SOCKS is an Internet protocol that exchanges network packets between a client and server through a proxy server. SOCKS5 optionally provides authentication, so only authorized users may access a server. Practically, a SOCKS server proxies TCP connections to an arbitrary IP address and provides a means for UDP packets to be forwarded. The SOCKS protocol operates between the application layer and the transport layer. A SOCKS server accepts incoming client connection on TCP port 1080.