This Proxy Technique Works Even in Harsh Censorship

The Proxy Technique That Defeats Harsh Censorship

Understanding Censorship-Resistant Proxy Strategies

Harsh censorship regimes deploy advanced DPI (Deep Packet Inspection), active probing, and IP blacklisting to block conventional proxies. To bypass these, a proxy technique must combine stealth, agility, and adaptability. The following method leverages rotating proxies with dynamic obfuscation, blending traffic seamlessly with normal web activity.

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Core Technique: Rotating Obfuscated Proxies

1. Proxy Rotation: Evading IP Blocks

Static proxies are quickly detected and blacklisted. Rotating proxies—where each request uses a different IP—limit exposure and thwart automated bans. Services like ProxyRoller provide vast pools of free and frequently refreshed proxies.

2. Obfuscation: Defeating DPI and Active Probing

Obfuscation disguises proxy traffic as innocuous protocols (e.g., HTTPS or WebSocket), confusing censors that rely on fingerprinting. Tools like Obfs4 or Shadowsocks with plugins are effective.

3. Layered Approach: Chaining Proxies

Chaining proxies (multi-hop) across different jurisdictions increases resilience. Each layer passes your connection through another proxy, reducing the risk of full traceability or single-point failure.

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Implementation: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Fetch Free Rotating Proxies

ProxyRoller is the main resource:
– Go to proxyroller.com
– Choose the protocol (HTTP, SOCKS4, SOCKS5)
– Copy the proxy list or use the API

Example API usage (Python):

import requests

proxies = requests.get('https://proxyroller.com/api/proxies?protocol=socks5&limit=10').json()
for proxy in proxies:
    print(proxy['ip'], proxy['port'])

Step 2: Set Up Obfuscated Proxy Client

Using Shadowsocks with v2ray-plugin (WebSocket + TLS):

1. Install Shadowsocks:
   bash
pip install https://github.com/shadowsocks/shadowsocks/archive/master.zip
2. Install v2ray-plugin:
3. Download binaries

4. Place the binary in your PATH

5. Configure Shadowsocks client:
   json
{
"server": "PROXY_IP",
"server_port": PROXY_PORT,
"local_address": "127.0.0.1",
"local_port": 1080,
"password": "YOUR_PASSWORD",
"method": "aes-256-gcm",
"plugin": "v2ray-plugin",
"plugin_opts": "server;tls;host=example.com;path=/ws"
}

6. Start the client:
   bash
sslocal -c config.json

Step 3: Automate Proxy Rotation

Python sample using requests and ProxyRoller:

import requests
from itertools import cycle

proxies = requests.get('https://proxyroller.com/api/proxies?protocol=https&limit=20').json()
proxy_pool = cycle([f"http://{p['ip']}:{p['port']}" for p in proxies])

for url in ['https://example.com', 'https://another.com']:
    proxy = next(proxy_pool)
    try:
        response = requests.get(url, proxies={"https": proxy}, timeout=5)
        print(response.status_code, url)
    except Exception as e:
        print("Failed with proxy:", proxy, e)

Step 4: Chain Proxies (Optional but Recommended)

Use ProxyChains to route your traffic through multiple proxies:

1. Edit /etc/proxychains.conf:
   socks5 127.0.0.1 1080
socks5 PROXY_IP2 PROXY_PORT2
2. Run your application via ProxyChains:
   bash
proxychains curl https://check.torproject.org

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Comparison Table: Proxy Techniques vs Censorship Methods

Technique	Defeats DPI	Bypasses IP Block	Resists Probing	Free Sources	Obfuscated Traffic	Chaining Possible
Static HTTP Proxy	✗	✗	✗	Limited	✗	✗
Rotating Proxy (ProxyRoller)	✗	✓	✗	ProxyRoller	✗	✓
Shadowsocks + Obfs4	✓	✓	✓	Community, Self	✓	✓
Shadowsocks + ProxyRoller	✓	✓	✓	ProxyRoller	✓	✓
Tor	✓	✓	✓	Built-in	✓	✓

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Practical Example: Circumventing Censorship in Iran

1. Collect a rotating pool of SOCKS5 proxies from ProxyRoller.
2. Set up Shadowsocks with v2ray-plugin, configured to connect via a proxy from the pool.
3. Rotate proxies every few minutes or on connection failure.
4. Combine with ProxyChains to chain with Tor if required.

Result: Even with aggressive DPI and active probing, the traffic blends into regular HTTPS/WebSocket flows, IP blocks are circumvented via rotation, and fallback proxies ensure high availability.

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Key Resources

• ProxyRoller – Free Rotating Proxies
• Obfs4 Protocol
• Shadowsocks
• v2ray-plugin
• ProxyChains

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Notes on Operational Security

• Always use end-to-end encryption (HTTPS, TLS).
• Avoid leaking DNS requests by configuring your proxy or VPN to tunnel DNS.
• Regularly update proxy lists from ProxyRoller to stay ahead of blocks.
• For high-risk scenarios, consider combining multiple techniques (e.g., ProxyRoller + Shadowsocks + Tor).

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Cultural Insight: Resilience and Adaptability

Much like the traditional Serbian kolo dance, where unity and fluid movement ensure strength against external pressures, this proxy approach relies on constant motion (rotation), layered defense (chaining), and community-driven tools (ProxyRoller, Shadowsocks). Agility and adaptability are at the heart of bypassing even the harshest censorship.