brace

Overview

Brace is a toolkit compatible with multiple existing Linux distributions that allows for a rapid installation of handpicked applications, along with corresponding configurations that have been fine-tuned for reasonable privacy and security.

Compatibility

• Arch Linux
• CentOS 9/Stream
• Debian 12
• Fedora 39/40/41 (preferred)
• openSUSE Tumbleweed

License

AGPL-3.0-or-later where applicable

Prebuilts

• Fedora via Divested-RPM: https://divested.dev/index.php?page=software#divested-release
• Fedora via CI: https://gitlab.com/divested/brace/-/jobs/artifacts/master/browse?job=build_rpm
• Arch via CI: https://gitlab.com/divested/brace/-/jobs/artifacts/master/browse?job=build_arch
• Debian via CI: https://gitlab.com/divested/brace/-/jobs/artifacts/master/browse?job=build_deb

Building

• git clone [THIS REPO]
• Arch Linux: makepkg
• CentOS: rpmbuild -ba brace.spec
• Debian: dpkg-deb --root-owner-group --build brace
• Fedora: rpmbuild -ba brace.spec

Contents

• /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/90-brace = apt: enable seccomp filter during package install
• /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-brace-* = GNOME/Cinnamon/MATE: change default settings
• /etc/dconf/profile/user = Fixup dconf overrides on select distros
• /etc/profile.d/brace-env-overrides.sh = profile: sets some environment overrides (eg. umask)
• /etc/profile.d/brace-helpers.sh = profile: adds helper aliases (eg. cleaning functions)
• /etc/tlp.d/00-brace.conf = TLP: allow for better power savings on AC too
• /usr/lib64/firefox/browser/defaults/preferences/userjs-*.js = Firefox: change default settings
  • /usr/lib64/firefox/distribution/policies.json
  • /usr/lib64/thunderbird/defaults/pref/userjs-*.js
• /etc/chromium/policies/managed/brace.json = Chromium: change default settings
  • /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/brace.json
• /usr/lib/modprobe.d/brace.conf = kernel: disable/block unsafe modules
• /usr/lib/modprobe.d/wireless-perf.conf = kernel: increase Wi-Fi performance for b43 and iwlwifi
• /usr/lib/NetworkManager/conf.d/30-nm-privacy.conf = NetworkManager: enables MAC randomization and IPv6 privacy extensions and disables connectivity checks
• /usr/lib/sysctl.d/60-restrict.conf = sysctl: set more restrictive defaults (dmesg, ptrace)
• /usr/lib/systemd/system/*.service.d/99-brace.conf = systemd service unit sandboxing
• /usr/lib/systemd/user/restic-backup@.* = systemd user unit for restic backups
• /usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/99-brace-proc.conf = /proc: harden permissions
• /usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/99-brace-sys.conf = /sys: harden permissions
• /usr/bin/brace-supplemental-changes = change extra default settings
• /usr/sbin/brace-enable-auto-updates = Fedora: automatic system updates using dnf-plugin-system-upgrade
• /usr/sbin/brace-enable-rpmfusion = Fedora: enable RPM Fusion 'free' repos
• /usr/sbin/brace-update-system = Fedora: helper to update to the next release
• /usr/sbin/brace-installer = unified recommended package installer
• /usr/sbin/brace-rpm-verify = RPM: verifies installed packages for corruption

Known Issues

• A reboot is required on openSUSE after install for dconf changes to take effect.
• Compatibility is best with Fedora, and that is the primary test-bed.
• Restrictions on /sys/bus/scsi in 99-brace-sys.conf can break disc drive access by some programs.

Credits

• userjs-arkenfox.js
  • @thorin-oakenpants + @earthlng + @claustromaniac
  • MIT: af51631597/LICENSE.txt
  • https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js
• 99-brace-proc.conf and 99-brace-sys.conf
  • Topi Miettinen (@topimiettinen)
  • GPL-2.0+: 1a31553672/debian/copyright
  • 1a31553672
• brace-rpm-verify
  • @doktor5000
  • CC BY-SA 3.0: https://stackoverflow.com/help/licensing
  • https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/217024
• firewalld IPv6 drop zone fix
  • Mark
  • CC BY-SA 3.0: https://stackoverflow.com/help/licensing
  • https://serverfault.com/a/775153
• restic-backup.service
  • Link Dupont
  • CC BY-SA 3.0: https://fedoramagazine.org/terms-and-conditions/
  • https://fedoramagazine.org/automate-backups-with-restic-and-systemd/
• chrony.brace.conf
  • GrapheneOS
  • MIT: https://github.com/GrapheneOS/infrastructure/blob/main/LICENSE
  • https://github.com/GrapheneOS/infrastructure/blob/main/chrony.conf
• modprobe.d/brace.conf additional module blocking
  • @madaidan
  • List likely uncopyrightable
  • https://madaidans-insecurities.github.io/guides/linux-hardening.html#kasr-kernel-modules

Donate

• https://divested.dev/donate