Portmaster SPN

The Portmaster SPN (Safing Privacy Network) is an open-source application that routes your traffic through a decentralized network of nodes rather than centralized corporate servers. Unlike traditional VPNs, it allows you to exit the internet from different locations simultaneously, applying rules per application. It also provides deep DNS filtering to block trackers and malicious domains locally on your machine.

While Portmaster offers incredibly strong local privacy, DNS filtering, and encrypted routing, it may not completely replace a commercial VPN for everyone. If you specifically need to reliably spoof your location to bypass strict geographic restrictions on streaming services like Netflix, a traditional VPN is often easier. Portmaster focuses more on systemic privacy and preventing network tracking than bypassing geo-blocks.

The Portmaster software is designed to run natively on Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems. Because it operates at the system level to intercept DNS queries and route network traffic, it requires these desktop environments to function properly. It is currently not available as a standalone mobile app for iOS or Android.

While the concept of a decentralized SPN is highly technical, the Portmaster application features a polished, user-friendly graphical interface. The dashboard clearly displays all network connections, allowing even casual users to see exactly what their apps are connecting to. Default settings are provided to easily block trackers and force DNS-over-TLS without needing to manually edit configuration files.