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Zen — filter desktop traffic system-wide through a local proxy

OSS scale score 193.6OSS health 92Update pace 6 commits/30d
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Stars
4,229
Primary language
Go
License
MIT
Repository last updated
Sep 18, 2026

Overview

Zen is a system-wide ad blocker and privacy guard for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It runs a local proxy that intercepts HTTP traffic and applies EasyList/hosts-style filters to ads, trackers, malware, and other unwanted requests, including HTTPS inspection.

Features and best fit

Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:

Filter traffic system-wide, including non-browser applications

OS proxy configuration lets Zen apply rules to HTTP traffic from desktop applications and operating-system components.

Sources: [2][3]

Manage EasyList/hosts filters and inspect blocked requests

Built-in lists can be extended with custom hosts/EasyList sources, while request history shows which rule blocked each request.

Sources: [2][3]

For blocking trackers in desktop applications that browser extensions cannot reach

It suits users who want one privacy/filtering layer across multiple browsers and native applications.

Sources: [2]

Understand the trust implications of the HTTPS root certificate

Zen installs a locally generated trusted root certificate for HTTPS interception. Review its security architecture and protect local certificate/private-key material.

Sources: [2][4]

Official sources

  1. [1]irbis-sh/zen-desktop repository(2026-09-21)
  2. [2]Zen README(2026-09-21)
  3. [3]Zen documentation(2026-09-21)
  4. [4]Zen security architecture(2026-09-21)
  5. [5]Zen MIT license(2026-09-21)
  6. [6]Zen third-party license notices(2026-09-21)
Supplemental curator note

Zen works as a system-wide proxy rather than a browser extension, so it can filter desktop-application and OS-component traffic. On first run it installs a locally generated root certificate for HTTPS interception. Because this introduces a trusted local certificate, review the security architecture and protect the certificate/private-key material on the device.

Try it in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Get the source

    git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/irbis-sh/zen-desktop.git
  2. 2

    Enter the repository

    cd zen-desktop
  3. 3

    Check the official steps

    Continue with the commands in the README Installation, Quick Start, or Getting Started section.

    find . -maxdepth 1 -iname 'README*' -exec sed -n '1,220p' {} \; -quit
Check the official README

Growth

Growth trends · Last 30 days

4,229 Stars

Trend data is still being collected.

Development activity

Last 90 days · weekly

Commits (last 30 days)
6
Open PRs
3

Development activity is still being collected.

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GitHub data

GitHub dataView detailed GitHub data
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GitHub Topics

  • linux
  • macos
  • windows
  • gui
  • privacy
  • go
  • adblocker
  • adblock
  • desktop-app
  • ad-block
  • zen
Stars
4,229
Forks
143
Watchers
20
Open issues
11
Contributors
33
Primary language
Go
License
MIT
Repository last updated
Sep 18, 2026
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