Using Tinyproxy To Route Traffic Through Android Tethering

In scenarios where you must forward web requests through a mobile hotspot Tinyproxy offers a minimalistic yet powerful approach Tinyproxy is a simple, lightweight HTTP proxy server that runs on Linux systems making it perfect for aging hardware repurposed as a network gateway



By integrating it with your Android device’s mobile sharing feature you establish a filtered, private gateway for networked devices to access mobile data



Start by configuring your phone’s connection sharing options Your options include USB-based sharing or wireless hotspot creation USB tethering is often preferred because it’s more stable and doesn’t require additional wireless configuration Your machine will automatically obtain an IP from the Android device’s network You can check this with the ifconfig or ip addr command to confirm the connection



Begin by adding Tinyproxy via your system’s package manager For Debian-based systems, run sudo apt-get install tinyproxy tinyproxy.conf You must configure these essential parameters



Configure Listen to bind to your LAN-facing interface’s static or DHCP IP Update Allow to include your LAN range, e.g., 192.168.0.0 You may also want to set the Port to 8888, which is the default, or choose another if needed Set LogLevel to Info for balanced visibility and minimal log noise



Apply your configuration by restarting the service via sudo systemctl restart tinyproxy Your Linux box now serves as an intermediary, relaying web requests through your phone’s data link



On other devices, set the HTTP proxy to your Linux server’s IP and configured port



This setup is especially useful in environments where you need to monitor or filter web traffic or when you want to share a mobile connection without exposing your phone’s hotspot directly Useful for evading content filters in cafes, schools, or workplaces through your phone’s cellular link



Remember that Tinyproxy only handles HTTP and HTTPS traffic by default Extend functionality using tools like Squid, Polipo, or SSH dynamic forwarding Be aware that your cellular data allowance still applies—track usage via your carrier app



This combo offers an affordable, energy-efficient way to centralize mobile internet access Easy to configure, self-sustaining, and puts you in charge of every request’s path