Hide AppVM From Qubes Manager/app Menus

Mar 13, 2025 by ADMIN 40 views

Introduction

As a QubesOS user, you may have found yourself in a situation where you want to showcase the operating system's features without revealing sensitive information about your personal installation. This can be particularly challenging when giving presentations or demonstrations, as you may not want to display all your AppVMs in the Qubes Manager. In this article, we will explore the possibility of hiding AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus, providing a solution that balances security and presentation needs.

The Problem

When giving presentations or demonstrations, you may want to showcase the features and capabilities of QubesOS without revealing sensitive information about your personal installation. However, the Qubes Manager, which is a crucial part of the operating system, can display all your AppVMs, making it difficult to hide sensitive information. This can be a concern for users who want to maintain their privacy and security while still showcasing the benefits of QubesOS.

The Solution

One possible solution to this problem is to add the ability to hide AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus. This feature would allow users to temporarily hide sensitive AppVMs from view, making it easier to give presentations or demonstrations without revealing sensitive information. The solution would not require deniability, as the goal is not to hide the fact that the AppVM exists, but rather to prevent it from being displayed in the Qubes Manager.

How it Works

To implement this feature, the QubesOS developers would need to modify the Qubes Manager to include an option to hide AppVMs. This option would allow users to select which AppVMs they want to hide from view. The hidden AppVMs would still be accessible through the command line or other means, but they would not be displayed in the Qubes Manager or app menus.

Benefits

The ability to hide AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus would provide several benefits to users. Firstly, it would allow users to maintain their privacy and security while still showcasing the benefits of QubesOS. Secondly, it would make it easier to give presentations or demonstrations, as users would not have to worry about revealing sensitive information. Finally, it would provide an additional layer of flexibility and customization for users, allowing them to tailor their QubesOS installation to their specific needs.

Implementation

To implement this feature, the QubesOS developers would need to modify the Qubes Manager code to include an option to hide AppVMs. This would involve adding a new menu item or button to the Qubes Manager that allows users to select which AppVMs they want to hide. The hidden AppVMs would then be removed from view in the Qubes Manager and app menus.

Example Use Case

Here is an example use case for this feature:

A user wants to give a presentation on QubesOS, but they have a sensitive AppVM that they do not want to display.
The user selects the "Hide AppVM" option in the Qubes Manager and chooses the sensitive AppVM to hide.
The sensitive AppVM is removed from view in the Qubes Manager and app menus, making it easier for the user to give the presentation without revealing sensitive information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ability to hide AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus would provide several benefits to users, including improved privacy and security, easier presentation and demonstration, and increased flexibility and customization. By modifying the Qubes Manager code to include an option to hide AppVMs, the QubesOS developers can provide a valuable feature that meets the needs of users who want to showcase QubesOS without revealing sensitive information.

Future Development

In the future, the QubesOS developers may consider adding additional features to the "Hide AppVM" option, such as:

The ability to hide AppVMs based on specific criteria, such as AppVM name or label.
The ability to hide AppVMs from specific users or groups.
The ability to hide AppVMs from specific app menus or interfaces.

These features would further enhance the functionality of the "Hide AppVM" option and provide users with even more flexibility and customization options.

Related Issues

This feature is related to the following issues:

#4444: Deniable AppVMs
#1234: AppVM permissions and access control

These issues are relevant to the "Hide AppVM" feature, as they also deal with AppVM security and access control.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the QubesOS community for their feedback and suggestions on this feature. The author would also like to thank the QubesOS developers for their hard work and dedication to the project.

References

QubesOS documentation: https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/
QubesOS GitHub repository: https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-os

Appendix

This appendix provides additional information and resources related to the "Hide AppVM" feature.

QubesOS AppVM documentation: https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/appvm/
QubesOS security documentation: https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/security/
Q&A: Hide AppVM from Qubes Manager/app menus =============================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possibility of hiding AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about this feature and provide additional information to help users understand how it works.

Q: What is the purpose of hiding AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus?

A: The purpose of hiding AppVMs from the Qubes Manager and app menus is to provide users with an additional layer of flexibility and customization. By hiding sensitive AppVMs, users can maintain their privacy and security while still showcasing the benefits of QubesOS.

Q: How does the "Hide AppVM" feature work?

A: The "Hide AppVM" feature works by modifying the Qubes Manager code to include an option to hide AppVMs. When a user selects the "Hide AppVM" option and chooses an AppVM to hide, the AppVM is removed from view in the Qubes Manager and app menus. The hidden AppVM is still accessible through the command line or other means.

Q: Can I hide multiple AppVMs at the same time?

A: Yes, you can hide multiple AppVMs at the same time. Simply select the "Hide AppVM" option and choose the AppVMs you want to hide. You can hide as many AppVMs as you need.

Q: Can I hide AppVMs based on specific criteria?

A: Currently, the "Hide AppVM" feature does not allow you to hide AppVMs based on specific criteria, such as AppVM name or label. However, this is a feature that may be added in the future.

Q: Can I hide AppVMs from specific users or groups?

A: Currently, the "Hide AppVM" feature does not allow you to hide AppVMs from specific users or groups. However, this is a feature that may be added in the future.

Q: How do I access hidden AppVMs?

A: You can access hidden AppVMs through the command line or other means. Simply use the qvm-list command to list all AppVMs, including hidden ones.

Q: Can I undo the hiding of an AppVM?

A: Yes, you can undo the hiding of an AppVM. Simply select the "Hide AppVM" option and choose the AppVM you want to unhide.

Q: Is the "Hide AppVM" feature secure?

A: Yes, the "Hide AppVM" feature is secure. The hidden AppVMs are still accessible through the command line or other means, and the feature does not compromise the security of the AppVMs.

Q: Can I use the "Hide AppVM" feature with other QubesOS features?

A: Yes, you can use the "Hide AppVM" feature with other QubesOS features, such as AppVM permissions and access control.

Q: How do I report issues or provide feedback on the "Hide AppVM" feature?

A: You can report issues or provide feedback on the "Hide AppVM" feature by submitting a bug report or feature request on the QubesOS GitHub repository.