How can I connect to a Tor hidden service using cURL in PHP?

Connecting to a Tor Hidden Service using cURL in PHP: A Guide 👥🔗

So you want to connect to a Tor hidden service using cURL in PHP, huh? 🌐 Well, you're not alone. Many people have faced the same issue and have been left scratching their heads. But fear not! We're here to help you understand and solve this problem. Let's dive in! 🏊‍♂️

The Issue: "Couldn't resolve host name" 💔🌐

When trying to connect to a Tor hidden service using the provided PHP code, you encountered the dreaded error message: "Couldn't resolve host name." 😩 This error basically means that cURL or PHP is unable to resolve the hostname of the hidden service.

Why it Works on Command Line and Not in PHP 🤔💻

The reason the command line version works is because Tor (the proxy) is resolving the .onion hostname, which it recognizes. However, when running the PHP code, cURL or PHP attempts to resolve the .onion hostname itself and fails in the process.

Solution: Let the Proxy Resolve the Hostname 🙌✅

To solve this issue, we need to tell cURL or PHP to let the proxy (in this case, Tor) resolve the hostname. Luckily, there is an option in cURL called CURLOPT_PROXYTYPE that we can use.

Here's an updated version of the PHP code with the necessary modifications: 🖥️🔧

$url = 'http://jhiwjjlqpyawmpjx.onion/';
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_PROXY, "http://127.0.0.1:9050/");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_PROXYTYPE, CURLPROXY_SOCKS5_HOSTNAME); // Updated option
$output = curl_exec($ch);
$curl_error = curl_error($ch);
curl_close($ch);

print_r($output);
print_r($curl_error);

Notice the new line: curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_PROXYTYPE, CURLPROXY_SOCKS5_HOSTNAME);. By using CURLPROXY_SOCKS5_HOSTNAME, we explicitly tell cURL to let the proxy resolve the hostname for us. 🌐✨

Testing Your Connection 🧪✨

To test your connection, save the updated PHP code and give it a whirl! If everything goes smoothly, you should see the response from the Tor hidden service printed out. 🎉🖨️

Still Struggling? Stack Overflow to the Rescue! 🆘📚

If you're still facing difficulties, don't worry! We've got your back. Head over to this Stack Overflow question that tackles a very similar issue: cURL request using socks5 proxy fails when using PHP, but it works through the command line. There, you may find additional insights and solutions to your problem. 🤝📖

Engage and Share! 📣🤝

Now that you've learned how to connect to a Tor hidden service using cURL in PHP, it's time to put your knowledge into action! Try out the solution and let us know how it worked for you. Feel free to share this guide with your friends and colleagues who might find it helpful. Together, we can conquer any tech problem! 🙌🚀

Stay curious, stay connected! 🌐🔗✨