Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Why do I get blocked when trying to get a FreeSocks proxy?
Answer: If you get blocked, you are trying to get a proxy from a country where there isn't a high level of Internet censorship (e.g. most of Western Europe or North America). FreeSocks is designed to help people in countries that have a high level of Internet censorship.
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How long do access keys last?
Answer: Your access key will last for as long as you actively use it. If you do not use your access key for 90 days, it will expire. You can simply get a new access key if your key has expired, and you can't connect anymore.
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Why can't I connect even though I've verified my access key is pasted correctly?
Answer: You may be experiencing the action of a sophisticated Internet censorship system in your country, such as China's Great Firewall (GFW).
If you suspect that your country is blocking your connection to a FreeSocks proxy, you can try using a "prefix" disguise with your access key.
The “prefix” is a list of bytes used as the first bytes of the salt of a Shadowsocks TCP connection. This can make the connection look like a protocol that is allowed in your network, circumventing firewalls that reject protocols they don't recognize. Shown below are some examples of prefix disguises you can use with your access key.
| Disguise | JSON-encoded | URL-encoded |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP request | "POST " | POST%20 |
| HTTP response | "HTTP/1.1 " | HTTP%2F1.1%20 |
| DNS-over-TCP request | "\u0005\u00DC\u005F\u00E0\u0001\u0020" | %05%C3%9C_%C3%A0%01%20 |
| TLS ClientHello | "\u0016\u0003\u0001\u0000\u00a8\u0001\u0001" | %16%03%01%00%C2%A8%01%01 |
| TLS Application Data | "\u0013\u0003\u0003\u003F" | %13%03%03%3F |
| TLS ServerHello | "\u0016\u0003\u0003\u0040\u0000\u0002" | %16%03%03%40%00%02 |
Normal access key example:
ss://RANDOM_STRING@FREESOCKS_HOSTNAME:PORT_NUMBER/?outline=1
To add a prefix, you will want to use one of the URL-encoded prefix disguises shown above.
Access key using a HTTP response prefix disguise example:
ss://RANDOM_STRING@FREESOCKS_HOSTNAME:PORT_NUMBER/?outline=1&prefix=<HTTP%2F1.1%20>
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Why can't I connect, even after using a prefix disguise?
Answer: The FreeSocks proxy's IP may be blocked in your network or country, try getting a new access key. You can also try using another prefix disguise if the one you tried doesn't work. If you still have issues, there may be a problem with your LAN or WAN network.