diff --git a/proxychain/ruleset/rule_test.go b/proxychain/ruleset/rule_test.go
index 98f7bc9..6829350 100644
--- a/proxychain/ruleset/rule_test.go
+++ b/proxychain/ruleset/rule_test.go
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ requestmodifications:
 	if len(rule.RequestModifications) != 1 {
 		t.Errorf("expected number of RequestModifications to be 1, got %d", len(rule.RequestModifications))
 	}
-	fmt.Println(rule.RequestModifications[0].Name)
 }
 
 func TestRuleMarshalYAML(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset.go b/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset.go
index 499f0ad..8475488 100644
--- a/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset.go
+++ b/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset.go
@@ -1,7 +1,18 @@
 package ruleset_v2
 
 import (
+	"compress/gzip"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type IRuleset interface {
@@ -14,19 +25,234 @@ type Ruleset struct {
 	rules       map[string]Rule
 }
 
-func (rs Ruleset) GetRule(url url.URL) (rule Rule, exists bool) {
+func (rs Ruleset) GetRule(url *url.URL) (rule Rule, exists bool) {
 	rule, exists = rs.rules[url.Hostname()]
 	return rule, exists
 }
 
-func (rs Ruleset) HasRule(url url.URL) bool {
+func (rs Ruleset) HasRule(url *url.URL) bool {
 	_, exists := rs.GetRule(url)
 	return exists
 }
 
+// NewRuleset loads a new RuleSet from a path
 func NewRuleset(path string) (Ruleset, error) {
 	rs := Ruleset{
 		rulesetPath: path,
+		rules:       map[string]Rule{},
+	}
+
+	switch {
+	case strings.HasPrefix(path, "http://") || strings.HasPrefix(path, "https://"):
+		err := rs.loadRulesFromRemoteFile(path)
+		return rs, err
+	default:
+		err := rs.loadRulesFromLocalDir(path)
+		return rs, err
 	}
-	return rs, nil
+}
+
+// NewRulesetFromEnv creates a new RuleSet based on the RULESET environment variable.
+// It logs a warning and returns an empty RuleSet if the RULESET environment variable is not set.
+// If the RULESET is set but the rules cannot be loaded, it panics.
+func NewRulesetFromEnv() Ruleset {
+	rulesPath, ok := os.LookupEnv("RULESET")
+	if !ok {
+		log.Printf("WARN: No ruleset specified. Set the `RULESET` environment variable to load one for a better success rate.")
+		return Ruleset{}
+	}
+
+	ruleSet, err := NewRuleset(rulesPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println(err)
+	}
+
+	return ruleSet
+}
+
+// loadRulesFromLocalDir loads rules from a local directory specified by the path.
+// It walks through the directory, loading rules from YAML files.
+// Returns an error if the directory cannot be accessed
+// If there is an issue loading any file, it will be skipped
+func (rs *Ruleset) loadRulesFromLocalDir(path string) error {
+	_, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("loadRulesFromLocalDir: invalid path - %s", err)
+	}
+
+	err = filepath.Walk(path, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if info.IsDir() {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		isYAML := filepath.Ext(path) == "yaml" || filepath.Ext(path) == "yml"
+		if !isYAML {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		err = rs.loadRulesFromLocalFile(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("WARN: failed to load directory ruleset '%s': %s, skipping", path, err)
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		log.Printf("INFO: loaded ruleset %s\n", path)
+
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// loadRulesFromLocalFile loads rules from a local YAML file specified by the path.
+// Returns an error if the file cannot be read or if there's a syntax error in the YAML.
+func (rs *Ruleset) loadRulesFromLocalFile(path string) error {
+	yamlFile, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		e := fmt.Errorf("failed to read rules from local file: '%s'", path)
+		return errors.Join(e, err)
+	}
+
+	rule := Rule{}
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal(yamlFile, &rule)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		e := fmt.Errorf("failed to load rules from local file, possible syntax error in '%s' - %s", path, err)
+		ee := errors.Join(e, err)
+		debugPrintRule(string(yamlFile), ee)
+		return ee
+	}
+
+	for _, domain := range rule.Domains {
+		rs.rules[domain] = rule
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(domain, "www.") {
+			rs.rules["www."+domain] = rule
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// loadRulesFromRemoteFile loads rules from a remote URL.
+// It supports plain and gzip compressed content.
+// Returns an error if there's an issue accessing the URL or if there's a syntax error in the YAML.
+func (rs *Ruleset) loadRulesFromRemoteFile(rulesURL string) error {
+	rule := Rule{}
+
+	resp, err := http.Get(rulesURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load rules from remote url '%s' - %s", rulesURL, err)
+	}
+
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
+	if resp.StatusCode >= 400 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load rules from remote url (%s) on '%s' - %s", resp.Status, rulesURL, err)
+	}
+
+	var reader io.Reader
+
+	// in case remote server did not set content-encoding gzip header
+	isGzip := strings.HasSuffix(rulesURL, ".gz") || strings.HasSuffix(rulesURL, ".gzip")
+	if isGzip {
+		reader, err = gzip.NewReader(resp.Body)
+
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create gzip reader for URL '%s' with status code '%s': %w", rulesURL, resp.Status, err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		reader = resp.Body
+	}
+
+	err = yaml.NewDecoder(reader).Decode(&rule)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load rules from remote url '%s' with status code '%s' and possible syntax error - %s", rulesURL, resp.Status, err)
+	}
+
+	if rs.rules == nil {
+		fmt.Println("nilmap")
+		rs.rules = make(map[string]Rule)
+	}
+
+	for _, domain := range rule.Domains {
+		rs.rules[domain] = rule
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(domain, "www.") {
+			rs.rules["www."+domain] = rule
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ================= utility methods ==========================
+
+// Yaml returns the ruleset as a Yaml string
+func (rs *Ruleset) Yaml() (string, error) {
+	y, err := yaml.Marshal(rs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	return string(y), nil
+}
+
+// GzipYaml returns an io.Reader that streams the Gzip-compressed YAML representation of the RuleSet.
+func (rs *Ruleset) GzipYaml() (io.Reader, error) {
+	pr, pw := io.Pipe()
+
+	go func() {
+		defer pw.Close()
+
+		gw := gzip.NewWriter(pw)
+		defer gw.Close()
+
+		if err := yaml.NewEncoder(gw).Encode(rs); err != nil {
+			gw.Close() // Ensure to close the gzip writer
+			pw.CloseWithError(err)
+			return
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return pr, nil
+}
+
+// Domains extracts and returns a slice of all domains present in the RuleSet.
+func (rs *Ruleset) Domains() []string {
+	var domains []string
+	for domain := range rs.rules {
+		domains = append(domains, domain)
+	}
+	return domains
+}
+
+// DomainCount returns the count of unique domains present in the RuleSet.
+func (rs *Ruleset) DomainCount() int {
+	return len(rs.Domains())
+}
+
+// Count returns the total number of rules in the RuleSet.
+func (rs *Ruleset) Count() int {
+	return len(rs.rules)
+}
+
+// PrintStats logs the number of rules and domains loaded in the RuleSet.
+func (rs *Ruleset) PrintStats() {
+	log.Printf("INFO: Loaded %d rules for %d domains\n", rs.Count(), rs.DomainCount())
+}
+
+// debugPrintRule is a utility function for printing a rule and associated error for debugging purposes.
+func debugPrintRule(rule string, err error) {
+	fmt.Println("------------------------------ BEGIN DEBUG RULESET -----------------------------")
+	fmt.Printf("%s\n", err.Error())
+	fmt.Println("--------------------------------------------------------------------------------")
+	fmt.Println(rule)
+	fmt.Println("------------------------------ END DEBUG RULESET -------------------------------")
 }
diff --git a/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset_test.go b/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cec8285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proxychain/ruleset/ruleset_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+package ruleset_v2
+
+import (
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+var (
+	validYAML = `
+domains:
+- example.com
+- www.example.com
+responsemodifications:
+- name: APIContent
+  params: []
+- name: SetContentSecurityPolicy
+  params:
+  - foobar
+- name: SetIncomingCookie
+  params:
+  - authorization-bearer
+  - hunter2
+requestmodifications:
+- name: ForwardRequestHeaders
+  params: []
+`
+
+	invalidYAML = `
+domains:
+- example.com
+- www.example.com
+responsemodifications:
+- name: APIContent
+- name: SetContentSecurityPolicy
+- name: INVALIDSetIncomingCookie
+  params:
+  - authorization-bearer
+  - hunter2
+requestmodifications:
+- name: ForwardRequestHeaders
+  params: []
+`
+)
+
+func TestLoadRulesFromRemoteFile(t *testing.T) {
+	app := fiber.New()
+	defer app.Shutdown()
+
+	app.Get("/valid-config.yml", func(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
+		c.SendString(validYAML)
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	app.Get("/invalid-config.yml", func(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
+		c.SendString(invalidYAML)
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	app.Get("/valid-config.gz", func(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
+		c.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+
+		rs, err := loadRuleFromString(validYAML)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("failed to load valid yaml from string: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+
+		s, err := rs.GzipYaml()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("failed to load gzip serialize yaml: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+
+		err = c.SendStream(s)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("failed to stream gzip serialized yaml: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// Start the server in a goroutine
+	go func() {
+		if err := app.Listen("127.0.0.1:9999"); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Server failed to start: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// Wait for the server to start
+	time.Sleep(time.Second * 1)
+
+	rs, err := NewRuleset("http://127.0.0.1:9999/valid-config.yml")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("failed to load plaintext ruleset from http server: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	u, _ := url.Parse("http://example.com")
+	r, exists := rs.GetRule(u)
+	assert.True(t, exists, "expected example.com rule to be present")
+	assert.Equal(t, r.Domains[0], "example.com")
+
+	u, _ = url.Parse("http://www.www.example.com")
+	_, exists = rs.GetRule(u)
+	assert.False(t, exists, "expected www.www.example.com rule to NOT be present")
+
+	rs, err = NewRuleset("http://127.0.0.1:9999/valid-config.gz")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("failed to load gzipped ruleset from http server: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	r, exists = rs.GetRule(u)
+	assert.Equal(t, r.Domains[0], "example.com")
+
+	os.Setenv("RULESET", "http://127.0.0.1:9999/valid-config.gz")
+
+	rs = NewRulesetFromEnv()
+	r, exists = rs.GetRule(u)
+	assert.True(t, exists, "expected example.com rule to be present")
+	if !assert.Equal(t, r.Domains[0], "example.com") {
+		t.Error("expected no errors loading ruleset from gzip url using environment variable, but got one")
+	}
+}
+
+func loadRuleFromString(yaml string) (Ruleset, error) {
+	// Create a temporary file and load it
+	tmpFile, _ := os.CreateTemp("", "ruleset*.yaml")
+
+	defer os.Remove(tmpFile.Name())
+
+	tmpFile.WriteString(yaml)
+
+	rs := Ruleset{}
+	err := rs.loadRulesFromLocalFile(tmpFile.Name())
+
+	return rs, err
+}
+
+// TestLoadRulesFromLocalFile tests the loading of rules from a local YAML file.
+func TestLoadRulesFromLocalFile(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := loadRuleFromString(validYAML)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to load rules from valid YAML: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = loadRuleFromString(invalidYAML)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("Expected an error when loading invalid YAML, but got none")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLoadRulesFromLocalDir tests the loading of rules from a local nested directory full of yaml rulesets
+func TestLoadRulesFromLocalDir(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a temporary directory
+	baseDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "ruleset_test")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create temporary directory: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	defer os.RemoveAll(baseDir)
+
+	// Create a nested subdirectory
+	nestedDir := filepath.Join(baseDir, "nested")
+	err = os.Mkdir(nestedDir, 0o755)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create nested directory: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a nested subdirectory
+	nestedTwiceDir := filepath.Join(nestedDir, "nestedTwice")
+	err = os.Mkdir(nestedTwiceDir, 0o755)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create twice-nested directory: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	testCases := []string{"test.yaml", "test2.yaml", "test-3.yaml", "test 4.yaml", "1987.test.yaml.yml", "foobar.example.com.yaml", "foobar.com.yml"}
+	for _, fileName := range testCases {
+		filePath := filepath.Join(nestedDir, "2x-"+fileName)
+		os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(validYAML), 0o644)
+
+		filePath = filepath.Join(nestedDir, fileName)
+		os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(validYAML), 0o644)
+
+		filePath = filepath.Join(baseDir, "base-"+fileName)
+		os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(validYAML), 0o644)
+	}
+
+	rs := Ruleset{}
+	err = rs.loadRulesFromLocalDir(baseDir)
+
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, rs.Count(), len(testCases)*3)
+}
diff --git a/proxychain/ruleset/todo.md b/proxychain/ruleset/todo.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d94d89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proxychain/ruleset/todo.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ruleset loading rule tests are failing; maybe concurrency issue with assigning to nil map?