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Mohammad Waseem
Mohammad Waseem

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Bypassing Geo-Restrictions in Testing with Node.js and Open Source Tools

#node #security #proxies

In the landscape of software testing, especially for global digital services, verifying geo-restricted features poses a notable challenge. This challenge often arises when developers or security researchers need to emulate access from different geographic locations to confirm regional content delivery, compliance, or access controls. In this post, we will explore how to leverage Node.js combined with open-source tools to simulate geo-located requests effectively.

Understanding the Problem

Traditional testing environments are confined to the server's location, which can lead to inaccurate validation of geo-dependent features such as content restrictions, local laws, or regulations. Testing these features requires mimicking different IP geolocations either by modifying IP addresses or by routing traffic through proxies.

Solution Overview

The fundamental approach involves using Node.js to programmatically send requests via proxies that originate from specific geographic locations. Common open-source tools, such as proxychains, Tor, and selenium with geo-distributed proxies, can be combined with Node.js HTTP libraries to develop a flexible testing setup.

Utilizing Proxychains with Node.js

proxychains allows redirecting TCP connections through a chain of proxies. By configuring it with proxies located in the desired countries, Node.js scripts can route requests through these proxies seamlessly.

Example Setup

First, install proxychains and configure it with your desired proxies:

sudo apt-get install proxychains
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Create or edit /etc/proxychains.conf to include proxies in targeted locations:

[ProxyList]
http  proxy1.example.com 8080
socks5  proxy2.it 1080
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Next, in your Node.js code, use the child_process module to run requests through proxychains:

const { exec } = require('child_process');

function fetchViaProxy(url, callback) {
  const cmd = `proxychains curl -s ${url}`;
  exec(cmd, (error, stdout, stderr) => {
    if (error) {
      console.error(`Error: ${error}`);
      return callback(error);
    }
    callback(null, stdout);
  });
}

// Example usage:
fetchViaProxy('https://region-locked-content.example.com', (err, data) => {
  if (err) return console.error('Request failed');
  console.log('Response:', data);
});
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This technique allows requesting content as if originating from specific locations, greatly aiding in testing geo-restricted features.

Leveraging Tor Network

Tor anonymizes traffic through a network of relays, which can be configured to exit in specific countries using Tor expert bundles and ExitNodes configurations.

Setup

Install Tor:

sudo apt-get install tor
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Create a torrc file with desired exit node countries:

ExitNodes {us}, {de}
StrictNodes 1
ExitRelay 0
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Start Tor with this configuration and use a control port to programmatically connect from Node.js using libraries like tor-control or direct socket communication, routing your requests through the Tor proxy.

Example 

const socksProxyAgent = require('socks5-https-client').Socks5HttpClient;
const https = require('https');

const agent = new socksProxyAgent({ socksHost: '127.0.0.1', socksPort: 9050 });

https.get({ hostname: 'region-locked-site.com', agent }, (res) => {
  res.setEncoding('utf8');
  res.on('data', (chunk) => {
    console.log(chunk);
  });
}).on('error', (e) => {
  console.error(`Error: ${e.message}`);
});
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Automation and Validation

For continuous or automated testing, scripting proxy rotation and response validation is key. Integrate with testing frameworks like Jest or Mocha, and automate proxy selection based on target geolocation.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Always ensure compliance with local laws and terms of service when using proxies or routing traffic to emulate different locations. Use these techniques responsibly and ethically, particularly in security research and testing.

Conclusion

Combining Node.js with open-source proxy tools offers a versatile, cost-effective way to test geo-specific features. By dynamically routing requests through geographically diverse proxies or the Tor network, developers and security researchers can verify content delivery and compliance effectively — ensuring products perform as expected across regions.

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