The difference between HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 protocols

The HTTPS and SOCKS5 protocols differ from each other in the principle of processing network traffic. SOCKS5 allows you to achieve maximum anonymity of the connection due to the fact that the protocol provides the transmission of network traffic in its purest form. At the same time, HTTP headers are not moderated, so the visited site does not recognize your real IP and even the fact that you are using a proxy server.

To understand in a more detailed way how HTTPS and SOCKS5 differ from each other, we will explain below the features of each of these protocols separately.

HTTPS proxy features

HTTPS proxy is a more secure version of standard HTTP. The letter S, which is added at the end, means Secure. Additional security for this proxy is provided by a secure SSL connection.

HTTPS servers are used when you need to transmit private information over the network: credit card information, login/password, etc. If you use the standard HTTP proxy for these purposes, there is a big risk that user data may be intercepted. Moreover, access to information about you is interesting not only to attackers but also to Internet providers. They track every step of their customers on the Internet, intercepting and logging all the information that is useful to them.

To ensure the security of personal data, the HTTPS protocol will help. When it is used, all transmitted traffic is encrypted using a special algorithm that is resistant to hacking.

How HTTPS Proxies Work

HTTPS connects to a web resource and your traffic becomes encrypted. In this case, it is impossible to track the information transmitted through the proxy server. The proxy does not encrypt and decrypt the data, but the browser and the target server. Therefore, with the help of HTTPS, there is a passive transfer of encrypted information without any processing.

Due to this principle of operation, HTTPS can be used to work with almost any TCP protocol. Proxies can be used as IMAP, POP3, NNTP, SMTP.

SOCKS5 proxy features

Socks proxy is the most advanced information transfer protocol. SOCKS5 is an extended version of Socks4 with the addition of UDP support. This protocol of the proxy provides strong authentication for universal schemes and allows you to get more addressing methods by adding support for IPv6 domains and addresses.

How SOCKS5 Proxies Work

Socks do not moderate HTTP headers. These servers transmit information in its pure form and are completely anonymous.

Information about the users IP address using SOCKS5 remains completely classified. The site that you access through this proxy will not be able to determine that the proxy was used during the transition. The connection to the web resource is transparent as if you directly accessed it without using a proxy server. At the same time, the site will display not your own IP, but the address of the proxy that you are using.

Socks protocol provides support for HTTPS, HTTP, FTP.

What to choose: HTTPS or SOCKS5

If you need maximum anonymity working on the Internet, you should choose only SOCKS5. These proxies are more secure and universally suitable for any programs and sites. If you need a proxy for scraping SEO-data, online games, promoting profiles on social networks, SEO-promotion, and other similar tasks, then you can limit yourself with HTTPS proxies.

Get anonymous HTTPS and SOCKS5 proxies from Proxy-Seller. If necessary, our experts will help you to choose the most suitable server for scraping, Internet promotion, process automation and solving any other problems. Learn more about how to check a proxy anonymity.