Surveillance Watch maps connections between surveillance companies, their funding sources, and affiliations.
Safing Portmaster
Monitor and block application network connections with Portmaster, a free, open-source firewall.
About Safing Portmaster
Portmaster is an application firewall for Windows and Linux that shows the network connections made by applications on a computer and lets the user block them. The homepage says it can display every connection an application makes in real time, and that unexpected or unwanted connections can be blocked one at a time or by rule. Blocking of ads and trackers is described as working at the DNS level across all applications, not only in a web browser.
Users can write their own rules. The homepage describes cutting an application off from the internet completely, blocking specific connection types, and restricting connections to certain countries, either for one app or globally. Downloads are listed for Windows (.exe) and for Debian/Ubuntu (.deb) and Fedora (.rpm) packages. The pricing is listed as paid.
Key features
- Real-time view of network connections made by each application
- Block unexpected connections individually or by rule
- DNS-level blocking of ads and trackers across all applications
- Custom rules and blocking of specific domains
- Cut off individual applications from the internet completely
- Restrict connections by type or by country, per app or globally
Best for: Users who want to see and control which applications on their own computer connect to the internet.
Good for
- Shows network connections from all applications, not only the browser
- Blocking can be set per connection, per rule, or per application
Watch out for
- Listed downloads cover Windows and specific Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora packages only
- Pricing is listed as paid, so cost is a factor for users comparing options
Safing Portmaster at a glance
- Website
- safing.io
- Category
- Privacy & Security › Privacy Guides
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Paid
- Platforms
- Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Safing Portmaster alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Agent DVR is cross-platform video surveillance software for cameras, with motion detection and remote monitoring; private local use is free.
Paid
8 alternatives
Explore resources from the No Trace Project about surveillance capabilities, privacy tools, and operational security.
The EFF Atlas of Surveillance provides a map and searchable data as part of an Electronic Frontier Foundation project.
ALPR Watch tracks local government meeting discussions about license plate readers, Flock cameras, facial recognition, and surveillance technology.
Tor's site describes online anonymity and tools for defending against tracking, surveillance, and censorship.
Popular in Privacy Guides
Well-known listings from the same topic.
PrivacySpyprivacyspy.orgEncrypted SNIcloudflare.com/ssl/encrypted-sniTeam Elitete-home.netDigital Defensedigital-defense.ioEncryptedListencryptedlist.xyzAwesome Privacyawesome-privacy.xyz
Safing Portmaster FAQ
Which operating systems are listed for download?
The homepage lists a Windows (.exe) download and Debian/Ubuntu (.deb) and Fedora (.rpm) packages.
Does ad and tracker blocking only work in the browser?
No. The homepage says blocking happens at the DNS level and applies across all applications, not just the browser.
Can connections be restricted by country?
Yes. The homepage says connections can be restricted to certain countries, either for each app or globally.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.