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what is stinger fr?

0x4d31/stinger — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

23GoAudience · developerComplexity · 4/5Setup · moderate

tl;dr

A security tool for macOS and Linux that plants decoy credential files and watches for malware or scripts touching them, catching secret-stealing as it happens.

vibe map

mindmap
  root((Stinger))
    What it does
      Places decoy credential files
      Detects interaction in real time
      Runs unprivileged by default
    Modes
      Watch Mode background tripwires
      Protected Sessions for one command
      Fanotify blocking backend on Linux
    Bait types
      Cloud credentials
      Identity files
      Package manager configs
    Audience
      Security researchers
      Developers protecting workstations
      Not a full antivirus

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what do people make with this?

VIBE 1

Run stinger watch in the background to get alerted if a compromised npm package or browser extension tries to read decoy credential files.

VIBE 2

Wrap a suspicious install command like npm install in a protected session so any secret-stealing behavior it triggers hits a decoy instead of your real files.

VIBE 3

Enable the experimental fanotify backend on Linux to actively block, not just detect, access to decoy files.

what's the stack?

GomacOSLinuxfanotify

how it stacks up fr

0x4d31/stingeragent-hellboy/ltmemmayusufu/tessera
Stars232323
LanguageGoGoGo
Setup difficultymoderatemoderatemoderate
Complexity4/54/54/5
Audiencedeveloperops devopsops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

how do i run it?

Difficulty · moderate time til it works · 30min

Requires Go 1.25 or newer, the experimental fanotify backend on Linux needs CAP_SYS_ADMIN.

in plain english

Stinger is a security tool for individual macOS and Linux computers that tries to catch malware or malicious scripts in the act of stealing secrets like login tokens, API keys, browser data, or crypto wallet files. It works by placing fake, decoy versions of these sensitive files and services around the system, then watching for anything that tries to read or interact with them, since a real user would have no reason to touch a decoy. Normal personal computers usually do not have the kind of security software that companies run on work laptops, so infostealer malware can quietly copy sensitive files during a single run and go unnoticed. Stinger aims to catch that interaction as it happens, rather than after the stolen data is later used somewhere else. The tool has two main modes. Watch Mode sets up standing decoy files and network sockets in the background while you use your computer normally, and records an event the moment something interacts with one of them. Protected Sessions instead wrap a single command or an entire terminal session, for example running npm install or opening a shell, inside a fake home directory filled with decoys and a trimmed down environment, so any credential stealing behavior triggered by that specific command gets caught in isolation. Decoy files called baits come in built in groups such as cloud credentials, identity files, package manager configuration, and developer tools, and you can also add custom file paths. On Linux, Stinger offers a few different technical backends for detecting file access, ranging from a default pipe based approach to an experimental mode that can outright block access to a decoy file, though that mode needs elevated system permissions. The project is explicit that it is not a full antivirus or endpoint monitoring system. It only reacts to interaction with the traps it sets, so it does not scan for malware, watch all file access on the system, or guarantee that every kind of credential theft will be detected. It is meant as an early warning layer that a technically inclined user can install and run on their own machine, alongside whatever other protection they already use.

prompts (copy fr)

prompt 1
Explain what Stinger's Watch Mode does and how FIFO bait files work to detect credential theft.
prompt 2
Walk me through installing Stinger with Go and running stinger doctor to check my setup.
prompt 3
Show me how to use stinger run to open a protected session before running npm install.
prompt 4
What is the difference between Stinger's fifo, regular, and fanotify backends on Linux?

Frequently asked questions

what is stinger fr?

A security tool for macOS and Linux that plants decoy credential files and watches for malware or scripts touching them, catching secret-stealing as it happens.

What language is stinger written in?

Mainly Go. The stack also includes Go, macOS, Linux.

How hard is stinger to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is stinger for?

Mainly developer.

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