Shadowsocks APK for Android

Access Restricted Websites

Shadowsocks is a high-performance, open-source, secured socks5 proxy created by Max Lv. This application provides you with security and privacy as you browse the web. It is an intermediary that mainly created to bypass censorship. When you want to open restricted websites, then this app is for you. 

App Features

The Shadowsocks app mainly focuses on circumventing restrictions. It utilizes HTTPS to disguise traffic so that it can move past the censorship measures. The use of HTTPS makes it very difficult—if not impossible—to block and detect. With this, you can open websites that are otherwise restricted in your area.

Another advantage that a user may get from the app is its selective disguising of traffic. With this function, you can choose which part of the traffic will be disguised by Shadowsocks. For example, if you are in China, and you wanted to access Gmail, you may do so using the app. Shadowsocks will “camouflage” the website, thus bypassing the Chinese government's block.

The app also comes with bleeding edge techniques with Asynchronous I/O and event-driven programming, giving you super fast browsing. An industry-level encryption algorithm also keeps your online activities away from potential hackers. 

But what users would love about Shadowsocks is its easy usage. The app comes with a simple yet capable proxy technology that does not take too long to set up. This makes it perfect for new users who only wish to access restricted contents. 

Shadowsocks is an open-source program, with its contributors making new improvements regularly. 

Shadowsocks vs. VPN

Shadowsocks lets you access restricted contents and can even protect you from potential theft, but the app is not a VPN software. Yes, it has the ability to connect you with certain websites that are normally off-limits to your area, but some of its functionalities are different from that of VPN apps. 

Unlike VPN, Shadowsocks is not created for complete privacy and security. While it encrypts data, the app is much lightweight as compared to most VPNs. VPNs use many layers of military-grade encryption to hide your traffic completely. Shadowsocks makes your data “blank” to make it look like an HTTP traffic. It is not hidden but is more like disguised. 

However, as opposed to VPNs, Shadowsocks does not send all your traffic through a server due to its SOCKS5 proxies. These proxies are works with multiple TCP connections, in contrast to traditional ssh SOCKS5 proxies, providing you much faster-browsing speed. 

Verdict

Shadowsocks is a great app if you are looking for a way to bypass browsing censorship. The app flaunts a reliable technology that lets you open restricted websites at a much fast speed. However, its functionality beyond that is limited. The app is not designed to give you complete anonymity and security. There are many aspects of the internet that may need higher levels of security, and the Shadowsocks app may not give you the protection that you are looking for. In the end, you should only use the app when your main concern is working around censorship.