Set Up SSH SOCKS Tunnel on Firefox to Access Home Network From Anywhere

Here is an alternative method to access the home local area network without VPN.

Hardware tool:

a. A network storage, I'm using Asus AS-202T as host in this example.

b. Router

Software tools:

a. PuTTY

b. Firefox, I'm using the portable version

What are the benefit?

a. Access the contents in network storage from anywhere

b. Configure the home router's setting remotely

c. Browse domestic regional restricted web sites from foreign countries (in case on a trip)

Network Storage Configurations:

First of all, we need to enable the SSH service provided by network storage. In this example, the default port #22 is selected.

This step shall be done (once) when we are connected to the home network.

Assume the DDNS has already set up correctly.

Router Configurations:

Virtual server shall be enabled in the router to forward incoming traffic in specific port to the right device.

In this example, I use a different port in PuTTY for SSH tunnel, therefore "External Port" and "Internal Port " are difference.

The port #8080 is selected (other lucky numbers shall work).

In this step onward, we are connected from outside of the home network.

Open the PuTTY configuration, create a new session, and then configure the PuTTY to forward port #8080 into SSH tunnel.

Hostname is the DDNS address or the home network IP address.

Click "Open" to connect to the Network Storage via SSH, login with administrator credential.

Open the "PROXY" setting in Firefox, enable manual proxy configuration as follow:

a. SOCKS Host: localhost

b. Port: 8080 (the same lucky number in step 2)

c. Select "SOCKS v5"

d. Tick "Proxy DNS when using SOCK v5"

e. Tick "Enable DNS over HTTPS"

And finally click "OK", now we are ready to go :-)

Search "What's my IP" in Google, the home network IP address will be returned.

Local areas network addresses "192.168.x.x" shall point to the devices at home :-)

Enjoy!