# Safing

> privacy-focused VPN provider and developer of Portmaster firewall software

**Wikidata**: [Q131704334](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131704334)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/safing

## Summary
Safing is an Austria-based software company and open-source developer known for creating the Portmaster firewall software and providing a privacy-focused Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. Operating legally as Safing ICS Technologies GmbH, the company was acquired by the privacy provider IVPN on December 3, 2024.

## Key Facts
- **Legal Name**: Safing ICS Technologies GmbH (also known as Safing ICS Technologies).
- **Ownership**: Acquired by IVPN on December 3, 2024.
- **Headquarters**: Austria.
- **Core Products**: Portmaster firewall software and a privacy-focused VPN service.
- **Developer Status**: Open-source developer.
- **Website License**: Content licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
- **Source Code**: Hosted publicly on GitHub (username: safing).
- **Social Media**: Active on Mastodon (`safing@fosstodon.org`) since April 14, 2023.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Safing?
A: Safing is an Austrian software company that develops open-source privacy tools, primarily the Portmaster firewall, and operates a VPN service focused on user privacy.

### Q: Who owns Safing?
A: As of December 3, 2024, Safing is owned by IVPN, a company renowned for its privacy-focused VPN services.

### Q: What is Portmaster?
A: Portmaster is a firewall software developed by Safing. It is designed to give users control over their network traffic and enhance privacy.

### Q: Is Safing open-source?
A: Yes, Safing is an open-source developer. Its website and software repositories are publicly accessible, with content often shared under Creative Commons licenses.

## Why It Matters
Safing occupies a critical niche in the cybersecurity landscape by developing tools that prioritize user sovereignty over network data. Unlike standard VPN providers that primarily encrypt traffic, Safing’s development of Portmaster addresses the need for deep, local network monitoring and control. This allows users to visualize and block unwanted connections directly from their devices, closing security gaps that traditional VPNs might miss.

The company's commitment to open-source development is a significant differentiator in the privacy sector, fostering trust through transparency. By allowing public scrutiny of its code and licensing its content under Creative Commons, Safing aligns itself with the ethical standards of the digital rights movement. The acquisition by IVPN in late 2024 highlights the strategic value of Safing’s technology, potentially signaling a new era of integrated privacy suites that combine VPN encryption with advanced firewall capabilities to offer comprehensive protection against surveillance and data leakage.

## Notable For
- **Integrated Privacy Stack**: Developing both a firewall (Portmaster) and a VPN service, offering a dual-layer defense.
- **Open Source Transparency**: Maintaining open-source repositories for its tools, ensuring code transparency.
- **Strategic Acquisition**: Being acquired by IVPN, a notable competitor in the privacy space, suggesting consolidation of privacy-first technologies.
- **Ethical Licensing**: Licensing its digital content under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
- **Decentralized Engagement**: Prioritizing decentralized social platforms like Mastodon for official communications.

## Body

### Corporate Identity and Ownership
Safing operates as a software company within the software industry, legally registered as Safing ICS Technologies GmbH. The entity is classified as an open-source developer and a virtual private network service provider. It is headquartered in Austria.

On December 3, 2024, Safing was acquired by IVPN. This strategic move links Safing's development of firewall technology with IVPN's established VPN infrastructure.

### Technical Portfolio
Safing is primarily recognized for **Portmaster**, a firewall software designed to secure operating systems by monitoring and controlling network traffic. Alongside this software, Safing functions as a VPN service provider, focusing on privacy-centric connectivity solutions. These tools aim to prevent data leaks and unauthorized tracking.

### Digital Footprint and Licensing
The company maintains a transparent online presence. Its official website is accessible in English at https://safing.io/. The content on this site is explicitly licensed under **Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International**, permitting sharing and adaptation with appropriate credit.

Safing’s development operations are hosted on GitHub under the username `safing`. The repository for their official website is available at `https://github.com/safing/web`. The company also maintains a presence on the Fediverse via Mastodon (`safing@fosstodon.org`), where it has been active since April 14, 2023.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.ivpn.net/blog/ivpn-acquires-safing-portmaster-spn-network/)
2. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/safing/web)