🛡️ Portmaster
Portmaster is an open source firewall that does the hard part for you -- managing connections to/from your computer.
Portmaster (Code) created by Safing is a GUI-driven F/OSS firewall that protects your computer by controlling and monitoring all network access (in and out).
Firewalls have long been used by companies to protect their networks and computers, and while consumers have some choices and protection given via their Routers (usually), F/OSS solutions that provide single-computer firewalls are often hard to find and sometimes hard to use.
🌠 Features
Portmaster spells out it's features quite clearly:
- Monitor all network activity (in and out)
- Limit bandwidth usage, even down to the application
- Block trackers and malware
- Record network activity
There are many more features, and Safing has spelled them out online:
🤖 As described by AI
Safing Portmaster is a privacy-focused application designed to give users control over their network connections. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows individuals to monitor, block, and manage all incoming and outgoing internet traffic on their devices. With features such as detailed connection logs, customizable firewall rules, and automated blocking of unwanted connections, Portmaster enhances security and privacy by ensuring only authorized data is transmitted. The application operates at the network level, offering comprehensive oversight of online activities and enabling users to protect their personal information from tracking and surveillance.
One of the key aspects of Safing Portmaster is its emphasis on transparency and ease of use. It offers real-time insights into network traffic, allowing users to see which applications are communicating over the internet and what data is being sent or received. This level of visibility helps users identify and prevent unauthorized access and data leaks. Additionally, Portmaster is designed to be accessible to users with varying technical expertise, with straightforward setup processes and clear, actionable information. By empowering users with tools to safeguard their online privacy, Safing Portmaster serves as a robust solution for maintaining digital security in an increasingly interconnected world.
📺 Watch this
Safing has it's own YouTube channel where they post videos. You can watch their intro to see how to get started:
Ken Harris on YouTube has a great overview of using Portmaster on Windows:
Don't worry, Portmaster also works on Linux:
👟 Getting started
Since Portmaster requires access to the machine's network, Docker doesn't quite help us here (though you could absolutely pass through root level network access).
Installing Portmaster comes down to either building and installing the project, or using one of the pre-existing installers, for either Windows or Linux:
In general:
- on Windows you can download the installer
- on Linux you can use either a
.deb,.rpm, binary, orcurl | bashdownload methods
🧑💻 Want to contribute?
Portmaster is an GLPv3 licensed project - it's open to contributions and is fully F/OSS, with a corporate effort behind it which means it's likely to last long into the future.
If you're interested in getting involved, check out the public issue tracker:
safingPortmaster has an excellent ratio of open to closed issues – it seems to be a well run open source project.
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