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LittleSnitch for Linux

obdev.at

411–420 of 489 posts

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>attention to detail Why does LittleSnitch (Mac) pre-resolve IP addresses, before user presses Accept/Deny? IMHO DNS queries shouldn't initiate without user input.

Little Snitch is bound to the API provided by Apple. The NEFilterDataProvider API calls `handleNewFlow()` only after sending out the first IP packet. Version 6 added DNS encryption and in principle we could filter lookups (similar to PiHole) at this level. That brings other issues, though: This filter is system-wide, so process-specific rules (and overrides) would not work. And results can be cached by mDNSResponder.…

>in principle we could filter lookups

I've been telling people about ya'll's DNS leaks for over a decade [3] — glad to finally hear back — most people won't believe me [0] until this flaw is demonstrated on their specific machine (easy enough). Those already using LittleSnitch will then typically set up better filtering (e.g. DNS white/blacklist, PiHole, et.alius).

And until the behavior is fixed, I will keep spreading the good word. Does the Linux version have this same flaw (i.e. backend requirements similar to Mac initial IP leak)?

----

A very neat product (LittleSnitch), but I stopped using it solely for above reason [1]. IMHO, this flaw should be better documented in your installer/docs.

[0] e.g. they'll lament "there is no way the developer would allow that sort of leak/behavior!" Their denial is a helluvadrug

[1] I had a 5-user site license, IIRC. Shortly after purchasing, I discovered above leakage so stopped using entirely [v3 user 33TEWP20B0-724KY-5XE522FEAC [2]]

[2] Go ahead and blacklist/cancel the above registration (it's a manyyearsold version, barely used) – my current mailing address is in my user profile (no longer use email/phone). Would love to help/feedback to make your product better. Would also love a refund (all these years later, on principle)

[3] e.g: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35363343> (/hn/2023)

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#412
post #84
post #3

How does it compare to opensnitch? https://github.com/evilsocket/opensnitch

I just tried littlesnitch and it did not resolve very many ips to domains, which is pretty basic. It also failed to identify most processes, and they were grouped under "Not Identified". It appears these are known limitations of the Linux version [1]. So for that alone I need to stick with opensnitch. [1] "Little Snitch for Linux is built for privacy, not security, and that distinction matters. The macOS version can…

I wonder why LS can't be given access to systemd resolved stub resolver to get all my DNS lookups.

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#413
post #6

I remember before Little Snitch there was ZoneAlarm for Windows[0] (here is a good screenshot[1]). No clue if the current version of ZoneAlarm does anything like that (have not used it in 2 decades). I always found it weird that Linux never really had anything like it. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZoneAlarm [1]: https://d2nwkt1g6n1fev.cloudfront.net/helpmax/wp-content/upl...

> I always found it weird that Linux never really had anything like it.

OpenSnitch must be like ten years old by now. I think also portmaster is somewhat similar too.

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

WinAmp skins. Alternate shells for Windows(!). Cygwin because I still played too many games to go full Linux. Yeah...

btw all versions of WinAmp + skins still work great in 2026 even on Win11 :)

It still whips the llama's ass.

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#415
post #167

I know it sounds crazy at this point, but with popular YouTubers switching to Linux, gamers overall well-aware of Steam on Linux advantages and switching as well, plus popular software like LittleSnitch getting ported, 2026 can without irony be named as Year of Linux Desktop, right?

The year of the Linux Desktop will always be $CURRENT_YEAR + 1

I did the switch in 2013 and haven't missed it. For games I ran vga_passthrough and later VFIO and others until pretty recently (I think right after covid I switched to steam directly on linux)

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#416
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just tried littlesnitch and it did not resolve very many ips to domains, which is pretty basic. It also failed to identify most processes, and they were grouped under "Not Identified". It appears these are known limitations of the Linux version [1]. So for that alone I need to stick with opensnitch. [1] "Little Snitch for Linux is built for privacy, not security, and that distinction matters. The macOS version can…

Regarding unidentified processes: Little Snitch daemon must have been running when the process started in order to identify it reliably. It's best to reboot after installation so that Little Snitch starts before everything else. I should probably note this somewhere. And regarding failed reverse DNS names: Little Snitch is sniffing DNS lookups. If lookups are encrypted, there is little it can do. We usually recommend…

I'm curious, why not do things like the DNS look-up from userspace?

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#417
post #6

I remember before Little Snitch there was ZoneAlarm for Windows[0] (here is a good screenshot[1]). No clue if the current version of ZoneAlarm does anything like that (have not used it in 2 decades). I always found it weird that Linux never really had anything like it. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZoneAlarm [1]: https://d2nwkt1g6n1fev.cloudfront.net/helpmax/wp-content/upl...

> I always found it weird that Linux never really had anything like it. OpenSnitch must be like ten years old by now. I think also portmaster is somewhat similar too.

ZoneAlarm, assuming it still exists, would be at least 20 years old.

Back then there was also a nice ~$15 program called Net Limiter which allowed one to cap network speeds individually per program.

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#418
post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did the "attention to detail" phrase come from devs or you?

From me. OD is a great dev firm. Do you understand my statement?

>OD is a great dev firm

Please see my response to OD [I presume /u/littlesnitch is OD representative]. Nobody is disputing their "greatness" — I'm just criticizing a flaw in their approach to domain name filtering.

Hopefully OD will refund my original license (unused for many many many years, after I discovered this flaw). That would be good, in principle; good business. Hopefully OD will be more forthcoming in this vulnerability (or better disclose it) — or better yet: fix the unbelievable behavior.

Re: LittleSnitch for Linux

#419
post #398
post #167

I know it sounds crazy at this point, but with popular YouTubers switching to Linux, gamers overall well-aware of Steam on Linux advantages and switching as well, plus popular software like LittleSnitch getting ported, 2026 can without irony be named as Year of Linux Desktop, right?

kde linux may make it happen. that and command line agents that help people fix their systems.

It’s definitely what converted me (steamOS first real experience, then mint, pop, and now bazzite)
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