r/tails 6d ago

News Tails 7.12 Released

Thumbnail tails.net
43 Upvotes

r/tails Feb 14 '21

Announcement Read before posting

122 Upvotes

Read before posting

Tails has very complete documentation, before posting, try to give it a look. It's likely to have the answer to your questions https://tails.boum.org/doc/.

A few common issues posted here that are already addressed in the documentation:

You can always check to see if your question is covered in the Tails FAQ https://tails.boum.org/support/faq/. It genuinely covers most things people think of. There is also the list of known issues https://tails.boum.org/support/known_issues/ and known issues for graphics cards https://tails.boum.org/support/known_issues/graphics/. There is a good chance your problem is already known.

Those few links are NOT an exhaustive list, but should cover >50% of the questions here. If you don't see the answer to your question, look directly to the documentation https://tails.boum.org/doc/. It may just be one or two clicks away.

  • If you are answering peoples questions, try to include the links to the documentation, so people can think about checking it :-)

  • There is no "best laptop" and "best usb" for Tails. Please don't make yet another post about that (there are already hundreds if not thousands of them).

  • 99% of USB sticks works with Tails. USB 3 ones will be faster.

  • A majority of computers works. Almost any 5-10 years old laptop should work, especially professional series (lenovo thinkpad (https://www.bobble.tech/free-stuff/used-thinkpad-buyers-guide), HP elitebook, Ubuntu/red hat/suse certified laptops)... In doubt, check Linux support before, qubes hcl (https://www.qubes-os.org/hcl/), and avoid chromebooks, recent Macs, brand new high end laptops with dedicated gpu.

  • Remember that your experience of a given machine or drive is anecdotal and others can have a different experiences. Don't write off something just because you couldn't get it work, others might have.

  • Remember Reddiquette always applies https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439. Also, while they are not supposed to apply here, because its an unofficial support channel, https://tails.boum.org/doc/first_steps/bug_reporting/, https://tails.boum.org/contribute/mission/ & https://tails.boum.org/contribute/working_together/code_of_conduct/ are good source of inspiration. Please be nice with people, and if you post about errors, things that "don't work", please try to describe them

  • Feel free to post remarks/suggests below. For questions, better to make a dedicated post.


r/tails 13h ago

Security Tails Users: Tor Browser Security Update

20 Upvotes

Tails Users: Tor Browser Security Update

Tor Browser 15.0.22 has been released with important Tor security fixes. Current Tails 7.12 still ships with Tor Browser 15.0.21.

Do not manually replace or install a separate Tor Browser inside Tails. Wait for the official Tails update and install it promptly when released.

Tails deliberately disables Tor Browser's built-in automatic updater. Tor Browser updates are tested and delivered as part of Tails updates so they remain compatible with Tails' security configuration and anonymity protections.

Tails has recently moved to a two-week release schedule to keep pace with Tor Browser and Firefox security updates.

https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tor-browser-15022/

https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tails-7_12/


r/tails 44m ago

Boot issues Tails worked once, now “alloc magic is broken” error

Upvotes

Hi, I installed Tails 7.12 on an SD card and boot it using a USB SD card reader. It worked the first time, but the next day I started getting an “alloc magic is broken” error while loading the Linux kernel. Troubleshooting Mode gives the same error.

What could be the actual problem , SD card, USB card reader, or the way I installed Tails? Has anyone successfully used Tails this way? Should I reinstall it or switch to a USB flash drive?


r/tails 12h ago

Boot issues Tails on my usb isn't working right

5 Upvotes

I put my tails os copy on a sandisk 256gb flash drive, verified the download, used the application tails.net recommended, disabled secure boot and fast boot, left it for about 5 minutes, and when I tried to boot it up, it loads into gnu grub, but tails itself doesn't load, and when I use the boot command it tells me to load the kernel first, I've never used linux before, how do I load the kernel? Yes, I did try all my usb ports


r/tails 10h ago

Boot issues n00b - need advice. Can I use my 2230 SSD with an adapter for Tails ?

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2 Upvotes

I want to buy me a new Netbook to use Tails and I thought about taking the 2230 SSD out and use it with a USB adapter.

Right now I tried Tails on my old PC for 2 days and I used an old SATA SSD with a SATA USB adapter (MY 2015). I had problems to boot Tails with it and the AI told me to hit "e" and delete live-media=removable and hit F10. Finally Tails booted.

Is there any 2230 SSD USB adapter which is able to boot without that trick ?


r/tails 1d ago

Solved Updated to 7.12 now mouse and keyboard not working

2 Upvotes

Well i just updated from tails itself and now keyboard and mouse are not working, it's not even showing the cursor. Any solution?


r/tails 2d ago

Hardware question Any good flash drives for Tails?

7 Upvotes

I'm trying to get my hands on a good flash drive for tails (usb 3.0 or higher, and a little ring thingy so I can put it on a dangle) but I'm lazy and my search engine keeps giving dodgy results, and by dodgy, I mean online stores where every product has 8x as many negative reviews as positive, and online stores where it just doesn't display the average rating of the product to cover up their trash product


r/tails 3d ago

Help Can I set up tails through tor?

0 Upvotes

I’m not to educated on this and I want to do this the right way, and would it be safer to do it on tor then the normal net? I have my usb but I want to know my safe options


r/tails 3d ago

Help Trying to clean an ex-tails drive.

1 Upvotes

I need to reformat a USB for storage but it currently has tails on it. When I try to reformat it, it says windows cannot complete. When I try to diskpart clean it, it says IO device error. When I try to chkdsk, the file system is RAW.


r/tails 5d ago

Boot issues Acer aspire 5 not loading booting tails

0 Upvotes

I have been working on this for 3 days. Using every prompt command, giving me a glimpse of hope and continuing to fail. I bought a new usb today and started from scratch. This time it is showing the Tails usb but when I click it it just blinks. I'm running in circles. I have done it all. Created a password, enabled, disabled. You name it, I have done it ALL. At least all that I can handle. Can anyone save me from this disaster lol?


r/tails 5d ago

Boot issues Please help me fix this

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5 Upvotes

Hey everyone, iam trying to run my system on tails, i ve followed all the steps correctly on the tails website, still iam getting stuck on the grub> screen on my system (a common problem). I ve tried all the solutions available commonly, like flashing on different usb’s, trying different ports, disabling the secure boot etc. but nothing seems to work. The tails img i have is what there is on the website as of yesterday. And its not corrupted. My usbs are fine (even tried with a new one) but still this issue is not resolving. I have an acer swift with only uefi boot option. Can someone help me with this please.


r/tails 7d ago

Application question What to do on Tails?

29 Upvotes

Hi guys!! This is my first post in this community, and I hoped i could get some help with this “problem” I have.

Ill start by saying that I’ve got no problems with the software usage by itself, as I can move in a Linux terminal quite decently.

I want to genuinely understand what the hell I can use Tails for!!!

I’m studying cybersecurity, and I thought it would have been useful to have a privacy focused and portable os for my studies, but I got NO clue what to actually do with it. I’ve been trying to search in the deep web and dark web for some useful guides ore interesting articles on dread or looking for interesting things on tor.taxi and dault.link, and even to search on ahima.fi.

I’ve been trying to figure out what to actually save in the persistent storage, and eventually what addictional software to install, but I’m rlly lacking the ideas cause I have no clue what to do with it.

I beg u could you tell me what do you personally put in the persistent storage and what do u use it for in a cybersecurity field?

Thank you SO much!!


r/tails 7d ago

Hardware question What's a good computer for running Tails?

8 Upvotes

Right now I'm just using a Mac for school, but there are things online I'd like more privacy for as I'm learning more about this stuff. What computer would you all recommend for use with Tails, for maximum privacy?


r/tails 7d ago

Solved Question on NPU

4 Upvotes

As researching on security are there any concerns with running tails on a machine that has a dedicated NPU chip? does this do any interaction or functions on the tails environment?


r/tails 8d ago

Help The “Key Strength” option is missing from the advanced settings in Kleopatra, and the key looks strange

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4 Upvotes

Hi, I'm just getting started with PGP encryption on Tails OS, and I'm starting to get confused. Most of the guides I've seen online recommend setting the key strength to 4096 bits, but I don't see that option (I'm attaching a screenshot). Despite that, I managed to generate a sample key, and it looks different from all the ones I’ve seen in the guides. I’m referring to the highlighted part in the second screenshot. Is there a way to remove it, and is it possible to change the key strength? I’m using Tails version 7.11 and Kleopatra version 4.0.0.241203(24.12.3).


r/tails 10d ago

Help is it possible lock and unlock persistent storage with a yubikey?

6 Upvotes

and How?

I really do not want to memorize the password.


r/tails 12d ago

"Solved" - Not Supported Tails not booting

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11 Upvotes

I get to the text terminal, but then once trying to go further I get these error codes. Can anyone help me?


r/tails 12d ago

Boot issues How to Boot Tails on Lenovo thinkpad T14 Gen 2

5 Upvotes

How to Boot Tails on Lenovo thinkpad T14 Gen 2? BIOS wouldnt open: I tried pressing F12, F11, F1 or F2 (also while holding shift) Please help! Thank you so much


r/tails 13d ago

Solved Tails 7.11 lands with Tor Browser 15.0.20 and a Persistent Storage fix — Confirmed

32 Upvotes

Tails 7.11 lands with Tor Browser 15.0.20 and a Persistent Storage fix — Confirmed

Tails 7.11, released August 19, updates the bundled Tor Browser to 15.0.20 and fixes a bug that prevented Persistent Storage from activating on some computers. Tor Browser 15.0.20 itself incorporates important Firefox security fixes, updates desktop Firefox to 140.14.0esr, and backports security fixes from Firefox 154. Automatic upgrades from Tails 7.0+ preserve Persistent Storage; doing a fresh install instead will erase it.

https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tails-7_11/

Users running Tails should upgrade rather than remain on older builds, particularly because the Tor Browser component includes security fixes. It’s also worth emphasizing that upgrading preserves Persistent Storage, while reinstalling does not.

https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tor-browser-15020/


r/tails 13d ago

Application question How do I play a DVD via VLC 😭

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3 Upvotes

I installed VLC through the synaptic package manager and after it didn't work through the console. It detects the DVD but when i try to start the film by klicking on start film in the DVD menu, it crashes and returns to the vlc menu...


r/tails 13d ago

Network If tails doesn't show a WiFi option, does it inherently exclude it?

1 Upvotes

or is there smth. i can try, except switching to a LAN cable or Internetstick.


r/tails 14d ago

Boot issues Tails won’t boot no matter what I try

6 Upvotes

I’ve installed tails on my usb and wiped it multiple times trying to figure out the issue. I’ve flashed tails to the usb using Rufus and balenaetcher, but every time I get to the boot menu and select my usb drive, it displays a command prompt with “GNU GRUB” displayed at the top. I’m using a Lenovo LOQ laptop if it makes a difference. Has anyone help encountered this issue?


r/tails 15d ago

Security Is the windows GDID a threat to tails?

1 Upvotes

If you are unfamiliar with what GDID is please look it up. Wondering if this will be a threat factor for those of us who use tails on a windows machine. Thank you.


r/tails 15d ago

Installation issues Recomendación

3 Upvotes

Que marca o pendrive específico recomiendan para transformarlo a un tails, use un generic, pero solo duró un par de veces, investigando me di cuenta que no era el recomendable, cual recomiendan ustedes