Is Sock 5 Still the Best Proxy Option for Privacy and Speed? or How Reliable Is Sock 5 for Secure Bro

Depends on your threat model. Sock 5 hides your IP, but it’s not encrypted. So if someone’s snooping, they can see your traffic.

For casual use, it’s okay. But if you’re doing sketchy stuff, combine it with TLS (HTTPS) at least.

VPNs are overkill for some things, so sock 5 is a good middle ground.