Does such a thing exist?
Two apps I always use are Portable Firefox and Portable ThunderBird, both of which have switchproxy addins so on the whole I'm happy.
Every other tool I use I have to remember to change the proxy settings when I visit a new customer.
If I had a portable proxy server I could point all of my apps at it and then forget about them. When I changed customers I would just have to configure "my" proxy server and hey presto.
Is this possible/feasable ?
Ross
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on BlueSky
You might want to take a look at AnalogX Proxy. It may be your solution. I used to use it back when I had dialup to have the LAN be able to access the web.
It may be portable by default (copy files after extraction/install), and if not, a minimal amount of tweaking will probably do it.
AnalogX Proxy (Server)
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm
I tried this, it would work well for the example you described, if you had a direct connection to the internet.
I could not see how to configure this proxy server to point to another proxy server.
MyApp -> MyProxy -> CorporateProxy -> Internet
... but I would also like the same function ie all my apps can be configure with a proxy of 127.0.0.1:8118 (or whatever interface/port). I run a "portable porxy server" that listens on this port, the forwards all requests to whatever proxy I choose (or direct internet connection even).
I have done a bit of searching without much luck. As noted by Ross, the "real" proxy is likely to be a corporate proxy and often this proxy requires authentication, can be configured via PAC script, etc.
Currently, I use my SSH client to forward proxy requests to my SSH server. This is OK for privacy, but uses my own server's bandwidth.
Old post about Proxy 4725
Again.. proxy.org
"real" proxy is likely to be a corporate proxy
If your lucky it is.... I suggest some reading up on proxy.org about open proxies.
----------------------:)
Did you know that the entire operating system use to fit on a 5 1/4" floppy disk!
My real concern is not privacy (I'm not looking for anonymity). I just want a way to manage the different proxies I encounter in my consulting work.
Oh... looking for a port scanner. Proxy servers more then likely not what you want then. I'm not sure what's out if your looking for something to install on a USB drive other then port scanners, but there is lots of programs for installing on laptops for wardriving that would work.
If the host use a DHCP server then you wouldn't have any problems.
NetBox is what I use on my iPAQ for finding wireless networks.
What your looking for a tool to scan the host network to find the gateway/port to the internet and act as a go between for your tools. What your looking for is not easy to find without going to the dark side. Close your doors and start here http://www.neworder.box.sk everything you need to know about 'security'.
----------------------:)
Did you know that the entire operating system use to fit on a 5 1/4" floppy disk!
close, but still not it.
Again, in my work, I am at different customer/client/company sites. Almost always, I am given internet access at these sites (according to whatever consultant/contractor policy they have).
So, I *know* the proxy server I need to connect to. I even get a username/pwd for internet access.
My issue is, as I move between these locations, I need to update the proxy server info on all my portable apps (eg Firefox, ThinCitrix, ClamWin, Tunnelier), and also on my laptop (if I am permitted to plug my laptop into their network).
Now, most of these portable apps let me create profiles or config files so I can save the different proxy information to my USB drive. At each site, when I start a portable app, I load up the appropriate proxy config file (or change manually). This is a bit of a nuisance. Also, each app configures proxies differently. Most do not support .pac, some do not handle authentication, etc.
What I am looking for is a "Proxy for the proxy". If, in each app, I configured the proxy to be, say, localhost:8888. I run a proxy server from my USB drive that listens on this port. I configure this portable proxy server with the proxy information (including authentication) of the site I am located at. Then, when I move to another location, I only change the parameters of my portable proxy server and that's it - all the other apps are fine. I have a single, consistent way of entering proxy information for each site I have access to. I have read about "transparent" and "redirecting" proxies, but not sure if this is exactly what I'm after.
Many "proxy switching" programs try to be too smart (or too specific), and actually update the proxy settings of a single (or limited) pre-defined application. I use "Switchproxy" add-in for firefox portable, which works perfectly, but only for Firefox.
I also used to run a program called NTLMAPS, but this one is targeted specifically for NTLM authentication proxy servers, and it also required installing Python, so a little unwieldy for portable use...
I have no "sinister" intents, I am not trying to "hack" through firewalls (well, not with this request anyway - I use an SSH client after all, mainly to access emails).
Programs or tools are just that, it's how you use them that makes it sinister not the tool it self. Going to sites that talk security is a good way to learn how to protect oneself.
As for the tools, most are designed by network admin for making their life easer.
----------------------:)
Did you know that the entire operating system use to fit on a 5 1/4" floppy disk!