Proxy/firewall causing interference with socket connection from chrome extension

I have encountered an issue with my web app in JavaScript that connects to a socket using socket.io and a Chrome Extension that also connects in the same way to the same server. While everything works smoothly on most computers and internet connections, there is one customer's computer where the Chrome Extension fails to connect (although the web app connects successfully).

Upon analyzing the extension's console for background.js (the script responsible for creating the socket connection within the extension), I noticed that it is attempting to connect to an unknown URL which appears to be a proxy instead of connecting to the correct URL of my socket server: ...

This issue seems to be isolated to this particular computer out of the multiple computers I have tested with different internet connections (corporate network, guest network, mobile hotspot). It appears that something installed or configured on the problematic computer is intercepting the connection request and trying to redirect it through a proxy before it can reach the socket server.

Interestingly, the problem only arises within the context of the Chrome Extension. The same computer with the same internet connection is able to establish a successful connection from a web page in the same browser (Google Chrome).

I am seeking guidance on what might be causing this issue. The client claims not to have any security software (firewall, antivirus, etc.) that could be triggering this behavior, but since it is a work computer managed by their company, it is possible that an administrator made some configurations. However, if that were the case, shouldn't the connection from the webpage also be affected? Are there any specific considerations for socket connections in Chrome Extensions that differ from regular web apps?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

javascriptsocketsgoogle-chromegoogle-chrome-extension

Answer №1

WebSocket connections are not the same as regular HTTP requests; they require a protocol upgrade once established, which some proxies may struggle to support.

There was a time when I encountered such a proxy at my workplace; however, it did not interfere with HTTPS traffic, allowing me to use wss: WebSockets but not ws: WebSockets.

It is recommended that you use secure HTTPS connections whenever possible. With services like Let's Encrypt, implementing HTTPS has become more accessible. This is especially important if any sensitive data is being transmitted over the connection.

The specific proxy mentioned in this context belongs to ZScaler, which is a security solution. Unfortunately, it performs HTTPS MITM interception, making the suggested workaround less effective. If changing the OS-level proxy settings or utilizing Chrome's proxy configuration can solve the issue, it might be worth exploring, albeit at the risk of upsetting network security policies.

If these adjustments are not feasible, the client may need to escalate the issue regarding the interference caused by the security solution on legitimate applications.

Edit: Upon further investigation, I came across this resource suggesting that using SSL (i.e., wss:) should suffice. However, given the advancements in proxy technology such as ZScaler's ability to intercept all HTTPS traffic, this approach may no longer be effective.

To test whether switching to wss: will resolve the connectivity issue, one can utilize - successful connection through this link indicates that wss: is functioning properly.

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