What is new in Version 3.0

- Support of HTTP-proxies with HTTP-tunneling support
- Function of proxy operability testing
- Setting of Internet connection type (i.e. it is possible to specify a fixed proxy that will be the first in all connections )
- Big database of proxies   (a few hundreds of addresses)

Principle of operation

SocksChain transmits the TCP-call of a client program in such a way that it successively goes through a chain of proxies. SocksChain itself is connected only with the first element of this chain. That one in its turn  is connected with the second
and so on...

So, to track where the query was initiated from with the help of server logs is very complex. To do that, one should analyze
the logs of all   intermediates one by one in the reverse order. If somewhere the logs are not kept, the thread will be lost. Theoretically it provides a high degree of anonymity. But it affects the speed of data transmission as it is inversely proportional to the chain length.

...

In all variety of proxies there are 2 basic types of universal services, i.e.  allowing to transmit any TCP-connections
(not only, say, HTTP and  FTP). Only they make a chain possible and, therefore, are useful for SocksChain:

- SOCK4 and SOCKS5 services. Their default port is 1080. SOCKS5 is the most universal service, as it allows not only establish TCP-connections but open a port for incoming TCP-connections (BIND operation ) and transmit/receive UDP-datagrams as well.
- HTTP-proxy with a possibility of SSL-tunneling. The default ports are 80, 8080, 3128. This service is less universal than SOCKS5, but by far more widespread.

...

Here is the approximate list of popular programs that support SOCKS:

mIRC
ICQ
InternetExplorer
AdvancedDirectRemailer - remailer with built-in SMTP server that supports mailing lists, plug-ins and SOCKS-5 proxy
WinGate

The programs that do not support SOCKS but allow to work through SocksChain:

MS Outlook & OutlookExpress
Telnet
MS TerminalClient

Unfortunately the majority of FTP-clients cannot work through SOCKS. And since FTP uses not only outgoing TCP-threads, their redirecting through SocksChain is impossible

...

FAQ

Does the program work with modem dial-up or DSL connection, T1?
It works with all types of connection that support TCP/IP. There are no hardware-dependent components in SocksChain.

With which operating systems?
Windows 98 / ME / NT4 / 2000 / XP

How much space does it take and what resource does it eat?
Installation package - 300 K. It takes about 500 K on the disk. Basically used resource - Sockets. On Windows 9x their number is limited. In its ordinary mode SocksChain creates 1 socket per connection. When creating a chain, a considerably greater number of sockets is used.

Will not the program installation make my PC accessible for hackers?
Generally speaking, your PC becomes somewhat exposed, because if a hacker detects that your port 1081 works as SOCKS, he can use it to get into other computers, yours included. We recommend to use the program together with Firewalls, such as @Guard. In the future we plan to introduce the possibility to prohibit connecting from the outside.