mullvadvpn-app: Secure and Private Mullvad VPN Client for Desktop and Mobile

Summary

The `mullvadvpn-app` is the official open-source client application for the Mullvad VPN service, designed for both desktop and mobile platforms. Developed by Mullvad VPN AB, this project is primarily written in Rust, with frontends built using Electron for desktop and native implementations for Android and iOS. It provides a secure, privacy-preserving VPN experience, supporting protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN, and is known for its strong emphasis on user anonymity and leak prevention.

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Introduction

The mullvadvpn-app is the official open-source client application for the Mullvad VPN service, designed for both desktop and mobile platforms. Developed by Mullvad VPN AB, this project is primarily written in Rust, with frontends built using Electron for desktop and native implementations for Android and iOS. It provides a secure, privacy-preserving VPN experience, supporting protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN, and is known for its strong emphasis on user anonymity and leak prevention.

Installation

To get started with the Mullvad VPN app source code, you'll need to clone the repository and initialize its submodules. Due to the presence of large, nested submodules, it's recommended to avoid a recursive clone.

git clone https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app.git
cd mullvadvpn-app
git submodule update --init

This ensures you have all necessary components for building the application. For detailed build instructions specific to each platform, refer to the project's BuildInstructions.md file.

Examples

The mullvadvpn-app supports building for various platforms.

Building the App:

For desktop platforms (macOS, Windows, Linux), follow the build instructions.
For Android, see the Android build instructions.
For iOS, refer to the iOS build instructions.

Electron App Development:
If you're developing the Electron frontend, you can use:

npm run develop

This command starts the app with live-reload enabled.

Environment Variables:
The daemon and desktop frontend utilize various environment variables for advanced configuration and debugging. For example, TALPID_FIREWALL_DEBUG can be used for firewall debugging, and MULLVAD_API_HOST for development builds. Detailed information on these variables and how to set them on different operating systems can be found in the repository's README.

Why Use

Choosing the Mullvad VPN app offers significant advantages for users prioritizing security and privacy. The project is built with a strong focus on preventing traffic leaks and ensuring user anonymity, with all settings defaulting to the most secure options.

Key reasons to consider this app include:

Robust Security: Features like WireGuard, quantum-resistant tunnels, and DAITA (Defense Against AI-Guided Traffic Analysis) ensure strong encryption and leak protection.
Privacy-Focused Design: Explicitly designed to preserve privacy, with detailed security documentation and default settings that prioritize user anonymity.
External Audits: The app undergoes regular external security audits and penetration tests, with results made public for full transparency.
Open Source: Licensed under GPL-3.0, the entire codebase is open for review, fostering trust and allowing community contributions.
Comprehensive Features: Includes split tunneling, custom DNS server support, content blockers, and multi-hop WireGuard.
Multi-Platform Support: Available across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS, providing a consistent experience.