When routing VPN traffic through an encrypted proxy, you are essentially introducing an additional layer of encryption between the client and the VPN server. This process can enhance privacy and security, especially in scenarios where traffic obfuscation or preventing traffic analysis is crucial. The encrypted proxy serves as an intermediary, securing the communication even before it reaches the VPN server, making it harder for attackers to analyze traffic patterns.
Prerequisites
Before setting up this configuration, ensure that you have the following:
A working VPN setup with a compatible VPN client
A reliable proxy server that supports encryption (e.g., SOCKS5 proxy with SSL/TLS support)
Basic knowledge of networking, VPNs, and proxies
Access to a Linux-based system for configuration
Setting Up the Proxy Server
The first step in this configuration is to deploy a proxy server that supports encrypted connections. In this case, we’ll use a SOCKS5 proxy server with SSL encryption.
1. Install the necessary packages on a Linux system:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install dante-server openssl
Configure the SOCKS5 proxy server by editing the configuration file (/etc/danted.conf):
logoutput: /var/log/danted.log
internal: eth0 port = 1080
external: eth0
method: username none
clientmethod: username none
user.notprivileged: nobody
Start the SOCKS5 proxy server:
sudo systemctl start danted
Now the proxy server is running and listens on port 1080. The next step is to ensure the traffic passing through this proxy is encrypted using SSL.
Generate an SSL certificate for encryption:
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -days 365 -nodes -keyout /etc/ssl/private/proxy.key -out /etc/ssl/certs/proxy.crt
Modify the proxy configuration to include SSL encryption:
sslproxy: on
sslkey: /etc/ssl/private/proxy.key
sslcert: /etc/ssl/certs/proxy.crt
Restart the proxy service:
sudo systemctl restart danted
VPN Client Configuration
With the proxy server now set up and encrypting traffic, the next task is to configure the VPN client to route its traffic through this proxy. In this example, we will use OpenVPN as the VPN client.
Install OpenVPN if it’s not already installed:
sudo apt-get install openvpn
Modify the OpenVPN client configuration file (/etc/openvpn/client.conf) to route traffic through the SOCKS5 proxy:
client
dev tun
proto udp
remote vpn-server-address 1194
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
remote-cert-tls server
# Proxy settings
socks-proxy 127.0.0.1 1080
socks-proxy-retry
Run OpenVPN with the updated configuration file:
sudo openvpn –config /etc/openvpn/client.conf
This configuration tells the OpenVPN client to use the SOCKS5 proxy at 127.0.0.1 (localhost) on port 1080. All traffic will now be routed through the proxy before reaching the VPN server, ensuring an additional layer of encryption.
Advanced Routing Techniques
To further enhance privacy and control, you can implement advanced routing techniques. For example, using iptables or firewall rules to route specific types of traffic through the proxy before the VPN connection is established.
Use iptables to force traffic to use the proxy:
sudo iptables -t nat -A OUTPUT -p tcp –dport 1080 -j DNAT –to-destination 127.0.0.1:1080
This rule ensures that any traffic destined for port 1080 on the local machine is rerouted to the proxy server.
Implement DNS over HTTPS (DoH) to prevent DNS leaks:
sudo apt-get install dnscrypt-proxy
sudo systemctl start dnscrypt-proxy
By configuring DNS over HTTPS, you can ensure that DNS queries are also encrypted, preventing third parties from intercepting or logging your DNS requests.
Testing the Configuration
After completing the configuration, it’s important to test whether the traffic is properly routed through the encrypted proxy and VPN. You can use tools like curl and traceroute to verify the routing.
Test the IP address that the web server sees:
curl ifconfig.me
This should return the IP address of the VPN server, not your local IP address.
Test if DNS requests are also routed securely:
dig @127.0.0.1 example.com
This ensures that DNS queries are routed through the DoH service, and not leaked outside the VPN tunnel.
Conclusion
By combining a VPN with an encrypted proxy, you can add an additional layer of security and obfuscation to your internet traffic. This setup ensures that your data remains protected even before reaching the VPN server, making it much harder for attackers to analyze traffic patterns. Additionally, by implementing advanced routing techniques and tools like DNS over HTTPS, you can further enhance the privacy of your online activities.
