A self-hosted proxy can block selected requests and, in some configurations, compress buffered content—but filtering and compression are separate features. For most setups, start with an explicit proxy that clients connect to directly. Privoxy offers request filtering and optional compression; leave compression disabled unless measurements on your own devices show a benefit. HTTPS page content remains encrypted in an ordinary proxy tunnel, so inspecting it requires an additional, deliberate certificate-trust setup.
What a self-hosted proxy can—and cannot—do
A proxy sits between a client and the services it contacts. Depending on its configuration, it can apply rules to requests, relay traffic, or process content it can access. Those capabilities should not be conflated:
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- Filtering can prevent selected hosts or URLs from being requested. A blocklist may reduce traffic by preventing blocked resources from loading, but it does not compress the responses that are allowed through. mitmproxy’s blocklist documentation describes request blocking.
- Compression changes eligible response content sent to a client that supports the encoding. It is not the same as blocking, and it may consume CPU time or add latency.
- HTTPS interception is a separate choice. A normal CONNECT proxy tunnels encrypted traffic; it cannot read or rewrite the encrypted page body. Interception requires the client to trust the proxy’s certificate authority.
This makes a proxy a way to control some traffic, not a universal ad blocker or a guaranteed method of making every page smaller or faster.
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Start by deciding whether you can configure proxy settings on each client. The routing method and the decision to inspect HTTPS are independent: transparent routing does not itself decrypt encrypted traffic.
#1 Best Overall
| Approach | Client settings | HTTPS page contents | Additional work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explicit proxy | Each supported client points to the proxy. | Opaque in ordinary CONNECT tunneling; inspection requires client trust for the proxy CA. | Configure the proxy address on clients. mitmproxy describes regular mode as its simplest and most robust mode. |
| Transparent routing | Typically no per-client proxy setting. | Still encrypted unless interception and client trust are separately configured. | Set up traffic redirection and routing. mitmproxy’s documentation describes transparent mode for Linux and macOS and notes that alternatives such as WireGuard or local capture can be easier in relevant cases. |
For an explicit setup, mitmproxy documents regular mode with clients connecting to the proxy and gives port 8080 as its default. Privoxy’s quickstart search result uses 127.0.0.1:8118 for a localhost example. These are software-specific examples, not universal port or bind-address requirements. See mitmproxy’s mode documentation and Privoxy’s quickstart.
When transparent routing makes sense
Transparent routing can suit a network where changing settings on each client is impractical, but it shifts work to the network configuration. You must arrange redirection and routing, and some applications may not use the system proxy settings even when those are configured. mitmproxy notes that mobile applications can call for other capture modes. Check the application’s behavior rather than assuming all its traffic will pass through the proxy. mitmproxy’s transparent-mode guide explains the mode and its setup considerations.
Rank #2
Set up Privoxy for filtering, then evaluate compression separately
Privoxy is a plausible choice when the main goal is filtering requests. Its manual describes it as a filtering proxy used to block and filter requests, including ads and other unwanted content. It also documents an optional compression setting; that does not make compression the default or guarantee that every response will be compressed. Privoxy’s user manual covers its configuration and filtering behavior.
- Install and bind the proxy for the intended clients. Use the address and port appropriate to your installation, then configure a test client to connect to it. Do not expose an unauthenticated proxy to untrusted networks.
- Test request filtering first. Use the supplied rules or add carefully scoped rules, then check both the blocked resource and the pages you rely on. Rules can block legitimate content; tune them or create appropriate exceptions when that happens.
- Only then consider compression. In Privoxy’s configuration,
enable-compressionis disabled by default. The manual says compression requires a build withFEATURE_COMPRESSION, a client that supports the delivered encoding, and content large enough to pass the minimum-size threshold. Confirm the setting, build support, and client behavior for your installed version rather than assuming the option is active. - Compare results on representative pages. Measure transferred bytes, page behavior, proxy CPU load, and latency with the feature off and on. Keep compression enabled only if the result on your own setup is useful.
Privoxy’s manual states, “Privoxy does not compress buffered content.” That describes the default configuration; the same manual documents optional compression when enabled and supported. It also cautions that compression between programs on the same machine is likely to slow things down, and recommends leaving the option off unless measurement shows a benefit. Compression is therefore not an automatic upgrade: CPU cost and added work can outweigh any reduction in transferred bytes. Privoxy’s compression setting documentation explains the conditions.
Rank #3
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Understand the HTTPS certificate trade-off
With a conventional HTTPS CONNECT request, a proxy establishes a tunnel between the client and the destination. The encrypted stream passes through, but the proxy cannot inspect or rewrite its page contents. This means ordinary proxy filtering cannot remove arbitrary elements inside encrypted pages simply by examining their content.
To inspect HTTPS traffic, a proxy such as mitmproxy generates a certificate authority that must be installed and trusted by each relevant client. That changes the client’s trust arrangement: the proxy can act between the client and TLS endpoints for traffic routed through it. Treat certificate installation as a security decision, limit the proxy to intended clients, and understand the scope before trusting its CA. Do not treat interception as a casual prerequisite for request filtering. See mitmproxy’s certificate documentation.
Protect the proxy and avoid brittle filters
- Limit access. Bind and firewall the service so only intended devices or networks can reach it. An open proxy can be abused by others, and traffic routed through an interception proxy deserves particular care.
- Be cautious with body filtering. Privoxy notes that content filtering can require buffering an entire document body. If a server keeps sending data indefinitely, this can expose the process to memory exhaustion. Enable body-filtering features only with that resource risk in mind.
- Expect exceptions. Filters can block innocent resources or break site features. Adjust rules or bypass the proxy for a specific destination when needed, rather than assuming every block is harmless.
- Check client coverage. A device or app may ignore configured proxy settings or use another network path. Verify actual behavior before treating a proxy as a complete traffic-control layer.
Measure what changes on your network
There is no established general percentage for bandwidth savings or speed improvement from this setup. Results depend on what is blocked, whether responses are eligible for compression, client support, page composition, CPU capacity, and the network path. Compare the same representative pages with the same client before and after a change. Record bytes transferred, page functionality, latency, and proxy resource use; describe the result as a measurement of that particular setup, not a universal promise.
Where to run the proxy
The proxy can run on an existing desktop, server, or other computer. A small always-on host is optional rather than a requirement: Raspberry Pi documents both headless computers controlled remotely over a network and network configuration for its devices. That makes a Raspberry Pi 5 one possible host, not a performance recommendation or a necessary purchase. See Raspberry Pi’s computer documentation and network configuration documentation.
Quick Recap
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