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ProxyCap vs. VPNs: When to Use Each for Privacy and Access

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Troubleshooting ProxyCap: Common Issues and Quick FixesProxyCap routes application traffic through proxies (SOCKS, HTTPS, or SSH) so specific apps use different network paths. When it works, it’s an effective way to control traffic per-app or per-destination; when it doesn’t, the problem is usually configuration, network, or proxy-side. Below is a structured troubleshooting guide covering common issues, diagnostic steps, and practical fixes.

1) Quick checklist (do this first)

  • Verify ProxyCap version — make sure you’re running the latest stable release.
  • Confirm proxy details — IP/hostname, port, protocol (SOCKS4/5, HTTPS, SSH), username/password are correct.
  • Check network connectivity — ensure you can reach the proxy host (ping/traceroute).
  • Test with a simple client — use a browser or cURL configured to that proxy to confirm the proxy itself works.
  • Run with Admin/Root privileges — ProxyCap needs elevated rights on many systems to intercept traffic.

2) Connection fails: “cannot connect” or timeouts

Common causes: wrong proxy details, blocked ports, network firewall, or proxy authentication failure.

Steps & fixes:

  • Re-enter proxy hostname/IP and port; test with telnet or nc: telnet proxy.example.com 1080 (or nc -vz proxy.example.com 1080).
  • If connection times out, try another port or contact the proxy provider to confirm the service is running.
  • If you get “connection refused,” the proxy isn’t listening on that port — verify with the provider or check the proxy server.
  • Confirm credentials: wrong username/password commonly produces auth errors or disconnects.
  • Check local firewall/antivirus: temporarily disable to test whether they block ProxyCap or the proxy port.
  • If on a restrictive network (corporate/Wi‑Fi hotspot), some ports may be blocked — try switching networks or using an HTTPS proxy port (443).

3) Some applications work, others don’t

ProxyCap uses rules to decide which app traffic to redirect. Misconfigured rules or apps that use unusual network techniques are frequent culprits.

Steps & fixes:

  • Open ProxyCap’s rule list and ensure the specific application binary is matched (use full path).
  • For apps launched by other processes, add rules for the parent processes or use destination-based rules (IP ranges) instead.
  • For browsers, check whether they use system proxy settings or their own built-in proxy support (e.g., Firefox). Configure the browser to respect system/proxy settings or use ProxyCap’s application rule for the browser binary.
  • Some apps use multiple helper executables; monitor with Task Manager or ps to see which process is making network calls and add rules accordingly.
  • For UWP/Store apps on Windows, ProxyCap may have limited support — test with a desktop app to confirm.

4) DNS leaks or domain name resolution issues

Symptoms: sites load but show geolocation for your real IP, or DNS fails while TCP works.

Explanation: DNS queries may bypass the proxy if ProxyCap isn’t intercepting UDP DNS or if the application uses direct DNS.

Steps & fixes:

  • Use ProxyCap’s DNS settings to force DNS over the proxy if available (resolve remotely via the proxy).
  • Add DNS server IPs reachable through the proxy to your system’s network settings if remote resolution isn’t supported.
  • Alternatively, create rules that match destination DNS server IPs to route DNS queries through the proxy.
  • Use socks5 proxies with remote DNS support (many SOCKS5 servers support remote name resolution). Ensure ProxyCap is configured to let the proxy resolve hostnames.

5) Authentication problems (username/password, private key)

Symptoms: immediate disconnects, auth error messages, logs showing “authentication failed”.

Steps & fixes:

  • Re-check credentials for typos; copy/paste carefully to avoid hidden characters.
  • For SSH proxies, verify private key format and passphrase; test SSH connection manually: ssh -i /path/key user@proxy-host -p 22 then use dynamic port forwarding if needed.
  • Ensure the proxy supports the chosen authentication method (some proxies accept only password or only key-based auth).
  • If using two-factor or token-based auth, ensure ProxyCap supports it — otherwise use a proxy that accepts static credentials or an intermediary that does.

6) HTTPS/SSL errors or certificate warnings

Symptoms: certificate errors, browser warns of man-in-the-middle, or TLS handshake failures.

Explanation: Intercepting HTTPS can break certificate chains if a middlebox or the proxy performs TLS inspection.

Steps & fixes:

  • If the proxy performs TLS interception, install the proxy’s CA certificate into the system/browser trust store.
  • If you see mismatched hostnames, confirm the proxy forwards SNI correctly or use a SOCKS5 proxy that tunnels raw TCP without inspecting TLS.
  • Ensure system time/date is correct — certificate validation fails with incorrect system clock.

7) High latency or slow speeds

Causes: geographical distance to proxy, overloaded proxy, MTU issues, or misrouted traffic.

Steps & fixes:

  • Test latency to the proxy: ping and traceroute/tracert. Choose a closer or less-loaded proxy if latency is high.
  • Try different proxy servers or providers.
  • Check for MTU issues causing fragmentation — reduce MTU on your interface temporarily to test.
  • If speed is fine for other apps, verify ProxyCap rules aren’t forcing traffic through multiple chained proxies causing overhead.

8) Conflicts with other network tools (VPNs, other proxy software)

Symptoms: intermittent connectivity, apps bypassing proxy, or no network.

Steps & fixes:

  • Temporarily disable other VPN or proxy clients and test.
  • If you need both, use ordering that allows ProxyCap to operate (some VPNs capture all traffic after ProxyCap or vice versa). Generally run VPN first, then ProxyCap, or vice versa depending on OS and interception method — test both orders.
  • Check for overlapping virtual adapters and ensure ProxyCap targets the correct network interface.

9) Rules not applied / unexpected behavior after rule changes

Symptoms: changes to rules seem to have no effect until restart, or some rules override others unpredictably.

Steps & fixes:

  • Restart ProxyCap service/app after substantial rule changes.
  • Check rule order and specificity: ProxyCap applies rules in sequence — more specific rules should precede broader rules.
  • Use explicit full-path application rules instead of wildcards where possible.
  • Check for duplicate or conflicting rules and remove/merge them.

10) Logging & diagnostics: how to gather useful info

  • Enable ProxyCap logging at a detailed/debug level.
  • Note timestamps, app names, destination IPs/ports, and exact error messages.
  • Reproduce the issue while logging is active.
  • Use external tools: Wireshark/tcpdump to see whether packets leave your machine and whether they are sent to the proxy. Filter by process or port.
  • Test proxy reachability independently (curl, telnet, ssh, browser proxy settings).

11) Platform-specific notes

Windows:

  • Run ProxyCap as Administrator.
  • Watch for Windows Defender or other security software blocking driver-level interception.
  • Some Windows Store apps may be incompatible.

macOS:

  • Approve any system extensions or kernel modules in System Settings if blocked.
  • SIP (System Integrity Protection) can interfere in rare cases.

Linux:

  • Ensure required capabilities are present; run with root if needed.
  • Check iptables/nftables rules that might interfere.

12) When to contact support or switch tools

Contact support if:

  • Logs show proxy server errors you can’t resolve, or
  • You’ve verified network reachability and credentials but authentication still fails, or
  • There are crashes or reproducible software bugs.

Consider alternatives if:

  • Compatibility with certain modern apps (UWP, sandboxed apps) is required and ProxyCap can’t support them, or
  • You need built-in DNS-over-proxy or advanced features not provided.

Example checklist to run through for a single failing app

  1. Confirm app’s network behavior (which process, does it use own proxy settings).
  2. Test proxy connection with telnet/curl.
  3. Make a ProxyCap rule for full-path of app, enable logging, restart ProxyCap.
  4. Reproduce issue and inspect logs.
  5. If DNS-related, switch to SOCKS5 with remote DNS or add DNS rules.
  6. If auth-related, re-check credentials and test proxy auth manually.
  7. If still broken, capture traffic with Wireshark and contact support with logs + capture.

Troubleshooting ProxyCap is mostly systematic: verify the proxy itself, confirm local network and permissions, inspect rules and DNS behavior, and use logs plus packet captures to pinpoint where traffic is failing. Follow the steps above in order and you’ll resolve most common problems quickly.

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