ProxyPal

ProxyPal - Advanced Proxy Management Extension
Overview
ProxyPal is a powerful and feature-rich Chrome extension designed to give you complete control over your browser's proxy settings. Whether you're a developer testing geo-specific features, a privacy-conscious user managing your online footprint, or a professional navigating corporate network requirements, ProxyPal provides an intuitive and flexible solution for all your proxy management needs.

Unlike basic proxy switchers, ProxyPal offers advanced automation capabilities, multiple profile types, intelligent rule-based switching, and a modern, user-friendly interface. With support for HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5 protocols, PAC scripts, and sophisticated auto-switching rules, ProxyPal adapts to even the most complex network configurations.

Key Features
🚀 Multiple Profile Types
ProxyPal supports four distinct profile types to cover every use case:

1. Direct Connection

Bypass all proxies and connect directly to the internet
Perfect for local network access or when you need maximum speed
Essential for troubleshooting connectivity issues
2. Proxy Server

Configure individual proxy servers with full control
Support for multiple protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS5
Optional authentication with username and password
Specify custom host, port, and protocol for each profile
Test and validate proxy configurations before applying
3. PAC Script (Proxy Auto-Configuration)

Use remote PAC script URLs for centralized configuration management
Write custom PAC scripts with JavaScript for complex routing logic
Perfect for enterprise environments with existing PAC infrastructure
Full support for standard PAC functions like FindProxyForURL()
Inline PAC script editor with syntax support
4. Auto-Switch

Create intelligent rules that automatically switch proxies based on URLs
Define multiple conditions using wildcards, regex, or IP ranges
Set fallback profiles for unmatched traffic
Reorder rules with drag-and-drop priority management
Perfect for accessing region-locked content or routing specific domains through dedicated proxies
⚡ Smart Auto-Switching Rules
ProxyPal's auto-switching capabilities set it apart from simple proxy switchers. Create sophisticated routing rules based on:

Host Wildcard Matching

Match domains with wildcard patterns like *.example.com
Perfect for routing entire domains or subdomains through specific proxies
Simple syntax that's easy to understand and maintain
URL Regular Expressions

Use powerful regex patterns to match complex URL structures
Match based on paths, query parameters, or any URL component
Built-in regex tester to validate patterns before saving
Ideal for advanced users who need precise control
IP Range Matching

Route traffic to specific IP ranges through designated proxies
Use wildcard notation like 192.168.*.* for subnet matching
Essential for corporate networks and VPN configurations
Support for both IPv4 address patterns
Rule Priority & Management

Rules are evaluated from top to bottom
Drag and drop to reorder rules and change priority
Set a default profile for traffic that doesn't match any rule
Visual rule list with condition and profile preview
Edit or delete rules with a single click
🔒 Bypass List Management
Take granular control over which destinations should bypass your proxy:

Define hosts, domains, and IP addresses that should connect directly
Support for multiple pattern formats:
Exact hostnames: example.com
Wildcard domains: *.local, 192.168.*.*
IP addresses: 127.0.0.1, localhost
CIDR notation: 10.0.0.0/8
Quick-add common bypass patterns with one click
Perfect for excluding local network traffic from proxy routing
Essential for VPN users who need split-tunneling functionality
🎨 Modern, Intuitive Interface
ProxyPal features a beautiful, dark-themed "Cyber" interface that's both functional and visually appealing:

Popup Interface

Quick access to essential controls from any page
Real-time status indicator showing active profile and connection state
One-click profile switching without opening full settings
Visual statistics showing profile count, rule count, and status
Color-coded profiles for easy identification
Current proxy information display (protocol, host, port)
Full Settings Page

Comprehensive configuration interface for advanced features
Organized sections: Profiles, Rules, Bypass List, Import/Export, Settings
Collapsible sections to focus on what matters
Responsive design that works on any screen size
Visual feedback for all actions with success/error notifications
Visual Design Elements

Cyber-themed dark mode with accent colors
Smooth animations and transitions
Color picker for profile customization
Status badges and indicators
Card-based layout for easy scanning
Modern, clean typography
💾 Import & Export Settings
Never lose your configuration with ProxyPal's backup and restore features:

Export Capabilities

Export all settings to a JSON file with one click
Includes profiles, rules, bypass list, and preferences
Timestamped filenames for easy version management
Human-readable JSON format for manual editing if needed
Import Options

Restore settings from previously exported JSON files
Upload files via file picker or paste JSON directly
Validation to ensure data integrity before import
Warning prompts to prevent accidental data loss
Perfect for syncing settings across multiple machines or browsers
Use Cases

Backup configurations before making major changes
Share proxy configurations with team members
Migrate settings when switching computers
Keep different configuration sets for different scenarios
Disaster recovery and quick restoration
🌍 Multi-Language Support
ProxyPal speaks your language with comprehensive internationalization:

English (en) - Default language
Русский (ru) - Russian
Українська (uk) - Ukrainian
Deutsch (de) - German
Español (es) - Spanish
Italiano (it) - Italian
日本語 (ja) - Japanese
Português (pt_BR) - Brazilian Portuguese
简体中文 (zh_CN) - Simplified Chinese
The extension automatically detects your browser language and displays the appropriate translation. All UI elements, notifications, and messages are fully localized.

⚙️ Customizable Settings
Fine-tune ProxyPal's behavior to match your preferences:

Notifications

Optional notifications when switching profiles
Desktop notifications with profile information
Configurable notification behavior
Status Badge

Display active profile indicator on extension icon
Visual confirmation of current proxy state
Quick status check without opening popup
Startup Behavior

Remember last used profile
Always start with direct connection
Use a specific default profile
Choose what works best for your workflow
Appearance

Dark (Cyber) theme - Modern, eye-friendly design
Light theme - Traditional bright interface
System default - Follow OS theme preferences
Consistent design language across all pages
How to Use ProxyPal
Getting Started
Install the Extension

Install ProxyPal from the Chrome Web Store
The extension icon will appear in your browser toolbar
Click the icon to open the popup interface
Create Your First Profile

Click the Settings icon in the popup
Navigate to the "Proxy Profiles" section
Click "Add Profile"
Fill in the profile details (name, type, configuration)
Click "Create" to save
Activate a Profile

Open the ProxyPal popup
Use the profile selector dropdown to choose your profile
Toggle the main switch to enable proxy functionality
The status indicator will show "Active" with a green dot
Creating Different Profile Types
Direct Connection Profile

Type: Direct
No additional configuration needed
Use for bypassing all proxies
HTTP/HTTPS Proxy Profile

Type: Proxy Server
Protocol: HTTP or HTTPS
Host: proxy.example.com
Port: 8080
Auth (optional): username and password
Save and activate
SOCKS Proxy Profile

Type: Proxy Server
Protocol: SOCKS4 or SOCKS5
Host: socks.example.com
Port: 1080
Note: Chrome doesn't support SOCKS authentication via extensions
For authenticated SOCKS, use without auth or switch to HTTP/HTTPS
PAC Script Profile

Type: PAC Script
Option 1: Enter PAC URL (e.g., http://example.com/proxy.pac)
Option 2: Write custom PAC script directly
Example PAC script:
function FindProxyForURL(url, host) {
if (shExpMatch(host, "*.example.com")) {
return "PROXY proxy.example.com:8080";
}
return "DIRECT";
}
Auto-Switch Profile

Type: Auto Switch
Set a default profile for unmatched traffic
Add switching rules with conditions
Configure which proxy to use for each rule
Test with real URLs to verify behavior
Managing Auto-Switch Rules
Create Auto-Switch Profile

Add a new profile with type "Auto Switch"
Select a default profile (used when no rules match)
Add Switching Rules

Click "Add Rule" in the Auto Switch Rules section
Choose rule type:
Host Wildcard: *.github.com, *.google.*
URL Regex: https://.*\.example\.com/api/.*
IP Range: 192.168.*.*, 10.0.0.*
Enter the pattern/condition
Select which profile to use when this rule matches
Save the rule
Organize Rules

Drag and drop rules to change priority order
Rules at the top are evaluated first
First matching rule wins
Edit or delete rules as needed
Test Your Rules

Use the regex tester for complex patterns
Visit websites to verify correct proxy selection
Check browser network tools to confirm proxy usage
Adjust rules based on actual behavior
Configuring Bypass List
Open Bypass List Settings

Go to full settings page
Navigate to "Bypass List" section
Add Bypass Patterns

Enter one pattern per line
Supported formats:
localhost - Exact hostname
127.0.0.1 - IP address
*.local - Wildcard domain
192.168.*.* - IP range
<local> - All local addresses
Quick Add Common Patterns

Click quick-add buttons for common patterns
Automatically adds local network ranges
Includes localhost and common private IPs
Save Changes

Click "Save Changes" to apply
Bypass list affects all proxy profiles
Direct connections ignore bypass list
Advanced Features
Profile Color Coding
Assign unique colors to profiles for quick visual identification:

Each profile can have a custom color
Colors appear in dropdowns and profile lists
Use color picker or enter hex codes manually
Makes switching between many profiles easier
Authentication Support
ProxyPal handles proxy authentication securely:

Username and password stored locally
Encrypted storage using Chrome's built-in security
Per-profile authentication settings
Important: SOCKS proxies don't support authentication through Chrome extensions
HTTP/HTTPS proxies fully support authentication
Network Performance
ProxyPal is designed for minimal performance impact:

Efficient PAC script generation
No unnecessary background processes
Direct Chrome proxy API integration
No external dependencies or tracking
Lightweight footprint (~500KB total)
Privacy & Security
Your privacy and security are paramount:

No data collection: ProxyPal doesn't collect or transmit any user data
Local storage only: All settings stored locally in Chrome
No external servers: No communication with external services
No tracking: No analytics, no telemetry, no cookies
Open source: Code is transparent and auditable
Minimal permissions: Only requests necessary Chrome APIs
Secure authentication: Credentials encrypted by Chrome's storage API
Technical Details
Supported Protocols
HTTP - Standard HTTP proxy (port typically 8080, 3128)
HTTPS - Encrypted HTTP proxy (port typically 8080, 3128)
SOCKS4 - SOCKS version 4 protocol (port typically 1080)
SOCKS5 - SOCKS version 5 protocol (port typically 1080)
Chrome API Integration
ProxyPal uses official Chrome Extension APIs:

chrome.proxy - Proxy configuration management
chrome.storage - Local data persistence
chrome.notifications - User notifications
chrome.i18n - Internationalization
chrome.runtime - Extension lifecycle
chrome.webRequest - URL pattern matching (for auto-switch)
PAC Script Generation
Auto-switch profiles generate optimized PAC scripts:

Efficient JavaScript code generation
Minimal regex usage for better performance
Fallback handling for unmatched requests
Support for bypass list integration
Standard PAC function compatibility
Browser Compatibility
Chrome: Fully supported (version 88+)
Chromium: Fully supported
Edge: Fully supported (Chromium-based)
Brave: Fully supported
Opera: Fully supported (Chromium-based)
Firefox: Not supported (different API)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why isn't my SOCKS proxy with authentication working?
A: Chrome's extension API has a limitation - it doesn't support authentication for SOCKS proxies. This is a Chrome/Chromium restriction, not a ProxyPal limitation. Solutions:

Use SOCKS without authentication
Switch to HTTP/HTTPS proxy which fully supports authentication
Use system-level SOCKS proxy configuration instead
Q: Can I use multiple proxies simultaneously?
A: Chrome allows only one active proxy configuration at a time. However, you can:

Use auto-switch profiles to route different domains through different proxies
Use PAC scripts for complex multi-proxy routing
Quickly switch between profiles as needed
Q: Will ProxyPal slow down my browsing?
A: ProxyPal itself adds negligible overhead. The extension uses efficient Chrome APIs and generates optimized PAC scripts. Any speed impact comes from the proxy server itself, not from ProxyPal.

Q: How do I know which proxy is being used?
A: Multiple ways:

Check the popup - shows current profile and proxy details
Look at the extension icon badge (if enabled)
Use browser DevTools Network tab - shows connection details
Websites like "whatismyip.com" show your effective IP address
Q: Can I share my proxy configuration with colleagues?
A: Yes! Use the Import/Export feature:

Export your settings to a JSON file
Share the file via email, cloud storage, etc.
Colleagues import the file to get identical configuration
Perfect for team standardization
Q: What happens if I delete the default profile?
A: ProxyPal prevents deleting critical profiles. You cannot delete:

The currently active profile
The default "Direct" profile (if it exists)
Edit the profile or switch to another one first, then delete
Q: Does ProxyPal work with VPNs?
A: Yes, but understanding the interaction is important:

Proxies are application-level (browser only)
VPNs are system-level (all network traffic)
If both are active, traffic typically goes: Browser → Proxy → VPN → Internet
Use bypass list to exclude VPN addresses from proxying
Q: Can I use ProxyPal for business/commercial purposes?
A: Yes! ProxyPal is free to use for both personal and commercial purposes. No licensing restrictions apply.

Q: How often is ProxyPal updated?
A: We actively maintain ProxyPal with:

Regular security updates
Bug fixes as reported
New features based on user feedback
Chrome API compatibility updates