TIL: Dec 2024

by

Setting up Transparent TCP Proxifier (aka VPN) in Linux Can't Be Easier

Just wow, you never stop learning about Linux. You can wrap all TCP traffic transparently via an SSH channel just like that:

  1. Install proxychains-ng (alternatives include torsocks or tsocks).
  2. Set up a background persistent connection to the jump box: 
    ssh -D 1080 -N -f -o ServerAliveInterval=30 user@jump.box
  3. Create a proxychains configuration file in ~/.proxychains/proxychains.conf: 
    strict_chain
proxy_dns
tcp_read_time_out 15000
tcp_connect_time_out 8000
[ProxyList]
socks5 127.0.0.1 1080

Done. Seriously.

Test it:

echo "My IP: $(curl -sS ifconfig.me), jumpbox IP: $(proxychains4 curl -sS http://ifconfig.me)"

Impressive, huh?

Python

Where would you expect tools for base64 encoding to sit? Probably in an encoding module, or baseN, or something like base64?

Indeed, Python has base64 tools in the base64 module. Sounds like a logical design until you find b32*, b16*, and b85* encoding functions in the very same base64 module.

C - for see the consistency.

Goodbye 4sq

Goodbye foursquare

Exported 1.3 GB of my data, including check-ins, lists, photos, and everything Foursquare has remembered about me over the last 15 years.

Debian Popularity Contest

Apparently, Debian is publishing results from their anonymous reporting tool that measures repository usage. The page has a very strong odor of 2000s websites, but the charts are pretty interesting. In particular, I found the new version adoption fascinating—it's almost periodic. Clearly, Debian is gaining more popularity! Thanks to the Canonical Ubuntu efforts

Debian versions popularity

Got Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12

Despite this laptop being a Lenovo ThinkPad and in the top configuration (64 GB RAM, 7200 MT/s, Intel 165U, Performance NVMe, QHD OLED), it's loud as hell. Scrolling Reddit while running an absolutely idle system makes the fan spin, and running something like YouTube at 1080p makes the fan spin at 80%. I hope it's an issue with this particular laptop or batch—most Redditors don't seem to have such a problem.

Although this is probably the 5th or 6th ThinkPad I've used, I've never had to contact Lenovo support. These devices never break, nor have I had any issues. So, I hope they'll help resolve this one.