Question 1

Is Maze Linux based on Arch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Maze Linux is built on Arch Linux and follows a rolling-release model, so you always get current packages. You get Arch's power without the manual assembly — a complete, hardened KDE Plasma 6 desktop is ready on first boot.

Question 2

Do I have to configure the security and privacy tools myself?

Accepted Answer

No. AppArmor, the firewall, Maze Guard, auditd, Tor and VPN are already set up out of the box. Things that change how you appear on a network, like MAC randomization in Maze Cloak, are off until you switch them on. Local AI via Ollama is also ready to run, fully offline.

Question 3

Can I try it without installing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Maze ships as a Live ISO — boot it from USB and try the full desktop before installing. When you're ready, a guided installer sets it up in minutes.

Question 4

Does Maze Linux collect any telemetry?

Accepted Answer

No. Maze has zero telemetry — nothing phones home and there is no tracking. Privacy is the default, not an option you have to turn on.

Question 5

What are the hardware requirements?

Accepted Answer

A 64-bit (x86-64) CPU with UEFI (no BIOS/Legacy), at least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended, 16 GB for local AI) and 40 GB of disk space. Secure Boot and full-disk encryption are supported.

Question 6

Is it free and open source?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Maze Linux is free to download and use, and built on open-source software. Maze's own tools are free software (GPL-3.0, AGPL-3.0, MIT). A few third-party apps it ships, such as Steam and Discord, are proprietary.

Maze Cloak

What it does