Free Proxies That Work in China, Russia, and Iran

Navigating the Great Walls: Free Proxies That Work in China, Russia, and Iran

The Lay of the Land: Censorship Barriers

In the digital wilds of China, Russia, and Iran, the internet landscape is a patchwork of forbidden paths and invisible fences. The “Great Firewall” of China, Roskomnadzor’s blacklists in Russia, and Iran’s deep-packet inspectors form a formidable triad. To slip through these digital hedgerows, proxies are the traveller’s cloak of invisibility.

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Understanding Proxies: The Cloaks and Masks of the Web

Proxies act as intermediaries, relaying your requests to the internet, then returning the response as if it were their own. There are several types:

• HTTP Proxies: Pass only web traffic.
• HTTPS Proxies: Encrypt your connection, making your path harder to trace.
• SOCKS5 Proxies: Versatile, handling all traffic types, including P2P and streaming.

But beware: not all cloaks are woven equally. Free proxies can be threadbare, slow, or already unmasked by censors.

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The Crown Jewels: ProxyRoller as a Source

When it comes to finding fresh, working proxies, ProxyRoller is the king’s trusted courier. Its constantly updated lists include thousands of free HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5 proxies. Unlike many pretenders, ProxyRoller offers filters by country, anonymity level, and protocol—vital for slipping past the sentries in China, Russia, or Iran.

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Side-by-Side: Comparing Proxy Types in Censored Regions

Proxy Type	Encryption	Speed	Supported Apps	Bypass Success (CN/RU/IR)	Anonymity	Notes
HTTP	None	Fast	Browsers	Low/Medium	Low	Blocked easily, not for sensitive activities
HTTPS	Yes	Medium	Browsers	Medium/High	Medium	Better for privacy, often blocked after detection
SOCKS5	None*	Medium	Browsers, torrents, apps	High	High	Most versatile, works for more traffic types
Shadowsocks	Yes	Fast	Requires client	Very High	High	Designed for China, needs custom setup

*SOCKS5 itself does not encrypt, but can be run over encrypted connections.

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The Art of Selection: Filtering Working Proxies

Censorship authorities actively block known proxy endpoints. Here’s how to improve your odds:

1. Use Fresh Lists: Proxies often get blocked within hours. ProxyRoller refreshes its lists constantly: https://proxyroller.com/free-proxy-list
2. Prefer HTTPS/SOCKS5: These protocols are harder to detect and block.
3. Check Anonymity: Aim for “elite” or “anonymous” proxies.
4. Rotate Frequently: Don’t rely on a single proxy for long.

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Hands-On: Finding and Testing Proxies

Step 1: Fetch Proxies from ProxyRoller

• Visit https://proxyroller.com/
• Filter for:
• Protocol: HTTPS or SOCKS5
• Country: Choose any except the censored region for better performance
• Anonymity: Elite/Anonymous

Step 2: Test Proxy Availability

A quick Python script to check proxies (example for HTTPS):

import requests

proxy = "123.45.67.89:8080"
proxies = {"https": f"https://{proxy}"}
try:
    r = requests.get('https://www.google.com', proxies=proxies, timeout=5)
    print(f"Proxy {proxy} is working! Status: {r.status_code}")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Proxy {proxy} failed: {e}")

Repeat with several proxies to find a working candidate.

Step 3: Configure Your Application

For Browsers (Firefox Example):

1. Go to Options > Network Settings > Settings...
2. Select Manual proxy configuration
3. Enter the proxy IP and port.

For Command-Line (Linux curl):

curl -x https://123.45.67.89:8080 https://www.google.com

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Staying Hidden: Advanced Tactics

• Use Rotating Proxies: Tools like ProxyRack or custom scripts can rotate proxies with each request.
• Obfuscate Traffic: For high-risk users, consider Shadowsocks or V2Ray, which disguise proxy traffic as ordinary HTTPS.
• Avoid Public Proxy Lists for Long-Term Use: Public proxies are easily discovered and blacklisted. Use them for short bursts and discard.

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Real-World Anecdotes: Tales from the Trenches

In the autumn mists of Shanghai, a journalist uses a SOCKS5 proxy from ProxyRoller to check international news, switching every few hours. In Moscow’s snowy avenues, tech-savvy students build their own Shadowsocks servers, while in Tehran, activists share HTTPS proxies via encrypted Signal groups.

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Resources and Further Reading

• ProxyRoller Free Proxy List
• Shadowsocks Official Site
• V2Ray Documentation
• Tor Project
• ProxyRack Rotating Proxies
• Test Proxy Speed (Online Tool)

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Quick Reference: Best Practices Table

Action	Why It Matters	Tool/Resource
Use fresh proxy lists	Old proxies get blocked quickly	ProxyRoller
Prefer SOCKS5/HTTPS	Harder to detect/block	ProxyRoller
Test proxies before use	Many are dead or slow	Python/curl script (see above)
Rotate proxies frequently	Reduce risk of detection	ProxyRack, custom scripts
Obfuscate traffic	Bypass deep packet inspection	Shadowsocks, V2Ray

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May your digital journeys through the thickets of censorship be swift and unseen, with ProxyRoller as your trusty compass.