MikroTik Router Proxy SSL Interception And Content Inspection

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between a client and a server. In simpler terms, it acts as a middleman by hiding the original IP address of a client and changing it to a different one. MikroTik Router is a popular brand of network appliances with a wide range of features, and one of these features is its ability to work as a proxy server. In this article, we will guide you on how to configure the MikroTik Router as a web proxy server.

The configuration process is relatively straightforward and easy. Follow the steps below to configure your MikroTik Router.

Step 1: Creating Web Proxy Access List

The first step is to define the access list that specifies which client IPs are allowed to access the proxy server. To create a new access list, follow the steps below.

1. Open the MikroTik Router Webfig interface or Winbox as per your preference.
2. Go to IP > Firewall > Filter Rules.
3. Click on the Add new button.
4. Enter a name for the access rule, such as WebProxyACL.
5. Set the Chain to srcnat.
6. Set the Dst. Address to the IP address of the MikroTik Router.
7. Set the Action to accept.
8. Set the Protocol to tcp.
9. Set the Dst. Port to 8080.
10. Click on the Comment field and type "Allow Access to Proxy". This is an optional step but helps to keep the configuration organized and easy to understand.
11. Click on the Add new button to create the access list.

Step 2: Configuring Web Proxy Settings

The second step is to configure the proxy server settings. Follow the steps below to set up the web proxy server.

1. Open the MikroTik Router Winbox.
2. Go to IP > Web Proxy.
3. Click on the Enable checkbox.
4. Set the Port to 8080. This port number is recommended but can be changed to any other port that is not currently in use by other services.
5. Click on the Access tab.
6. Set the Proxy Access option to allow.
7. Set the Cache On Disk option to yes.
8. Set the Max Cache Size option to the amount of cache space that you want to allocate. This value depends on the available disk space, the number of clients, and the expected web traffic volume.
9. Set the Cache Administrator Email option to your email address.
10. Click on the OK button to save the configuration.

Step 3: Creating NAT Rule

The third step is to create a network address translation (NAT) rule that redirects the web traffic from client devices to the proxy server. Follow the steps below to create the NAT rule.

1. Open the MikroTik Router Winbox.
2. Go to IP > Firewall > NAT.
3. Click on the Add new button.
4. Set the Chain to srcnat.
5. Set the Out. Interface to the name of the WAN interface of the MikroTik Router.
6. Set the Protocol to tcp.
7. Set the Dst. Port to 80.
8. Click on the Action tab.
9. Set the Action to redirect.
10. Set the To Ports to 8080.
11. Click on the Comment field and type "Redirect HTTP Traffic to Proxy". This is an optional step but helps to keep the configuration organized and easy to understand.
12. Click on the Add new button to create the NAT rule.

Step 4: Configuring Transparent Proxy

The fourth step is to configure the MikroTik Router as a transparent proxy server. A transparent proxy server intercepts all web traffic without the need for clients to configure the proxy settings manually. Follow the steps below to set up the transparent proxy server.

1. Open the MikroTik Router Winbox.
2. Go to IP > Web Proxy.
3. Click on the Transparent Proxy checkbox.
4. Click on the OK button to save the configuration.

That's it! Your MikroTik Router is now configured as a web proxy server. Remember to test the proxy server by connecting to the internet using a client device and checking whether the web traffic is being intercepted and transmitted through the proxy server.

Benefits of Using a Proxy Server

Using a proxy server can provide several benefits, as listed below.

Bypassing Content Filters

A proxy server can be used to bypass content filters such as web filters, content restrictions, and parental controls. By redirecting the web traffic through a proxy server, the original IP address of the client is hidden, allowing access to restricted content. This feature is particularly useful in organizations or countries where internet censorship is prevalent.

Improving Security

A proxy server can act as a gateway to the internet and provide an additional layer of security by filtering out malicious traffic such as viruses, malware, spam, and phishing attempts. The proxy server can also be configured to block specific websites, IP addresses, or ports to prevent unauthorized access or data leakage.

Improving Performance

A proxy server can cache frequently requested web pages and content on its local storage, thereby reducing the time and bandwidth required to access websites. This can result in faster web browsing, improved network efficiency, and cost savings in terms of data usage.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to configure your MikroTik Router as a web proxy server. A proxy server can provide several benefits, such as bypassing content filters, improving security, and improving performance. It is relatively easy to set up a MikroTik Router as a proxy server, and the configuration can be customized to suit your specific needs.

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