How to Set Up Proxies with BitBrowser (Configuration Tutorial)

BitBrowser provides a powerful way to leverage proxies for web scraping, automation, and managing multiple accounts. This comprehensive guide dives into integrating various proxy services with BitBrowser across Windows and macOS.

Introduction to BitBrowser

BitBrowser is a privacy-focused Chromium-based browser that launches isolated browsing profiles each with their own fingerprint. Under the hood, BitBrowser runs each profile in a separate container to segment traffic, cookies, caches, and other state.

Key advantages of using BitBrowser:

• Avoid IP bans by rotating fingerprints and proxies
• Scrape and automate at scale without detections
• Operate multiple accounts in parallel
• Bypass geographic restrictions imposed on content

BitBrowser also supports adding custom browser extensions and automation with Puppeteer/Selenium.

Recommended Proxies Overview

BrightData

BrightData offers 72+ million residential IPs optimized for web scraping. Pros:

• Very reliable with a 99.9% uptime SLA
• Backconnect technology to pick new IPs
• Great documentation and support

If you need an affordable pay-as-you-go residential proxy, choose BrightData.

Smartproxy

Smartproxy provides over 55 million residential IPs along with datacenter proxies. Key features:

• Mixed proxy types including residential and datacenter
• IPs from 195+ locations worldwide
• Support for sticky sessions if needed

Choose Smartproxy for geographic diversity and a hybrid of proxy types.

Proxy-Seller

Proxy-Seller focuses on mobile proxies that mimic real carrier-specific IPs. Benefits:

• Proxies assigned real mobile IPs
• Specify carrier like Verizon, AT&T, Vodafone
• Ideal for replicating mobile apps and devices

Leverage Proxy-Seller when you need to mimic mobile traffic.

Soax

Soax offers fixed-usage residential proxies starting at just $2.2/GB. Pros:

• Easy integration and management
• Reliable and ethical proxies
• Versatile protocol support and API access

Use Soax when you need consistently working, high-quality residential proxies.

Adding Proxy Configurations

Adding a new proxy in BitBrowser involves:

1. Creating a browser profile
2. Visiting the “Proxy” section
3. Setting the proxy type, host, port, username, and password

Here is an example using Smartproxy:

• Type: HTTP
• Host: residential.smartproxy.com
• Port: 22225
• Username: your_smartproxy_username
• Password: your_smartproxy_password

The process is the same across Windows and macOS. Proxies authenticate at the browser level, not system-wide.

Testing Proxies

Make sure to test each proxy after adding them by clicking the “Confirm” button which launches a new browsing session.

I recommend verifying proxies using a site like https://ipinfo.io to validate your assigned IP geography.

Configure & Integrate Proxies with BitBrowser on Windows

BitBrowser provides powerful proxy management capabilities right on Windows. We dive deep into configuring proxies within BitBrowser specifically for Windows.

Installing BitBrowser on Windows

BitBrowser supports Windows 7 and higher, including the latest Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions.

To install on Windows:

1. Download the BitBrowser Windows installer from the official website.
2. Run the .exe installer and follow the prompts to complete installation.
3. Launch BitBrowser and set up your account.

On Windows 11, you may need to override SmartScreen warnings about unverified publishers when running the installer.

Configuring Windows Firewall for Proxies

Windows Firewall can block proxy traffic if the correct ports are not allowed.

To enable proxy ports:

1. Open Windows Firewall settings
2. Click “Inbound Rules”
3. Add a new rule for TCP and the proxy port ranges
4. Repeat for Outbound Rules

This permits traffic to flow through BitBrowser proxies.

Integrating with Windows Certificate Store

BitBrowser maintains its own certificate store. To integrate with the Windows root certificates:

1. Go to BitBrowser Settings > Privacy & security
2. Check “Use the Windows system certificate store”
3. Restart BitBrowser for the changes to take effect

Now BitBrowser will inherit Windows trusted certificate authorities.

Routing System Traffic through Proxifier

Proxifier allows forcing any application traffic through a BitBrowser proxy:

1. Install and launch Proxifier
2. Add a new Windows application rule
3. Set the proxy type and proxy details from BitBrowser
4. Enable the rule

With Proxifier, you can proxy non-browser based traffic.

Debugging Proxy Issues with Fiddler

Fiddler is an invaluable Windows debugging tool for inspecting BitBrowser network traffic:

1. Install Fiddler Classic
2. Enable HTTPS decryption in Tools > Fiddler Options
3. In BitBrowser, set the proxy to localhost:8888
4. Fiddler will intercept all BitBrowser traffic for debugging

Use Fiddler to pinpoint any proxy connectivity or protocol issues.

Automating with PowerShell Scripts

Windows PowerShell provides another avenue to automate proxy rotation across BitBrowser.

Example script to cycle proxies:

$proxies = Get-Content proxies.txt

foreach ($proxy in $proxies) {

  $env:HTTP_PROXY=$proxy
  $env:HTTPS_PROXY=$proxy

  # Launch BitBrowser profile 
  Start-Process "C:\BitBrowser\BitBrowser.exe"

  # Rotate after usage
  $env:HTTP_PROXY=$null
  $env:HTTPS_PROXY=$null

}

PowerShell enables scripting robust automation flows around BitBrowser.

Configure & Integrate Proxies with BitBrowser on macOS

Proxy management with BitBrowser is seamless and native on macOS. This guide covers best practices for configuring proxies within BitBrowser specifically for macOS.

Installing BitBrowser on macOS

BitBrowser runs on macOS 10.15 High Sierra and above, including latest macOS Ventura:

1. Download BitBrowser .dmg from the website
2. Double click to mount the disk image
3. Drag the BitBrowser icon into your Applications folder
4. Launch BitBrowser from the Applications folder

You may need to override Gatekeeper security warnings since BitBrowser is not yet App Store verified.

Granting Accessibility Permissions

To fully integrate with macOS, grant BitBrowser accessibility permissions:

1. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy
2. Click the Accessibility tab
3. Check the box for BitBrowser to grant access
4. This allows deeper system integration

Configuring Network Proxy Settings

macOS has native network proxy support you can leverage:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network
2. Select your active network
3. Click Advanced > Proxies
4. Add the BitBrowser proxy details
5. Check “Auto Proxy Discovery”

Now all system traffic routes through the proxy.

Monitoring Traffic with Charles Proxy

Charles is a handy macOS app for inspecting proxy communications:

1. Install Charles Proxy
2. Enable SSL proxying in Proxy > SSL Proxy Settings
3. In BitBrowser, set the Charles proxy as localhost port 8888
4. Charles will intercept all proxy traffic for debugging

Leverage Charles to identify any network issues.

Automating with AppleScript

AppleScript enables scripting to cycle macOS proxies:

set proxies to {"proxy1", "proxy2"}

repeat with proxy in proxies

  tell application "System Events"
    tell current location of network preferences
      set properties to {HTTPProxy:proxy, HTTPSProxy:proxy}
    end tell  
  end tell

  -- Open URLs with proxy
  
  tell application "System Events"
    tell current location of network preferences
      set properties to {HTTPProxy:"None", HTTPSProxy:"None"} 
    end tell
  end tell
  
end repeat

This rotates proxies programmatically within macOS for BitBrowser sessions.

Troubleshooting SSL Issues

If you see SSL certificate errors, reset macOS trust settings:

1. Open Keychain Access
2. Select System keychain
3. Delete any untrusted root certificates
4. Reboot to reset trust caches
5. Rerun BitBrowser proxy setup

This often resolves difficult SSL interception issues.

Integrating with macOS Keychain

BitBrowser can use the native macOS keychain for storing credentials:

1. Enable “Allow keychain integration” in BitBrowser Settings
2. Grant accessibility permission if prompted
3. Check “Enable keychain credential storage”

Credentials will now persist securely across BitBrowser updates.

Optimizing Performance on Apple Silicon

To maximize performance on M1/M2 chips:

1. Use the BitBrowser ARM64 native version
2. Disable “Translate Intel x86” mode in Settings
3. Close inactive profiles and extensions
4. Increase memory limits for browser instances

BitBrowser is highly optimized for Apple Silicon, enabling efficient scaling to 100+ concurrent proxy profiles per system.

Comparing BitBrowser vs OctoBrowser

BitBrowser and OctoBrowser take similar approaches to proxy profiles:

• Both are based on Chromium and isolate sessions into profiles.
• They allow configuring and rotating multiple proxies easily.
• Support major proxy providers with authentication.

OctoBrowser has more built-in features like user-agent randomization while BitBrowser offers a simpler interface. Assess your specific usage to pick between them.

Chaining Multiple Proxies

For advanced users, you can chain together multiple proxies for added anonymity:

1. Configure a primary proxy in BitBrowser
2. Route that proxy's traffic through a secondary proxy like Squid
3. The chaining obscures your IP across two hops

Chaining proxies increases latency but maximizes privacy. Fine-tune based on your specific requirements.

Conclusion

BitBrowser simplifies proxy integration across Windows and macOS, unlocking powerful web scraping and automation workflows.

Follow the steps outlined in this guide to get up and running with your proxies quickly. Let me know if you need any assistance with advanced proxy configurations!