@@ -34,6 +34,52 @@ With great defaults your privacy improves without any effort. And if you want to
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[ ![ Techlore] ( https://safing.io/assets/img//external/techlore.png )] ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8cTRhGtmcM )
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+ # Technical Introduction
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+ Portmaster is a privacy suite for your desktop OS.
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+
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+ ### Base Technology
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+
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+ - Portmaster integrates into network stack using nfqueue on Linux and a kernel driver (WFP) on Windows.
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+ - Packets are intercepted at the raw packet level - every packet is seen and can be stopped.
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+ - Ownership of connections are (currently) found via ` /proc ` on Linux and the IP Helper API (` iphlpapi.dll ` ) on Windows.
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+ - Most settings can be defined per app, which can be matched in different ways.
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+ - Support for special processes with weird or concealed paths/actors:
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+ - Snap, AppImage and Script support on Linux
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+ - Windows Store apps and svchost.exe system services support on Windows
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+ - Everything is 100% local on your device. (except the SPN, naturally)
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+ - Updates are fully signed and downloaded automatically.
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+ - Intelligence data (block lists, geoip) is downloaded and applied automatically.
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+ - The Portmaster Core Service runs as a system service, the UI elements (App, Notifier) run in user context.
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+ - The main UI still uses electron as a wrapper :/ - but this will change in the future. You can also open the UI in the browser
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+ ### Feature: Privacy Filter
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+ - Define allowed network scopes: Localhost, LAN, Internet, P2P, Inbound.
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+ - Easy rules based on Internet entities: Domain, IP, Country and more.
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+ - Filter Lists block common malware, ad, tracker domains etc.
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+
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+ ### Feature: Secure DNS
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+ - Portmaster intercepts "astray" DNS queries and reroutes them to itself for seamless integration.
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+ - DNS queries are resolved by the default or configured DoT/DoH resolvers.
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+ - Full support for split horizon and horizon validation to defend against rebinding attacks.
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+ ### Feature: Safing Privacy Network (SPN)
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+ - A Privacy Network aimed at use cases "between" VPN and Tor.
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+ - Uses onion encryption over multiple hops just like Tor.
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+ - Routes are chosen to cover most distance within the network to increase privacy.
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+ - Exits are chosen near the destination server. This automatically geo-unblocks in many cases.
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+ - Exclude apps and domains/entities from using SPN.
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+ - Change routing algorithm and focus per app.
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+ - Nodes are hosted by Safing (company behind Portmaster) and the community.
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+ - Speeds are pretty decent (>100MBit/s).
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+ #### Further Readings:
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+ - [ Portmaster Architecture Overview] ( https://docs.safing.io/portmaster/architecture/overview )
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+ - [ SPN Whitepaper] ( https://safing.io/files/whitepaper/Gate17.pdf )
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## Documentation
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