SpotProxy: Rediscovering the Cloud for Censorship Circumvention

Explore a 14-minute conference presentation from USENIX Security '24 that introduces SpotProxy, an innovative approach to cloud-based censorship circumvention. Learn how researchers from multiple institutions leverage Spot VMs and cloud features to create a cost-effective and resilient proxy infrastructure. Discover how SpotProxy utilizes excess cloud resources at reduced costs while automatically migrating between different IP addresses to avoid censorship blocking. Understand the technical implementation involving Wireguard and Snowflake adaptations, which enables seamless client transitions between proxies without compromising performance or connection stability. Examine how the system's continuous search for cheaper VMs and fleet refreshment mechanisms contribute to both cost savings and enhanced circumvention capabilities.