If you're running on Internet ISP that is providing via a Internet / Wifi Router device with a 3G / 4G / 5G etc. but your receiving point location is situated somewhere very far in a places like High mountains lets say Rila Mountain or Alps on a very distant places where Internet coverate of Inetner Service Provider is low or very low but you need still to Work / Play / Entertain on the Net frequently.
Hence you will cenrtainly be looking for a ways to Speed Up / Optimize the Internet connectivity somehow.
You cannot do miracles but certainly the daily operations and a pack up of repeating traffic can be achieved by using installing and using simple local proxy server.
The advantages of using a proxy are even more besides the speed up of Internet connection lines, here is the Pros you get by using the proxy:
- Using Caches frequently accessed content (e.g., images, scripts, web pages).
- Blocks ads and trackers (reduces bandwidth).
- Compresses data (if needed)
- Can serve multiple local devices if needed.
To save bandwidth on a slow and limited connectivity Internet router or mobile phone hotspot using Windows 10, you can install a local proxy server that:
Here’s a step-by-step guide to set this up:
Install a local caching proxy server on Windows 10 to reduce bandwidth usage over a mobile hotspot.
1. Install Squid (Caching Proxy Server)
Squid is a powerful and widely used open-source caching proxy.
Download Squid for Windows
Download Squid for Windows from:
https://squid.acmeconsulting.it/download (Unofficial, stable build)
or compile it manually (if you're having an own Linux or BSD router that is passing on the traffic)
2. Install Squid Proxy sever on Windows
2.1. Extract or install the downloaded Squid package.
…
2.2. Install it as a Windows Service
Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:
C:\\Users\\hipo\\Downloads> squid -i
Initialize cache directories:
C:\\Users\\hipo\\Downloads> squid -z
3. Configure Squid Proxy via squid.conf
3.1. Open squid.conf
usually in
C:\\Squid\\etc\\squid\\squid.conf
3.2. Edit key lines:
http_port 3128
cache_dir ufs c:/squid/var/cache 100 16 256
access_log c:/squid/var/logs/access.log
cache_log c:/squid/var/logs/cache.log
maximum_object_size 4096 KB
cache_mem 64 MB
3.3. Allow local access:
acl localnet src 192.168.0.0/16
http_access allow localnet
(Adjust IP ranges according to your network.)
Here's a ready-to-use Squid configuration file optimized for Running on Windows 10:
- Caching web content to save bandwidth
- Blocking ads and trackers
- Allowing local device connections
Location for the squid Config File
The Windows squid installer should have setup the Squid proxy by default inside C:\Squid so the full path to squid.conf should be:
Place this as
squid.conf
in:
C:\\Squid\\etc\\squid\\squid.conf
# BASIC CONFIGURATION
http_port 3128
visible_hostname localhost# CACHE SETTINGS
cache_mem 128 MB
maximum_object_size 4096 KB
maximum_object_size_in_memory 512 KB
cache_dir ufs c:/squid/var/cache 100 16 256
cache_log c:/squid/var/logs/cache.log
access_log c:/squid/var/logs/access.log# DNS
dns_nameservers 8.8.8.8 1.1.1.1# ACLs (Access Control Lists)
acl localhost src 127.0.0.1/32
acl localnet src 192.168.0.0/16
acl Safe_ports port 80 # HTTP
acl Safe_ports port 443 # HTTPS
acl Safe_ports port 21 # FTP
acl CONNECT method CONNECT# BLOCKED DOMAINS (Ad/Tracking)
acl ads dstdomain .doubleclick.net .googlesyndication.com .googleadservices.com
acl ads dstdomain .ads.yahoo.com .adnxs.com .track.adform.net
http_access deny ads# SECURITY & ACCESS CONTROL
http_access allow localhost
http_access allow localnet
http_access deny !Safe_ports
http_access deny CONNECT !SSL_ports
http_access deny all# REFRESH PATTERNS (Cache aggressively)
refresh_pattern ^ftp: 1440 20% 10080
refresh_pattern ^gopher: 1440 0% 1440
refresh_pattern -i \.jpg$ 10080 90% 43200
refresh_pattern -i \.png$ 10080 90% 43200
refresh_pattern -i \.gif$ 10080 90% 43200
refresh_pattern -i \.css$ 10080 90% 43200
refresh_pattern -i \.js$ 10080 90% 43200
refresh_pattern -i \.html$ 1440 90% 10080
refresh_pattern . 0 20% 4320# LOGGING
logfile_rotate 10
4. Start the Squid Win Service from Admin command prompt
C:\Users\hipo> net start squid
5. Test the Proxy
Set the proxy server in your Windows proxy settings:
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy
- Enable Manual proxy setup:
Address: 127.0.0.1
Port: 3128
Browse the web — Squid will now cache content locally.
Make sure
C:\Squid\var\cache
and
C:\Squid\var\logs
exist.
You can expand the ad block list by importing public blocklists. Let me know if you want help with that.
To share this proxy with other local devices, ensure they’re on the same network and allowed via ACL.
6. Block Ads and Save More Bandwidth with the Proxy
You can modify Squid to:
Block ad domains (using
acl
rules or a blacklist)
Limit download sizes
Restrict background updates or telemetry
Example rule to block a domain:
acl ads dstdomain .doubleclick.net .ads.google.com http_access deny ads
7. Use Aternative lightweight Proxy Privoxy (Lightweight filtering proxy)
What is Privoxy?
Privoxy is a lightweight, highly customizable proxy server focused on privacy protection, content filtering, and web page optimization.
Unlike caching proxies (like Squid), Privoxy doesn’t store data locally—but it filters and blocks unnecessary traffic before it even reaches your browser.
7.1. Why Use Privoxy to Speed Up Internet?
Here's how Privoxy helps:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Blocks Ads & Banners | Reduces page load size and clutter |
| Stops Trackers | Prevents background data requests |
| Filters Pop-ups | Improves usability and safety |
| Speeds Up Web Browsing | By stripping unwanted content |
| Low Resource Usage | Works on older or low-spec systems |
Privoxy is easier to set up than Squid and usually much more simple and fits well if you want something simpler and more light weight and is also great for ad/tracker blocking.
To install and use it it comes to 4 simple steps
-
Download from: https://www.privoxy.org/
-
Install and run it.
-
Configure browser/system to use proxy lets say on:
127.0.0.1:8118
-
Customize
config.txt
to add block rules.
7.2. Configure Your Web Browser or System Proxy
Set your browser/system to use the local Privoxy proxy:
Proxy address:
127.0.0.1
Port:
8118
On Windows:
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy
Enable Manual Proxy Setup
Enter:
Address:
127.0.0.1
Port:
8118
Save
7.3: Enable Privoxy Filtering and Blocking Rules
Privoxy comes with built-in rules for:
- Ad blocking
- Tracker blocking
- Cookie management
- Script filtering
You can customize filters in the configuration files via following configs:
Main config:
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Privoxy\\config
Action files:
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Privoxy\\default.action
Filter files:
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Privoxy\\default.filter
7.4. Example to Block All Ads with Privoxy
Look in
default.action
and ensure these are uncommented:
{ +block }
Or add specific ad server domains:
{ +block{Ad Servers} }
.com.doubleclick.net
.ads.google.com
.adnxs.com
You can further use community-maintained blocklists for stronger Ads filtering.
Privoxy does not compress traffic, so to speed up even further with privoxy you might Compress traffic to do so use ziproxy (the http traffic compressor).
Now all your HTTP traffic is routed through Privoxy and you will notice search engines and repeatingly accessed websites pictures and Internet resources such as css / javscript / htmls etc. will give a boost !
