r/tails 1d ago

News Tails 7.12 Released

Thumbnail tails.net
33 Upvotes

r/tails Feb 14 '21

Announcement Read before posting

120 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 3h ago

Boot issues Please help me fix this

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1 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 1d ago

Application question What to do on Tails?

24 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 1d ago

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

6 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 1d 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 2d ago

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

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3 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 4d 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 6d ago

"Solved" - Not Supported Tails not booting

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10 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 6d ago

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

6 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 7d ago

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

27 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 7d 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 7d 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 8d ago

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

5 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 9d 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 9d ago

Installation issues Recomendación

4 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


r/tails 10d ago

Installation issues Unable to select .img file

2 Upvotes

I was trying to install tails using the official install guide but when i get to the step where i have to select the .img file it just wont show up in explorer, neither can i drag it in, start rufus by dropping the img file onto rufus or select it by showing all files, nothing shows up except for folders. this might be a windows explorer issue but maybe someone has a solution. thanks!


r/tails 14d ago

Application question Resizing or maximizing tor browser window

15 Upvotes

Hello! Does resizing or even maximizing the tor browser still bad up to this day and as the saying goes? Or am I not that updated how it affects fingerprinting.


r/tails 14d ago

Debian/Linux question Can you configure tails to shut off automatically after a certain amount of time with no activity?

10 Upvotes

For reasons today i had to leave my computer rather abruptly, then when i got back 6 hours later found i had left my tails on and logged in the whole time

Is there a way to set it up to mitigate the possible damage should i make this mistake again?


r/tails 15d ago

News Tails 7.11 released

Thumbnail tails.net
27 Upvotes

r/tails 15d ago

FAQ - Read the Documentation Tails file keeps showing corrupted when downloaded

1 Upvotes

Last time I followed thru with the instructions all the way complete the process what am I doing wrong
Deleting all the previous programs like Rufus.etc
What’s nexts I’m lost af and genuinely need tails for some monero issues asap ha

I wish I cost post pictures for him


r/tails 16d ago

Boot issues Stuck in GRUB menu every time I try to boot Tails (Lenovo ThinkBook)

3 Upvotes

Hey guys,

Need some help here. I tried booting Tails from a USB stick on my Lenovo ThinkBook, but every time I select the drive I just end up stuck in the GRUB menu instead of actually launching Tails.

I disabled Secure Boot in BIOS and enabled USB boot, then flashed the ISO with Rufus on Windows. Selected the stick via F12, but it just loops back to GRUB.

Is this a known issue with ThinkBooks or Rufus? Should I just wipe the stick and try balenaEtcher instead?

Thanks!


r/tails 17d ago

Help WiFi on Tails at Dorm

17 Upvotes

Hey all,

Anyone have experience connecting to dorm wifi while using tails? The WiFi requires registration of my laptop, which I have completed, but when I boot tails, the WiFi will not connect because of, I believe, Mac spoofing. Will turning off Mac spoofing fix this issue? And will it be safe? Or is there any alternative?

Thank you for the advice.


r/tails 17d ago

Application question Feather Wallet takes hours to a day to sync upon each tails boot

5 Upvotes

Each and every single time I boot feather after booting tails it scans 23k+ blocks and takes hours up to a day to fully sync. It is not safe to leave my computer running tails like this.

How to fix?


r/tails 17d ago

Boot issues Problem with booting tails on lenovo idea pad

1 Upvotes

i downloaded tails and tried everything form tails troubleshoot to writing and blacklisting amd from the boot settings and then i tried in the bios the uma frame buffer size to 2 g but nothing i came to the conclusion that i have a problem woth the grafic interface because this linux distro is missing some specific firmare to turn on my screen but im not sure could someone help me or it’s over until tails will do some changes in the kernel