How To Set Google Chrome Proxy Settings and Exclude Specific Domains?

In today’s digital world, privacy and security are of utmost importance. One way to ensure this is by using a proxy server. This article will guide you through the process of setting up Google Chrome’s proxy settings and excluding specific domains.

What is a Proxy Server?

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your computer and the internet. It hides your IP address, making your online activities more private and secure.

Setting Up Google Chrome Proxy Settings

There are several methods to set up proxy settings in Google Chrome. We will discuss three of them in detail.

Method 1: Editing the Desktop Entry File

1. Open Terminal: Access the Terminal application on your computer. This can be found in your system’s utilities or accessories folder.
2. Modify the Chrome Desktop Entry: Run the following command:

sudo nano /usr/share/applications/google-chrome.desktop

This command opens the Google Chrome desktop entry file in the nano text editor.

3. Edit the Exec Line: Find the line starting with Exec=. Append --proxy-server="IP proxy Server:port" to the end of the line, replacing "IP proxy Server:port" with your actual proxy server and port. For example, if your proxy server IP is 192.168.1.1 and port is 8080, the line would look like this:

Exec=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable --proxy-server="192.168.1.1:8080"

4. Save and Exit: Press Ctrl+X to exit, then Y to confirm changes, and finally Enter to save the file.
5. Restart Chrome: Close all running instances of Google Chrome and open it again for the changes to take effect.

Method 2: Using the gsettings Command

1. Open Terminal: Access the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Run the gsettings Commands: Run the following commands:

gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy.http host "proxy.server.fqdn"
gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy.http port "3128"

Replace "proxy.server.fqdn" and "3128" with your actual proxy server and port.

3. Restart Chrome: Close all running instances of Google Chrome and open it again for the changes to take effect.

Method 3: Using the Proxy SwitchyOmega Extension

1. Install the Extension: Install the Proxy SwitchyOmega extension from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Configure Proxy Settings: Open the extension’s options page and configure your proxy settings.
3. Set Up Exceptions: You can also set up exceptions for specific domains in the extension’s settings.

Excluding Specific Domains

Unfortunately, Chrome does not have a built-in setting to exclude specific domains from using the proxy. However, you can achieve this by using the --proxy-bypass-list command-line option. Here’s how:

1. Edit the Exec Line: Just like in Method 1, find the Exec= line in the Google Chrome desktop entry file.
2. Append the --proxy-bypass-list Option: Append --proxy-bypass-list="*.example.com,localhost" to the end of the line. This will exclude example.com and localhost from using the proxy. You can add more domains separated by commas.

Exec=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable --proxy-server="192.168.1.1:8080" --proxy-bypass-list="*.example.com,localhost"

3. Save and Exit: Press Ctrl+X to exit, then Y to confirm changes, and finally Enter to save the file.
4. Restart Chrome: Close all running instances of Google Chrome and open it again for the changes to take effect.

In conclusion, setting up a proxy server and excluding specific domains in Google Chrome can enhance your online privacy and security. Whether you choose to edit the desktop entry file, use the gsettings command, or install the Proxy SwitchyOmega extension, each method has its own advantages. Choose the one that best suits your needs.