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What dispatcher scripts can—and cannot—do
NetworkManager-dispatcher is a D-Bus-activated service that runs scripts in response to NetworkManager events. Its documented events include vpn-pre-up, vpn-up, vpn-pre-down, vpn-down, connectivity-change and dns-change. A handler might, for example, trigger a local action when a VPN comes up or goes down.
That is event automation, not traffic protection. Encryption comes from a VPN or from HTTPS between your device and a website—not from the dispatcher script. Neither encryption method makes an untrusted access point trustworthy, and a VPN cannot compensate for a compromised or vulnerable device.
Why a dispatcher-based VPN kill switch can fail
A script that changes firewall rules when a VPN is about to go down may seem like a way to prevent traffic escaping outside the tunnel. But NetworkManager documents a critical exception: vpn-pre-down is not emitted for forced disconnections, including an unexpected VPN termination or general loss of connectivity. A rule that depends only on this event cannot reliably respond to every VPN failure.
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Event timing creates other reliability risks. Scripts run serially by default, asynchronously from NetworkManager’s main process, and long-running scripts may be killed. Scripts linked through no-wait.d run in parallel. Events already queued can still execute after later events make them obsolete; for example, an “up” handler could run after a connection has already gone down. Handlers should therefore check the current VPN and connectivity state before acting, and should be safe to run more than once.
For standard placement, the dispatcher reference specifies /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d and /usr/lib/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d, including subdirectories. Scripts must be regular executable files owned by root, not writable by group or other users, and not setuid. VPN pre-up and pre-down hooks have dedicated subdirectories; a pre-up script can delay NetworkManager from indicating that the VPN is fully active until it finishes.
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Dispatcher automation and encryption solve different problems
| Approach | What it controls | Main limitation | Setup and upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| NetworkManager dispatcher scripts | Local actions triggered by network, VPN, connectivity or DNS events. | Events can be missing for forced VPN loss or become stale while queued; handlers can also be interrupted. | Requires carefully permissioned scripts that check current state and handle repeated or out-of-order events. |
| VPN or HTTPS | Encryption of traffic along the connection path: through a VPN tunnel, or between the device and an HTTPS website. | Does not make the access point trustworthy or protect a vulnerable device; HTTPS applies to the connection to the relevant site. | Use a VPN configured for the device, and check for HTTPS on pages where you enter sensitive information. |
Use public Wi-Fi with layered precautions
CISA public-Wi-Fi guidance recommends using an available VPN on a public wireless access point and disabling file sharing in public wireless spaces. CISA’s “Best Practices for Using Public WiFi” also advises turning off automatic Wi-Fi connection and checking that websites use HTTPS on every page where you enter personal information—not just on a welcome or login page.
The older VPN recommendation comes from a US-CERT document produced in 2006 and updated in 2008. It says: “If a VPN is available to you, make sure you log onto it any time you need to use a public wireless access point.” This is general guidance, not an endorsement of a VPN provider.
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NetworkManager’s connectivity checking can report UNKNOWN, NONE, PORTAL, LIMITED or FULL. Those states describe reachability or captive-portal status; they do not say whether the network is trustworthy or whether traffic is encrypted. A captive portal may require a sign-in before normal access is available, so account for that when deciding when VPN-related rules should apply.
How to assess a dispatcher-based setup
- Configure the VPN in NetworkManager. Treat the dispatcher as a supplemental automation layer, not as the mechanism that creates the encrypted tunnel.
- Check script security. Confirm scripts are regular executable files, owned by root, not writable by group or others, and not setuid, in an appropriate dispatcher directory.
- Have handlers inspect current state. Do not assume an event alone describes the connection’s present status. Make changes idempotently so repeated or delayed events do not leave the system in an unsafe state.
- Check failure cases on the target system. Verify behavior for unexpected VPN termination, connectivity loss, IPv4 and IPv6 traffic, DNS, and captive-portal sign-in. A rule that appears to work during an ordinary disconnect may not cover forced loss.
- Keep user-facing protections enabled. Turn off Wi-Fi auto-connect and file sharing in public spaces, and check HTTPS throughout sensitive browsing.
NetworkManager’s documentation explains event and script behavior, but it does not establish that a particular user’s firewall rules, VPN plugin or dispatcher setup forms a complete kill switch. That depends on the specific distribution and configuration; do not assume protection without verifying the relevant failure paths.
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