Geeky Thoughts

For occasional VPN or proxy, you do not always need to pay for a reliable VPN service.
In many workplaces or restricted networks, VPN services are blocked altogether. However, one port is often left open – the SSH port (port 22). With this, you can tunnel your traffic securely and bypass content filtering, geo-restrictions, or just mask your IP using a simple SSH tunnel.

In this post, we’ll cover:

• What SSH tunneling is
• How to create a proxy using SSH tunnel
• How to use Chrome with the tunnel
• Some free SSH server providers

What is SSH Tunneling?

SSH tunneling (also called SSH port forwarding) is a method of transporting arbitrary networking data over an encrypted SSH connection. You can use it to tunnel your browser traffic (or any application that supports proxy configuration) through a remote server.

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How to Use SSH Tunnel as a Proxy

You can use SSH tunneling to create a local SOCKS proxy on your machine. This proxy forwards all the traffic through your SSH server.

Requirements:

• An SSH server you can connect to (paid or free)
• SSH client (Linux/macOS comes with it; Windows can use PuTTY or ssh in WSL/PowerShell)

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Steps to Create SSH Tunnel

1. Open terminal (Linux/macOS) or PowerShell (Windows): Run the following command:
   ssh -D 1080 -q -C -N user@remote_ssh_server
   Explanation:
   • -D 1080 — This creates a SOCKS proxy on local port 1080
   • -q — Quiet mode (less output)
   • -C — Enables compression
   • -N — No remote command; just tunnel
   • user@remote_ssh_server — Replace with your actual username and server
2. Keep this terminal window open — it acts as your proxy server.

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Use SSH Tunnel with Chrome

To launch Google Chrome using the SOCKS proxy, use the following command:

chrome.exe --proxy-server="socks5://127.0.0.1:1080" --host-resolver-rules="MAP * ~NOTFOUND , EXCLUDE 127.0.0.1"

If you’re on macOS or Linux:

/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --proxy-server="socks5://127.0.0.1:1080" --host-resolver-rules="MAP * ~NOTFOUND , EXCLUDE 127.0.0.1"

This tells Chrome to forward all traffic through the local SOCKS proxy created by the SSH tunnel.

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Free SSH Server Providers (with caution)

Here are a few services that provide free SSH access (often with limited bandwidth or session duration). Use these responsibly and never for sensitive data without verifying the provider’s trustworthiness.

1. FastSSH
   Offers free SSH accounts in multiple regions with daily reset limits.
2. SkySSH
   SSH, OpenVPN, and WireGuard accounts with simple sign-up.
3. SSHKit
   User-friendly interface and various proxy tunnel options.
4. BestVPNSSH
   SSH, VPN, V2Ray, and more with active server lists.
5. TCPVPN
   Supports TCP tunneling and multiple locations.

Note: Free SSH servers may be unstable, limited in time/bandwidth, and not private. Never transmit passwords, credit cards, or personal info over these.

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Final Thoughts

SSH tunneling is a powerful alternative to traditional VPNs, especially in restricted environments. While not a full replacement for paid, secure VPNs, it’s an excellent option for casual browsing, IP masking, or bypassing workplace filters when port 22 is open.

Let me know if how SSH tunneling made your life easier!