the connection. This provides users with a degree of privacy. In addition, the SOCKS protocol can also control access, allowing the network administrator to set rules as required to restrict the access permission of specific users or IP addresses, thereby maintaining network security.

In practical applications, the SOCKS protocol is usually used to achieve access control, break through firewalls, and bypass geographical restrictions. For example, when users need to access a website that is blocked in a specific region, they can get the targeted content by connecting to a SOCKS proxy server without being affected by geographic restrictions.

2. SOCKS4 vs. SOCKS5

Protocol support and compatibility: SOCKS4 only supports TCP applications, while SOCKS5 supports TCP and UDP applications. SOCKS5 is more comprehensive in protocol, and it also supports various authentication methods and domain name resolution (DNS), which are not compatible with SOCKS4. Therefore, the outgoing SOCKS proxy is usually a SOCKS4 proxy. Since UDP applications are supported in SOCKS5, this makes SOCKS5 capable of a wider range of networking tasks.

②The importance of ensuring secure access to your own IP address

IP Address support: The SOCKS4 proxy only supports IPv4 addresses, while the SOCKS5 proxy is more flexible at this point, not only supporting IPv4, but also adding support for IPv6 addresses. This means that SOCKS5 agents can better adapt to future network trends and serve more devices and protocols.

Authentication: One significant difference is authentication. The SOCKS4 agent does not have any authentication methods, which makes the connection relatively simple, but also means less security. The SOCKS5 agent, on the other hand, provides three authentication methods: empty authentication (no authentication required), user name/password authentication (login details required), and SS-API authentication (using an operating system level authentication method). These authentication methods increase the security of the proxy connection so that only authorized users can access it.

Remote DNS queries and protocol compatibility: The SOCKS5 proxy provides more convenience for users at a higher level. It supports remote DNS queries, which means that the proxy server can resolve the domain name of the target server for the user, without the user having to handle it himself. In addition, the SOCKS5 proxy is compatible with TCP and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which gives it an advantage when handling a variety of networking tasks.

When comparing the differences between SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 agents, we can see that SOCKS5 agents are relatively more comprehensive, flexible, and secure. It supports more protocols, more authentication methods, and IPv6 addresses, which allows it to meet the needs of more different types of networks. However, in some cases, SOCKS4 agents may also be more suitable, such as in simple connections. According to specific application scenarios and requirements, selecting the appropriate proxy protocol is an important part of ensuring the efficiency and security of data transmission.