Tails (Linux distribution)

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The Amnesic Incognito Live System
Tails logo
Tails OS
developer The Tails developers
License (s) GNU / GPL (version 3 or later)
Current  version 4.10 of 25 August 2020
(7 days ago)
Kernel Linux (kernel)
ancestry GNU / Linux
↳ Debian
↳ Tails
Architecture (s) x86-64
Installation medium Live - DVD , USB stick
Languages) u. a. German
tails.boum.org

The Amnesic Incognito Live System ( Tails ) is a Debian- based Linux distribution . Its aim isto protectthe privacy and anonymity of the user. To achieve this, Tails relies in particular on the use of the Tor network . The system can be booted directly from a live DVD or a USB stickand then leaves no traces on the computer used.

more details

Tails offers a preconfigured working environment with programs for secure communication and the secure handling of files. The centerpiece is the Tor Browser for anonymous surfing on the Internet. Also included are an e-mail client and a chat program, which, like many other applications, are preconfigured for using the Tor network and encrypted communication. In addition to the LibreOffice office suite, it also includes other programs for image processing , video editing and for encrypting files and hard drives. Tails uses Gnome as a working environment . From version 1.7 it is possible to switch off all network connections by means of an offline mode in order to support confidential work on documents. As a memoryless ("amnesic") system, Tails by default discards all data on shutdown. An encrypted, persistent memory can be set up if necessary to permanently save settings and files on the USB stick used.

Tails is financed through donations and grants. Since 2014, an average of € 210,000 has been raised annually, with around a third of the donors being related to the US government and a further third coming from foundations and non-governmental organizations. According to the project, the remaining third is split between individuals (17%) and companies (15%). The Linux distribution is recommended by Edward Snowden , among others, and was able to increase its popularity in the wake of the NSA scandal .

Tails was first released on June 23, 2009 - then under the name Amnesia . Version 1.0 was released in summer 2014 and finally 2.0 in January 2016, which is based on a newer Debian version. Version 3.0 was released in June 2017, which is based on Debian 9 ( stretch ) and only runs on computers with 64-bit architecture . With version 3.12, the distribution is offered as a USB image for the first time. On October 22nd, 2019 Tails 4.0 was released with more changes than in previous years and is based on Debian 10 ( buster ).

The following list shows some of the standard programs included. A full list can be found on the Tails homepage. Other applications can also be installed, but this can jeopardize the security provided in Tails.

program purpose
goal Anonymization of data traffic through the Tor network
Tor Browser Standard web browser for surfing the Internet (corresponds to a preconfigured Mozilla Firefox ESR )
Pidgin Instant Messenger, preconfigured with the OTR plug - in at Tails
Thunderbird E-mail client with Enigmail for OpenPGP support
Electrum Program for managing Bitcoin - Wallets
LUKS Used to create encrypted storage media with the help of Gnome Disks
GnuPG GNU implementation of OpenPGP for encrypting and decrypting files and messages
pwgen Password generator
GNOME Screen Keyboard Virtual keyboard, tries to bypass hardware keylogger
MAT Program to remove metadata from files
KeePassXC Password manager
AppArmor Restricting the Rights of Programs

Leveraging a Tails Law Enforcement Vulnerability

In 2020 it became known that Facebook Inc. had commissioned an IT security company for a six-figure fee to develop a zero-day exploit in order to expose a criminal Facebook user who operated via Tails. This vulnerability has been reportedly fixed.

See also

Web links

Commons : The Amnesic Incognito Live System  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ tails.boum.org . August 25, 2020.
  2. ↑ About Tails. In: Tails website. October 30, 2015, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Linux: Tails - the operating system for moderately paranoids. In: zeit.de . March 17, 2016, accessed November 7, 2016 .
  4. ↑ Hans-Joachim Baader: Anonymization Distribution Tails 1.7 with offline mode. In: pro-linux.de. November 6, 2015, accessed November 6, 2015 .
  5. ^ Kyle Rankin: Tails Above the Rest, Part III (Page 2). In: linuxjournal.com. July 8, 2014, accessed November 8, 2016 .
  6. ↑ Tails - Why We Need Donations. In: tails.boum.org. September 20, 2016, accessed November 8, 2016 . ; See also: Annual Income Statements on the project page
  7. ↑ Patrick Howell O'Neill: Tails OS, Snowden's favorite privacy tool, doubles in popularity. In: dailydot.com. November 7, 2016, accessed November 8, 2016 .
  8. ^ David Murphy: Secure OS Tails Emerges From Beta. In: UK.PCMag.com. May 1, 2014, accessed on September 23, 2016 .
  9. ^ Fabian A. Scherschel: Tails 2.0: The anonymization OS in a new look. In: heise.de. January 27, 2016, accessed November 8, 2016 .
  10. ↑ Tails 3.0 is out. In: tails.boum.org. June 13, 2017, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Tails 3.12 is out. In: tails.boum.org. January 29, 2019, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Tails 4.0 is out. In: tails.boum.org. October 22, 2019, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Install additional software. In: tails.boum.org. May 2, 2019, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  14. ↑ a b Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai: Facebook Helped the FBI Hack a Child Predator. In: Vice. June 10, 2020, accessed on June 11, 2020 .
  15. ↑ a b Patrick Beuth, DER SPIEGEL: Facebook's expensive hunt for the "worst criminal" user - DER SPIEGEL - Netzwelt. Retrieved June 11, 2020 .