I have a home setup with private services and Wireguard to phone in from outside, and would sometimes like to be able to access some of these services from devices that don’t have their own Wireguard client like an eBook reader.

Ideally, I would have Wireguard on my Android phone, create a WiFi hotspot and allow other devices to use that Wireguard connection. Out of the box this doesn’t work. Does anybody know how to achieve it?

  • TerkErJerbs@lemm.eeEnglish
    8·
    6 hours ago

    You can (basically) only do this with a rooted phone. There are some permissions issues that prevent the hotspot network adapter from being shared over the VPN client otherwise. This article from Proton is just an ELI5 splainer, you can go deeper with some searches.

    If you have root and/or a custom ROM already (which usually assumes root) it’s not that complicated.

    • masterofn001@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      Couldn’t you just use termux or similar to run a tunnel using SSH to the interface?

      Or simply set up a socks listener and forward that IP:port to the IP of the WG interface?

    • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.deOPEnglish
      3·
      6 hours ago

      Thanks for the link. I am on Graphene, and if a fellow poster in here is correct that doesn’t help. Bummer.

      • TerkErJerbs@lemm.eeEnglish
        4·
        6 hours ago

        Yeah sorry I don’t have experience with Graphene but a quick search seems to say root is very difficult with it. Maybe look into flashing a different custom ROM if you really need this.

        One thing I’ve done quite a bit is use my travel router (I have a GL-Inet Slate but there are lots of options) to repeat my hotspot, then connect all my devices via the router. And set the VPN up on the router. This way everything going out over the hotspot is encrypted anyhow.

        For my needs, I can power the Slate by plugging it into my laptop or even my phone via usb-c. It’s very portable and versatile. Ymmv.

        • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.deOPEnglish
          3·
          5 hours ago

          Thanks for the ideas. I’ll consider it, although my use case doesn’t really warrant carrying a router around.

          • TerkErJerbs@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            5 hours ago

            Granted, you’re using a home setup. But you could still consider setting up the VPN on a central AP and repeating your hotspot through it to make everything going in and out of your network encrypted and more secure. None of your actual traffic (besides what your phone is emitting) will be in the clear, which is better than nothing.

            Almost any router with VPN and repeater options will accomplish this if you don’t wanna root your phone. I’ve flashed OpenWRT on the equivalent of router potatoes over the years. It’s pretty straightforward.

        • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
          6·
          6 hours ago

          Yeah, to me it’s a absolute killer feature for a travel phone. The GOS discussion around it boils down to violating the android profile security model.

          E.x., im using a hotel wifi that only allows one device, or I have a esim for one phone only that doesn’t allow “tethering”.

          Fair enough on the security model, but at least give me the option… Maybe with a always on notification warning. Being paternalistic about how you think the phone will be used and in which context is overstepping for infrastructure

          I travel with a backup phone, and because of this I have calyxos on the backup and not gos.

          • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.deOPEnglish
            31·
            6 hours ago

            Having strong opinions is what Graphene does. 😅

            And they do seem to be an authority on all things security, so most of the time I like that about them.

  • ohellidkEnglish
    1·
    5 hours ago

    Check out the “VPN hotspot” app from the play store. You’ll need root, unfortunately.

  • Saiwal@hub.utsukta.org
    2·
    6 hours ago

    This can be achieved with tailscale using subnet routing. your local devices (ebook readers) can access your private servers if they are on a device thats on your tailnet (your phone).

  • ditty@lemm.eeEnglish
    21·
    7 hours ago

    I have also wondered if this is possible. I’m not sure if it is. Here’s a reddit thread where someone struggled with this using an iPhone.