Socket secure protocol. A generic proxy protocol used by applications to communicate over TCP/IP networks. The SOCKS protocol provides a flexible framework for developing secure communications by easily integrating other security technologies. SOCKS includes two components: the SOCKS server and the SOCKS client. The SOCKS server is implemented at the application layer, while the SOCKS client is implemented between the application and transport layers. The basic purpose of the protocol is to enable hosts on one side of a SOCKS server to gain access to hosts on the other side of a SOCKS server, without requiring direct IP-reachability.