diff --git a/cmake/modules/CompilerFlags.cmake b/cmake/modules/CompilerFlags.cmake
index 5a5d956a42..7eccbc0d70 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/CompilerFlags.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/CompilerFlags.cmake
@@ -106,8 +106,12 @@ else() # MSVC
 	set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE "${FALCOSECURITY_LIBS_RELEASE_FLAGS}")
 	set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE "${FALCOSECURITY_LIBS_RELEASE_FLAGS}")
 
+	# "_DISABLE_CONSTEXPR_MUTEX_CONSTRUCTOR" enables a
+	# workaround for windows GH runner issue, see
+        # https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/10004
 	add_compile_definitions(
 		_HAS_STD_BYTE=0
 		WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+		_DISABLE_CONSTEXPR_MUTEX_CONSTRUCTOR
 	)
 endif()
diff --git a/cmake/modules/cares.cmake b/cmake/modules/cares.cmake
index 01765e8312..4093a44fe0 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/cares.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/cares.cmake
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ else()
 		message(STATUS "Using bundled c-ares in '${CARES_SRC}'")
 		ExternalProject_Add(c-ares
 			PREFIX "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/c-ares-prefix"
-			URL "https://c-ares.haxx.se/download/c-ares-1.19.1.tar.gz"
-			URL_HASH "SHA256=321700399b72ed0e037d0074c629e7741f6b2ec2dda92956abe3e9671d3e268e"
+			URL "https://github.com/c-ares/c-ares/releases/download/v1.30.0/c-ares-1.30.0.tar.gz"
+			URL_HASH "SHA256=4fea312112021bcef081203b1ea020109842feb58cd8a36a3d3f7e0d8bc1138c"
 			CONFIGURE_COMMAND CPPFLAGS=${CARES_CPPFLAGS} ./configure ${CARES_STATIC_OPTION} --prefix=${CARES_INSTALL_DIR}
 			BUILD_COMMAND make
 			BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/filter_compare.cpp b/userspace/libsinsp/filter_compare.cpp
index 29cc670d02..d409db0617 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/filter_compare.cpp
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/filter_compare.cpp
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ static inline void _throw_if_not_comparable(cmpop op, Check c)
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-static inline bool flt_compare_numeric(cmpop op, uint64_t operand1, uint64_t operand2)
+static inline bool flt_compare_numeric(cmpop op, T operand1, T operand2)
 {
 	switch(op)
 	{
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/metrics_collector.cpp b/userspace/libsinsp/metrics_collector.cpp
index 00d7d3dfd6..a3fdff1b4c 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/metrics_collector.cpp
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/metrics_collector.cpp
@@ -457,19 +457,6 @@ void libs_metrics_collector::snapshot()
 		return;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	* plugins metrics
-	*/
-
-	if(m_metrics_flags & METRICS_V2_PLUGINS)
-	{
-		for (auto& p : m_inspector->get_plugin_manager()->plugins())
-		{
-			std::vector<metrics_v2> plugin_metrics = p->get_metrics();
-			m_metrics.insert(m_metrics.end(), plugin_metrics.begin(), plugin_metrics.end());
-		}
-	}
-
 	/* 
 	 * libscap metrics 
 	 */
@@ -783,6 +770,19 @@ void libs_metrics_collector::snapshot()
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	/*
+	* plugins metrics
+	*/
+
+	if(m_metrics_flags & METRICS_V2_PLUGINS)
+	{
+		for (auto& p : m_inspector->get_plugin_manager()->plugins())
+		{
+			std::vector<metrics_v2> plugin_metrics = p->get_metrics();
+			m_metrics.insert(m_metrics.end(), plugin_metrics.begin(), plugin_metrics.end());
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 const std::vector<metrics_v2>& libs_metrics_collector::get_metrics() const
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/test/CMakeLists.txt b/userspace/libsinsp/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 06ccdf475e..8dd0138fdc 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ set(LIBSINSP_UNIT_TESTS_SOURCES
 	filter_parser.ut.cpp
 	filter_op_bcontains.ut.cpp
 	filter_op_pmatch.ut.cpp
+	filter_op_numeric_compare.ut.cpp
 	filter_compiler.ut.cpp
 	filter_transformer.ut.cpp
 	user.ut.cpp
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/test/filter_op_numeric_compare.ut.cpp b/userspace/libsinsp/test/filter_op_numeric_compare.ut.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d73fd9a213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/test/filter_op_numeric_compare.ut.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+/*
+Copyright (C) 2024 The Falco Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"));
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+
+*/
+
+#include <libsinsp/sinsp.h>
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+#include <sinsp_with_test_input.h>
+
+TEST_F(sinsp_with_test_input, signed_int_compare)
+{
+	add_default_init_thread();
+
+	open_inspector();
+
+	sinsp_evt * evt = add_event_advance_ts(increasing_ts(), 1, PPME_SYSCALL_EPOLL_CREATE_X, 1, (uint64_t)-22);
+
+	EXPECT_EQ(get_field_as_string(evt, "evt.cpu"), "1");
+
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu < 300"));
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu > 300"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu < 2"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu > -500"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu < 500"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu <= 500"));
+
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu <= 1025"));
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.cpu >= 1025"));
+
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.rawarg.res > 0"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.rawarg.res < 0"));
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.rawarg.res > 4294967295"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.rawarg.res < -1"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "evt.rawarg.res > -65535"));
+
+	evt = add_event_advance_ts(increasing_ts(), 1, PPME_SYSCALL_OPEN_E, 3, "/tmp/the_file", PPM_O_NONE, 0666);
+	evt = add_event_advance_ts(increasing_ts(), 1, PPME_SYSCALL_OPEN_X, 6, (int64_t)(-1), "/tmp/the_file", PPM_O_NONE, 0666, 123, (uint64_t)456);
+
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "fd.num >= 0"));
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "fd.num > 0"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "fd.num < 0"));
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "fd.num > 4294967295"));
+	EXPECT_FALSE(eval_filter(evt, "fd.num < -1"));
+	EXPECT_TRUE(eval_filter(evt, "fd.num > -65535"));
+}
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.cpp b/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.cpp
index 17afbd3d43..a0b53f70af 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.cpp
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.cpp
@@ -497,6 +497,20 @@ std::string sinsp_with_test_input::get_field_as_string(sinsp_evt* evt, std::stri
 	return result;
 }
 
+bool sinsp_with_test_input::eval_filter(sinsp_evt* evt, std::string filter_str)
+{
+	auto factory = std::make_shared<sinsp_filter_factory>(&m_inspector, m_default_filterlist);
+	sinsp_filter_compiler compiler(factory, filter_str);
+
+	auto filter = compiler.compile();
+	if (!filter)
+	{
+		throw sinsp_exception(std::string("could not compile filter ") + filter_str);
+	}
+
+	return filter->run(evt);
+}
+
 sinsp_evt* sinsp_with_test_input::next_event()
 {
 	sinsp_evt* evt;
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.h b/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.h
index 8389bdd9bf..cac743c436 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.h
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/test/sinsp_with_test_input.h
@@ -192,12 +192,15 @@ class sinsp_with_test_input : public ::testing::Test
 	void add_default_init_thread();
 	void add_simple_thread(int64_t tid, int64_t pid, int64_t ptid, const std::string& comm = "random");
 	uint64_t increasing_ts();
+
 	bool field_exists(sinsp_evt*, std::string_view field_name);
 	bool field_exists(sinsp_evt*, std::string_view field_name, filter_check_list&);
 	bool field_has_value(sinsp_evt*, std::string_view field_name);
 	bool field_has_value(sinsp_evt*, std::string_view field_name, filter_check_list&);
 	std::string get_field_as_string(sinsp_evt*, std::string_view field_name);
 	std::string get_field_as_string(sinsp_evt*, std::string_view field_name, filter_check_list&);
+	bool eval_filter(sinsp_evt* evt, std::string filter);
+
 	sinsp_evt* next_event();
 
 	scap_test_input_data m_test_data;
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/test/user.ut.cpp b/userspace/libsinsp/test/user.ut.cpp
index 34ef20c010..c5a06153a8 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/test/user.ut.cpp
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/test/user.ut.cpp
@@ -169,13 +169,13 @@ class usergroup_manager_host_root_test : public sinsp_with_test_input
 
 		{
 			std::ofstream ofs(etc + "/passwd");
-			ofs << "toor:x:0:0:toor:/toor:/bin/ash" << std::endl;
-			ofs.close();
+			ofs << "toor:x:0:0:toor:/toor:/bin/ash\n"
+			    << "+testuser::::::\n";
 		}
 		{
 			std::ofstream ofs(etc + "/group");
-			ofs << "toor:x:0:toor" << std::endl;
-			ofs.close();
+			ofs << "toor:x:0:toor\n"
+			    << "+testgroup::::::\n";
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -211,4 +211,19 @@ TEST_F(usergroup_manager_host_root_test, host_root_lookup)
 	ASSERT_EQ(group->gid, 0);
 	ASSERT_STREQ(group->name, "toor");
 }
+
+TEST_F(usergroup_manager_host_root_test, nss_user_lookup)
+{
+	std::string container_id; // empty container_id means host
+
+	sinsp_usergroup_manager mgr(&m_inspector);
+	mgr.add_user(container_id, -1, 0, 0, {}, {}, {});
+	mgr.add_user(container_id, -1, 65534, 0, {}, {}, {});
+
+	auto* usr = mgr.add_user(container_id, -1, 0, 0, "+test_user", "", "");
+	ASSERT_EQ(usr, nullptr);
+
+	auto* grp = mgr.add_group(container_id, -1, 0, "+test_group");
+	ASSERT_EQ(grp, nullptr);
+}
 #endif
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/user.cpp b/userspace/libsinsp/user.cpp
index a2397e6002..7a83260707 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/user.cpp
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/user.cpp
@@ -266,6 +266,14 @@ scap_groupinfo *sinsp_usergroup_manager::groupinfo_map_insert(
 
 scap_userinfo *sinsp_usergroup_manager::add_user(const std::string &container_id, int64_t pid, uint32_t uid, uint32_t gid, std::string_view name, std::string_view home, std::string_view shell, bool notify)
 {
+	// ignore NSS entries
+	if(!name.empty() && (name[0] == '+' || name[0] == '-'))
+	{
+		libsinsp_logger()->format(sinsp_logger::SEV_DEBUG,
+			"NSS user ignored: %.*s", static_cast<int>(name.length()), name.data());
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+
 	if (!m_import_users)
 	{
 		m_fallback_user.uid = uid;
@@ -401,6 +409,14 @@ bool sinsp_usergroup_manager::rm_user(const string &container_id, uint32_t uid,
 
 scap_groupinfo *sinsp_usergroup_manager::add_group(const string &container_id, int64_t pid, uint32_t gid, std::string_view name, bool notify)
 {
+	// ignore NSS entries
+	if(!name.empty() && (name[0] == '+' || name[0] == '-'))
+	{
+		libsinsp_logger()->format(sinsp_logger::SEV_DEBUG,
+			"NSS group ignored: %.*s", static_cast<int>(name.length()), name.data());
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+
 	if (!m_import_users)
 	{
 		m_fallback_grp.gid = gid;
diff --git a/userspace/plugin/plugin_api.h b/userspace/plugin/plugin_api.h
index dea0c23ce7..d498fe57ad 100644
--- a/userspace/plugin/plugin_api.h
+++ b/userspace/plugin/plugin_api.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ extern "C" {
 //
 // todo(jasondellaluce): when/if major changes to v4, check and solve all todos
 #define PLUGIN_API_VERSION_MAJOR 3
-#define PLUGIN_API_VERSION_MINOR 5
+#define PLUGIN_API_VERSION_MINOR 6
 #define PLUGIN_API_VERSION_PATCH 0
 
 //
diff --git a/userspace/plugin/plugin_loader.c b/userspace/plugin/plugin_loader.c
index 48cee1fe21..3f86ae3aff 100644
--- a/userspace/plugin/plugin_loader.c
+++ b/userspace/plugin/plugin_loader.c
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ plugin_handle_t* plugin_load(const char* path, char* err)
     SYM_RESOLVE(ret, get_async_events);
     SYM_RESOLVE(ret, set_async_event_handler);
     SYM_RESOLVE(ret, set_config);
+    SYM_RESOLVE(ret, get_metrics);
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/userspace/plugin/plugin_types.h b/userspace/plugin/plugin_types.h
index c7a63d6222..8cb2edcc9a 100644
--- a/userspace/plugin/plugin_types.h
+++ b/userspace/plugin/plugin_types.h
@@ -298,13 +298,13 @@ typedef enum ss_plugin_log_severity
 // Types supported by the by the metric values
 typedef enum ss_plugin_metric_value_type
 {
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_U32 = 1,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_S32 = 2,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_U64 = 3,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_S64 = 4,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_D = 5,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_F = 6,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_I = 7,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_U32 = 0,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_S32 = 1,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_U64 = 2,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_S64 = 3,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_D = 4,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_F = 5,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_VALUE_TYPE_I = 6,
 } ss_plugin_metric_value_type;
 
 // Data representation of metric values
@@ -322,8 +322,8 @@ typedef union ss_plugin_metric_value
 // Metric types
 typedef enum ss_plugin_metric_type
 {
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_TYPE_MONOTONIC = 1,
-	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_TYPE_NON_MONOTONIC = 2,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_TYPE_MONOTONIC = 0,
+	SS_PLUGIN_METRIC_TYPE_NON_MONOTONIC = 1,
 } ss_plugin_metric_type;
 
 //