diff --git a/Containerfile b/Containerfile
index fd9fc0e..24cdbc0 100644
--- a/Containerfile
+++ b/Containerfile
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
 FROM alpine:latest
 
 RUN apk --no-cache add netcat-openbsd
+
+# add a user for running netcat in the container
+RUN addgroup netcat && adduser -u 8888 -D -G netcat netcat
+
+# run everything as the netcat user
+USER netcat