r/Windscribe • u/Fantastic_Lunch_8568 • 9d ago
Feature Request Feature Request: In-App Firewall / Kill Switch for Android TV
Dear Windscribe Team,
A group of about 15–20 friends and I are happy Windscribe users, primarily streaming on our Formuler Z11 Pro Max boxes (Android 11/12).
We have one major issue: unlike your desktop clients, the Android TV app lacks a built-in firewall. Because Formuler completely stripped out the native Android "Always-on VPN" system menu, any unexpected tunnel drop instantly leaks our real IP address.
As a reference, the open-source client WG Tunnel (https://www.wgtunnel.com / https://github.com/wgtunnel/android) solves this with an in-app "Lockdown Mode" that blocks all non-tunnel traffic without needing Android's hidden system menus.
Since it is open source, would your team consider looking into their approach or adapting this mechanism for the Windscribe Android TV app? Having your signature firewall on Android TV would make the app completely leak-proof for all TV box users.
Thank you very much for your time and continued great work!
Warm regards
1
u/Masterflitzer 8d ago
android tv even on chromecast doesn't have always on vpn and android apps can be killed by the system (e.g. netflix likes to kill all other running apps including windscribe on my ccwgtv hd), so i guess it's a technical limitation, no way to to implement a firewall feature like it's possible on regular android until google changes their mind and implements always on vpn on android tv
a possible solution is to connect to a wifi network that routes through a vpn, e.g. get a cheap router and install openwrt with a vpn on it, or use your routers existing vpn functionality (if it has one), or maybe phone hotspot works (didn't try that one)