Comment by qwertox
7 hours ago
> StarDict on Wayland doesn't have this problem, because Wayland prevents applications from being able to capture text from other applications by default.
StarDict on Wayland has a different issue, it causes a segfault.
Sat, 02 Aug 2025: Bug#1003710: stardict crash in gnome with message Segmentation fault
https://www.mail-archive.com/debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.o...
Yeah, I don't really know much about Wayland but.... That does not sound correct to me... Wayland has a copy/paste protocol, and my 5-minute web search indicates that it works much like the X11 copy paste protocol, each application takes care of what will be sent when pasted. then some other application requests a paste, the display server connects the two they negotiate a format and the "copied" data squirts across. that is to say Wayland applications can totally capture text from other applications.
Now if the article meant to say Wayland applications are unable to capture arbitrary text via mechanisms other than then the copy paste protocol I would say fair enough, but it sounds like the problem application is using the normal X11 copy paste protocol. so I don't see how that statement is relevant.
Besides, capturing text from other applications is very much required for various utilities. It's as much of a security feature in Wayland as turning off your computer and never turning it back on is.
There is a separate, privileged, interface that this kind of utility can use.
Meanwhile, the other 99% of applications don't need unlimited permissions.
But then StarDict would still be sending your selections out.
Personally I think the X11/Wayland distinction is moot, given this appears to be an explicit feature of StarDict, and it seems more likely it just hasn't been ported to Wayland yet.
Those privileged interfaces cover known use cases but don't allow for novel tools - or even full functionality of existing tools in many cases.
You also underestimate how many programs make use of functionality that could be abused in some way. And unless you lock all those interfaces down it's all security theater. Who cares if the display protocol disallows copy paste snooping when there are a million different ways to get the the memory of other processes or the files that they store sensitive information in. And such a locked down ecosystem is antithetical to free and open computing.
I don't use my computer to be secure, I use it to get shit done and and to have fun. I'm not going to accept approaches to security that interfere with that any more than I will accept the same in real life. There aren't any bars over my windows because we have functioning police to deter criminals. I don't need lab tests done for all the food I buy because we have regulations that ensure food sold is generally safe to eat. I go outside without body armor and weapons even though someone could theoretically kill me. 100% security is always a tradeoff for quality of life.
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