# Install killswitch with Homebrew VPN kill switch for macOS. Version 0.8.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-03. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:killswitch ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install killswitch ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:killswitch - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.8.3 - **Source summary:** VPN kill switch for macOS - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-03T23:07:00Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - killswitch (cli) - killswitch (alias) ## Build dependencies - rust ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.8.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-03 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/vpn-kill-switch/killswitch - Upstream latest detected: 0.8.3 (current) ## Project history and usage killswitch is a macOS VPN kill-switch CLI that uses the `pf` firewall to block outgoing traffic when the VPN tunnel disappears. ### Project history The GitHub repository was created in 2016, with a 0.7.0 GitHub release published on 2019-03-09. The README explains the core design: write temporary `pf` rules to `/tmp/killswitch.pf.conf`, load them with `pfctl`, and avoid modifying the system default `/etc/pf.conf`. ### Adoption history killswitch has narrower packaging than the other projects in this batch; the Homebrew formula documents it as a macOS VPN kill switch, and the project README focuses on local builds and root-required enable/disable commands. ### How it is used Users run `sudo killswitch -e` to enable firewall rules, `sudo killswitch -d` to disable and restore default rules, or `killswitch --print` to inspect rules before applying them. ### Why package nerds care killswitch is notable as a small packageable security utility that exposes macOS `pf` behavior through a single CLI, useful for users who want a provider-independent VPN leak guard rather than an application-specific setting. ### Timeline - 2016: vpn-kill-switch/killswitch repository created on GitHub. - 2019: 0.7.0 release published. - 2020: 0.7.1 and v0.7.2 releases published. - 2023: v0.7.3 release published. - 2026: 0.8.x releases published from February through April. ### Related projects - The README links the design to the Packet Filter firewall documented by FreeBSD and to macOS networking tools such as `pfctl`, `sysctl`, `netstat`, `scutil`, and `ifconfig`. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** killswitch - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Requirements:** macos - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Security and crypto packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/security-crypto-tools/) - Matched security, identity, cryptography, password, signing, or certificate metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [rust](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rust/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [strongswan](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/strongswan/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, network-security, security, vpn. - [arpoison](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/arpoison/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, network-security, security. - [bettercap](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bettercap/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, network-security, security. - [cryfs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cryfs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, privacy, security. - [easy-rsa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/easy-rsa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, security, vpn. - [ettercap](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ettercap/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, network-security, security. - [fail2ban](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fail2ban/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, firewall, security. - [fragroute](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fragroute/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, network-security, security. - [fwknop](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fwknop/) - Security-sensitive metadata or terminology overlaps. Shared terms: cli, firewall, network, network-security, security. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/killswitch.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/killswitch.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph