Muddog internet sharing
Muddog is a P2P VPN whose participants share internet connections. Just as you use another participant's connection, others can access the internet through your computer. This uses your connection's bandwidth, and external services may see the traffic as coming from your public IP address.
Your VPN and internet sharing
On Linux and Windows, sharing starts when you install the package. On macOS, it starts after you first open the app and approve the background service. The service also starts automatically at boot afterward. Sharing runs whether or not your personal VPN is connected.
| Action | Your VPN | Your internet sharing |
|---|---|---|
| The service starts | You must connect manually. | Starts automatically. |
| Connect VPN | Uses another participant's connection. | Continues running. |
| Disconnect | Returns to your regular internet connection. | Continues running. |
| Close the app window | Stays connected if it was connected. | Continues running. |
| Stop the service or remove the package | Stops. | Stops. |
Changing personal VPN settings in the app, such as traffic mode, country, or MTU, does not restart active sharing sessions.
Check sharing status
Under Connection → Internet sharing, check the status and number of Connected users.
- Sharing, 0 users: Waiting for other users to connect.
- Sharing, 1 or more users: Sharing your internet connection with connected users.
- Reconnecting: Automatically retrying the sharing connection.
- Service unavailable: The app cannot check the service status. Do not assume that sharing has stopped.
Expand Connection details in this area to see data sent and received through sharing and status messages. See Connection and relay logs to look up records of other participants using your connection.
Stop or resume sharing
The app has no switch to turn off sharing alone. To stop sharing, stop or remove the background service using the instructions for your operating system. Stopping the service also ends your own VPN, and you cannot make new VPN connections while the service is stopped.
Linux
To stop only the currently running service, use:
sudo systemctl stop muddog-engine.service
To stop sharing and prevent it from starting automatically at the next boot, use:
sudo systemctl disable --now muddog-engine.service
To resume use and enable automatic startup at boot, use:
sudo systemctl enable --now muddog-engine.service
Windows
In PowerShell running as an administrator, stop the current service:
Stop-Service -Name muddog-engine
To also prevent sharing at the next boot, disable automatic startup and stop the service:
Set-Service -Name muddog-engine -StartupType Disabled
Stop-Service -Name muddog-engine
To resume sharing and enable automatic startup at boot, use:
Set-Service -Name muddog-engine -StartupType Automatic
Start-Service -Name muddog-engine
macOS
Select Service → Remove Background Service and Quit from the app's macOS menu bar. This removes the background service and closes the app. The app file, user settings, and connection and relay logs are retained.
To use Muddog again, open Muddog in /Applications and complete any required
service approval. Relaunching the app attempts to register the service, so
sharing may resume. Open the approval screen through
Service → Background Service Settings….
When you resume use
Sharing resumes when the service starts. The app reconnects to the service automatically, but you must click Connect VPN to reconnect your personal VPN.
On Linux and Windows, reinstalling or updating the package enables and starts the service again during installation. On macOS, it starts again after you relaunch the app and approve the service. If you no longer want to participate, uninstall the package.