Murtaza Aliakbar: FOSS Projects & Maintainer Insights

by Alex Johnson 54 views

Meet Murtaza Aliakbar, a dedicated contributor to the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community. This article delves into Murtaza's work, projects, and perspectives as a maintainer, offering a comprehensive profile for those interested in FOSS and the individuals driving it. From network security apps to serverless DNS solutions, Murtaza's contributions span a wide range of critical areas in the tech world. Let's explore his journey, projects, and the valuable lessons he's learned along the way.

Your Details: Meet Murtaza Aliakbar

Murtaza Aliakbar, also known as ignoramous, is a Customer Service professional with a strong passion for open-source projects. His online presence is marked by active contributions to various platforms, showcasing his commitment to the FOSS community. You can find him on:

Murtaza's projects reflect his interest in network security and privacy, making him a notable figure in the FOSS landscape. His work aims to provide accessible and robust solutions for users concerned about censorship and surveillance. His designation as a Customer Service professional complements his ability to understand user needs and translate them into effective software solutions.

Projects: A Showcase of Innovation

Murtaza's portfolio includes several impactful projects, each designed to address specific challenges in network security and privacy. Here’s a closer look at some of his key contributions:

Rethink DNS + Firewall

Rethink DNS + Firewall is a standout project, embodying Murtaza's dedication to network security on Android devices. This app combines several critical functionalities into a single tool, offering users comprehensive control over their network traffic. At its core, Rethink DNS + Firewall integrates a WireGuard client, ensuring secure and encrypted connections. This is crucial for users looking to protect their data from prying eyes, especially on public Wi-Fi networks. The WireGuard protocol is known for its speed and security, making it an ideal choice for mobile devices.

Beyond VPN capabilities, Rethink DNS + Firewall includes a firewall inspired by OpenSnitch, a popular Linux-based firewall. This feature allows users to monitor and control network access on an app-by-app basis, preventing unauthorized data transmission. This granular control is essential for maintaining privacy and preventing malicious apps from sending data without consent. The firewall component provides real-time insights into network activity, empowering users to make informed decisions about their device's connections.

Additionally, Rethink DNS + Firewall incorporates a DNS over HTTPS (DoH), DNS over TLS (DoT), and DNSCrypt client, similar to pi-hole. These technologies encrypt DNS queries, preventing eavesdropping and ensuring that your internet browsing activity remains private. The inclusion of blocklists further enhances security by blocking access to known malicious domains and trackers. This multi-layered approach makes Rethink DNS + Firewall a powerful tool for safeguarding your online privacy and security.

Firestack

Firestack is another significant project in Murtaza's repertoire, focusing on userspace network filtering and proxying. This tool is designed to provide advanced control over network traffic on Android devices. Firestack functions as a userspace TCP/UDP monitor, firewall, DNS resolver, and WireGuard client, making it a versatile solution for network management. The project leverages gVisor/netstack, which provides a SOCKS-like interface for TCP and UDP over a TUN device. This allows Firestack to operate efficiently and securely within the Android environment.

One of Firestack's key features is its support for various DNS protocols, including DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, Oblivious DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS over WireGuard / SOCKS5 / Tor, DNSCrypt, and plain old DNS upstreams. This extensive support ensures that users have the flexibility to choose the DNS protocol that best suits their needs and security preferences. The ability to use DNS over WireGuard, Tor, and other secure transports makes Firestack a powerful tool for bypassing censorship and maintaining privacy.

Firestack’s comprehensive feature set makes it an invaluable tool for users who need fine-grained control over their network connections. Whether you're looking to bypass network restrictions, enhance your privacy, or simply monitor your network traffic, Firestack provides the necessary tools to do so effectively. The project's focus on security and flexibility aligns with Murtaza's broader commitment to empowering users with control over their digital lives.

Serverless DNS

Serverless DNS represents a forward-thinking approach to DNS resolution, leveraging serverless computing platforms to provide a robust and scalable solution. This project is designed as a Pi-Hole esque content-blocking, serverless, stub DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) resolver. By deploying on platforms like Cloudflare Workers, Deno Deploy, Fastly Compute@Edge, and Fly.io, Serverless DNS offers a highly available and cost-effective DNS resolution service.

The serverless architecture allows Serverless DNS to scale automatically to handle varying levels of traffic, ensuring reliable performance even during peak times. The project’s compatibility with multiple serverless platforms gives users the flexibility to choose the provider that best fits their needs and budget. The free tiers offered by these services are often sufficient to cover the DNS traffic for 10 to 20 devices per month, making Serverless DNS an accessible option for individuals and small organizations.

Serverless DNS also includes content-blocking capabilities, allowing users to filter out unwanted content such as ads and trackers. This feature enhances privacy and improves the browsing experience by reducing clutter and preventing the loading of malicious content. The project’s integration with DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) ensures that DNS queries are encrypted, protecting them from eavesdropping and tampering. Serverless DNS exemplifies Murtaza’s commitment to creating innovative solutions that leverage modern technologies to address real-world challenges in network security and privacy.

Questions: Insights from a FOSS Maintainer

Murtaza's perspective on FOSS maintenance offers valuable insights for both aspiring and seasoned developers. Here are some key takeaways from his experiences:

How to Support

Murtaza welcomes contributions from developers with a focus on security. This includes integrating Indicators of Compromise, improving supply chain security, enhancing app/component security, implementing new user-facing network security features, writing fuzzers, and integrating runtime hardware attestations. These areas are critical for ensuring the robustness and trustworthiness of FOSS projects. For those with content and multimedia skills, Murtaza seeks help with audio/video/text documentation, guides, and tutorials for the Rethink DNS + Firewall app. High-quality documentation is essential for making FOSS projects accessible to a wider audience.

For those who want to contribute but have limited time, Murtaza suggests sponsoring the project. Financial support can help sustain development efforts and ensure the long-term viability of FOSS initiatives. This multifaceted approach to support highlights the diverse ways individuals can contribute to the FOSS community, whether through coding, content creation, or financial contributions.

A Small Brief About Your Project

Murtaza succinctly describes his projects as anti-censorship & anti-surveillance tools for 3 billion Android users. This mission-driven approach underscores the significance of his work in the context of global internet freedom and privacy. By targeting Android users, Murtaza's projects aim to impact a vast audience, providing essential tools for secure and unrestricted access to information. This clear and compelling vision is a driving force behind his dedication to FOSS.

One FOSS Maintainer Lesson for Your Younger Self

Murtaza's advice to his younger self is both humorous and insightful: Buy the best laptop AI you can afford. This reflects the increasing importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning in software development. Investing in powerful tools, including AI-driven solutions, can significantly enhance productivity and innovation in FOSS projects. The playful tone of this advice underscores the evolving landscape of software development and the need to embrace new technologies.

Why Do You Do It? Why Do You Bother Maintaining a FOSS Project?

Murtaza's motivation for maintaining FOSS projects is deeply personal: I wanted the software for myself. It needed to exist. Thanks to God Copilot, now it does. This highlights the intrinsic drive that often fuels FOSS contributors. Many FOSS projects originate from a developer's own need for a particular tool or solution. The availability of tools like Copilot, which assists with code generation, has further empowered individuals to create and maintain complex software projects. Murtaza’s response reflects a blend of self-interest and a desire to contribute to the broader community by making his software available to others.

If Your Repo Had a Theme Song, What Would It Be?

Murtaza chooses Azadi by Dub Sharma as the theme song for his repo, https://youtu.be/TCRHm1pmzCI. This song, whose title translates to