It is possible to use an SSH to create a tunnel and use it as a SOCKS proxy. It's actually easy to do so as well. I'll show you how to do this using Ubuntu Server and PuTTY. You can of course use any SSH server to do this. This is also effective for bypassing filtering, and as well encrypting everything you view on the Internet.

Overview of what you need:

• Spare computer to install Linux on OR rent a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or Dedicated Server
• Basic Knowledge
  
• A CD-R/W (if installing Linux)
  
• PuTTY

Setting Up an SSH Server

Before you can even use SSH as a proxy, you'll need a server. You can either order a virtual private server (VPS) or a dedicated server, having Linux (CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, etc.). If you have one of these, skip to the "Change Port on SSH Server" or "Setting Up PuTTY" section.

To begin, you first need to install Linux, in this scenario, we will use Ubuntu Server. First begin with downloading Ubuntu Server from the Ubuntu Download Page. After this has completed, burn the image to a CD-R/W.

Now we start the installation process of Ubuntu Server on the spare computer.

First pop in the disc, then reboot or power on the machine, you should something like this:

Select your Language and press Enter.

Press Enter.

Pick your Language, then press Enter.

Pick the area you live closest to, then press Enter.

Press the Tab key to select No, then press Enter.

Select the Origin of your Keyboard, then press Enter.

Select your Keyboard layout, then press Enter.

Choose a hostname for your server, this can be anything, in this case I'll use ubuntu. Then press Enter.

Select the time zone you are in, then press Enter.

Select Guided - use entire disk, then press Enter.

Select the disk you would like to install to, then press Enter.

Confirm changes to disk by selecting Yes (press Tab) and pressing Enter.

The base system is now installing, this may take up to 5 to 15 minutes.

Enter your full name for the user you would like to use on the server.

Enter the Username for the account for the server. Note that this will be your SSH account as well.

Enter the password you want to use for your account. Note that this will be used for the SSH account as well.

Re-type the password you entered in the previous screen.

Enter the proxy you use if you need one to access the Internet, otherwise just press Enter.

Select OpenSSH server from the list by pressing Space bar, then press Enter to continue.

The SSH server is now installing.

Installation is now complete, eject the disc and press Enter to reboot.

Now once Ubuntu Server is booted, you may login now. Also your SSH server is now ready, but now your going to need the IP to the server so you can connect to it.

What it looks like once logged in. Type ifconfig to determine the server's IP.

The result of ifconfig. The server's IP is 192.168.13.129. Note this!

Note that to be able to successfully connect to the SSH server from the outside world, you will need to port forward on your router using the port 22. If you are behind a filter, you will need to change the port of the SSH server to 443 and port forward on your router to 443 instead. To figure out how to port forward, go to PortForward.com, select your Router, then select SSH. Remember to change the port on the port forward from 22 to the port you decide to change it to.

You are also are going to need to remember your Remote IP, the IP the outside world sees. If you are behind a router, most likely this IP will change from time to time. You can figure out what this IP is by going to WhatIsMyIP.com

Change Port on SSH Server (optional)

You can change the port on the SSH Server from 22 to anything, like 443. It is useful to change the port to 443, especially if your behind a filter when trying to connect to the SSH server, as usually 443 traffic isn't filtered.

To do this, login to the Ubuntu server you installed.

Type sudo -s and retype the password you used to login.

Type vim /etc/ssh/sshd_config and press Enter.

This is what you should see.

Press Insert, and replace Port 22 with Port 443.

Press Escape, type :exit and press Enter.

Now type /etc/init.d/ssh restart and press Enter. The SSH server is now restarted.

The SSH server is now running on port 443.

Setting Up PuTTY

Now for the easy part, you'll need PuTTY, you can download it from the PuTTY website.

Download putty.exe

In PuTTY enter the IP of your SSH server and the Port. In this scenario, the IP is 192.168.13.129 and the Port is 443.

Ensure that the preferred SSH protocol version is 2.

Enter Port 9999 as the source port (this can be anything you like), select Dynamic and click Add, then click Open.

You will get an alert similar to this, click Yes to store the key, or click No to continue connecting. Note that storing the key, you will ensure the server is the same until this message pops up again, meaning that someone is trying to hijack your connection.

Login using the username and password you have setup or been provided with.

The tunnel is now ready, now all you need to do is to setup your Internet Settings to point to the proxy, which is currently localhost:9999.

Click on LAN settings.

Check "Use a proxy server for your LAN...", and click Advanced.

Uncheck "Use the same proxy server for all portocols", clear everything in HTTP, Secure, and FTP, and in Socks type in localhost for the address and 9999 for the Port. Click OK, and then OK on all remaining windows.

You are now tunneling through the Internet through a SSH tunnel. You must leave the SSH terminal window open, or the tunnel will close and the proxy will no longer work. Everything that supports a SOCK proxy will go through this proxy.

I'd like to state that I'm not encouraging you to break any rules. This could get you banned from whatever network you're on and get you suspended. But knowledge IS power. As long as it's understood that I'm not going to be responsible if you do something absolutely dumb. Also, not all of these are going to work the best. Just don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

1. A Web Host that allows proxy sites on their servers.
2. An easy to remember domain name.
3. And finally Proxy Script.

Here is a list of free Proxy Scripts.

1. Zelune

   This is a free php proxy script. According to the website it is the fastest proxy script. Needs cURL enabled. Zelune.net

2. PHProxy

   This is another php proxy script. PHProxy

3. CGIProxy

   This is a cgi proxy script. Often even the hosts that allow proxy scripts won't allow cgi scripts. So maybe choose a php on CGIProxy

4. Glype

   And again a php proxy script. Needs PHP5 and cURL enabled. Glype

5. Surrogafier

   As most scripts this is also a php one. It gives you the nice feature to route your traffic through a second proxy site. Surrogafier

If you have set up your proxy don't forget to submit it to one of the proxy network sites.

By using proxy websites they can get passed the firewall and access the website they want. So people use Myspace , Facebook , Bebo , and other websites through a different website. You might wonder what the danger is? Well the danger is the actual proxy website. To understand the danger better we will have a look at how they work.

When you enter a URL on a proxy website, the proxy website requests the page for you and changes then all the links on a page so that when you click on a link you will not be send to the real website. When you click on a link you will be sent to the proxy website which will then request the new page for you. This is also the case if you use forms.

If you use Google through a proxy website for example. You enter a search phrase or word in the text box and the information will be sent to the proxy website first who will then sent it to Google. The result that Google returns will again be changed and then be sent to you. Whats the danger there you wonder? Well the danger is if you look at websites that require a login. Proxy scripts can be easily changed so that they will record all usernames and passwords. The owner can then easily log into your account and steal it from you. He can change password email address and anything he wants. If you use a proxy website to check your online bank account or Paypal balance, they proxy owner could log on later and transfer all your money to a different account.

We are not saying that this is actually happening but it is easy to do. So be safe and don't use a proxy website to log onto another one. If could be the last time you do that.