/r/tails

Photograph via //r/tails

Tails is a live operating system aimed at protecting your privacy and anonymity that you can start on almost any computer from a USB stick or a DVD.

Tails is a live operating system aimed at protecting your privacy and anonymity that you can start on almost any computer from a USB stick or a DVD. Get Tails.

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Installation

System Requirements

  • Either an internal or external DVD reader or the possibility to boot from a USB stick/SD card.

  • Tails requires a 64-bit x86-64 compatible processor: IBM PC compatible and others but not PowerPC nor ARM. Mac computers are IBM PC compatible since 2006. Tails does not run on most tablets and phones.

  • 2 GB of RAM to work smoothly. It is possible to run with less, but crashes, slowness, and strange behavior is possible.

What This Sub Is

This subreddit is for the latest news and updates regarding Tails, requesting Tails support, and discussion regarding the Tails project.

What This Sub Is Not

This is not a place for posting general privacy-related news, other privacy-focused software, or individual onion services. Please see the "Related Subreddits" list below for recommendations regarding these topics.

Related Links

Related Subreddits

/r/tails

111,733 Subscribers

1

"Error starting GDM"? Can't find my graphics card listed at all on Tails site for workaround

Running 6.11, ran fine for a week... Now every time I start it, I get the fatal "Error starting GDM" message about my graphics card

I have an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. I've never had this issue with previous versions. Anyone know a workaround by chance? Thanks

6 Comments
2025/02/03
22:39 UTC

1

Haveno vs Feather vs Electrum?

I've installed Feather as an executable file that i've moved into non-amnesic storage. The installation package seems to have dynamically created data folders and a database.

I see you can install Haveno using flatpak on Tails though. I know all connections are rooted through Tor anyway. However, flatpak seems like a more more efficient and secure method of installation.

My ultimate goal is to purchase Monero on Tails. Can Electrum exchange BTC to Monero? I made a BTC purchase on Kraken. I seriously regret doing this now. Bad advice received on this.

Can i get some advice pls?

3 Comments
2025/02/03
15:00 UTC

0

Root password?

How do i create a root pass for Persistent Storage shell?

3 Comments
2025/02/03
13:04 UTC

1

Why persistent storage shouldn't be used?

I am a beginner with Tails. I still don't quite understand why I shouldn't use persistent storage. I know that there are security issues, but could someone please explain it to me in more detail?

2 Comments
2025/02/03
12:58 UTC

0

Retoswap Appimage.

Hi, so i have downloaded the Appimage from retoswap website and made it executable as a program. The app works but it keeps staying on launch page with "connecting to tor network" and fails after after 4-5 minutes. I have done something wrong but i can't figure it out what it is. Do i need to download some resources?

0 Comments
2025/02/03
11:38 UTC

1

SQUASHFS Error

Firstly I apologies for not providing any screenshots or videos. Everything happened too fast and too inconsistent for me to know when to start recording.

Recently I did a manual upgrade to 6.11 on my Tails stick, and everything seemed to work fine.

When I attempted to boot into Tails on my PC (keep in mind I've always been able to run Tails perfectly fine on any machine) everything seemed fine, albeit a little slow, and then while I was in the welcome screen suddenly the everything went black and my screen was flooded with SQUASHFS errors.

I switched to my laptop and tried to boot into Tails, and the same thing happened; I was in the welcome screen and it suddenly crashed giving the same SQUASHFS errors.

I went back to my PC — the third attempt at booting into Tails — and everything worked fine. I put in my persistent password and everything worked perfectly from then.

Is there any cause for concern?
Thanks for your help!

0 Comments
2025/02/03
10:35 UTC

1

Cyphernet to Clearnet, share data?

I wish to share data between my Tails Linux OS and my tablet. I tried Onion Share, i can't scan the QR on my tablet as it gives me the QR code is in the wrong 'format'. Pidgin is very unstable. Obviously my tablet has no usb.

Install Onion Share on my tablet perhaps? Is there a way to do this securely?

1 Comment
2025/02/03
07:17 UTC

1

Trouble permanently installing a language

Hi, I'm trying to add Kurmanji to my tails.

sudo apt install libreoffice-l10n-kmr

Installed, but when the installation is finished, it does not show up in the language list under Keyboard - Input sources, and when restarting tails I have to install again.

How can I add the language permanently?

0 Comments
2025/02/03
01:31 UTC

1

XMPP network domain for Pidgin?

Any good reliable ones out there?

Ive installed Pidgin but im getting an 'XMPP ID is invalid'. I left the domain blank, maybe this is the reason?

3 Comments
2025/02/02
17:25 UTC

1

Wifi adapter not found issue on 2017 Macbook air

I can get Tails to boot just fine, but I can’t for the life of me get wifi to work

I know I may have to resort to buying an adapter, but if theres anyone that could help, that’d be great.

I read the guides on known wifi issues and I can’t seem to find anything relevant to my situation

Thanks

0 Comments
2025/02/02
15:36 UTC

0

Softphone

As in the title, someone knows how could i setup a softphone program on tails to make calls with my voip provider?

3 Comments
2025/02/02
13:08 UTC

0

Monera wallet bundled with Tails?

I don't understand why the bundled wallet on Tails is Bitcoin only? Why would an anonymous OS bundle a crypto wallet for an easily traceable cryptocoin only?

This makes no sense IMO.

5 Comments
2025/02/02
06:34 UTC

3

Tails on chrome laptop without dev

I'm a student and the school my chromebook belongs too does not allow dev options is their a way A. Make it accesible so I can boot tails or B. Run the program without enabling dev feature?

2 Comments
2025/02/02
04:41 UTC

0

Am i hacked?

this just popped up and idk if i’m hacked or not cus of the security update

9 Comments
2025/02/02
02:05 UTC

0

Tails not booting on surface pro 8

I’ve attempted multiple thumbdrives of tailsOS and it will not boot on my surface. Any attempt to boot from USB leads me back to the normal windows boot screen. I see it’s not on the list of incompatible devices. Any recommendations?

10 Comments
2025/02/01
19:10 UTC

1

Does the built in Veracrypt hidden volume "reader" disable TRIM?

I happened upon a post about how when using Veracrypt with an SSD, TRIM should be disabled. I then read how it is disabled by default when using Windows, but not the case on Linux.

Under Linux, VeraCrypt does not block the trim operation on volumes using the native Linux kernel cryptographic services, which is the default setting.  To block TRIM on Linux, users should either enable the "do not use kernel cryptographic services" option in VeraCrypt's Preferences (applicable only to volumes mounted afterward) or use the --mount-options=nokernelcrypto switch in the command line when mounting.

When using Tails to read a Veracrypt hidden volume on an SSD, is the TRIM option disabled as a part of opening a hidden volume?

Thanks for the info.

0 Comments
2025/02/01
18:23 UTC

1

Is going on the clear net safe while using tails?

For example, would going on YouTube without signing in compromise my security on tails or should I only stick to onion links?

5 Comments
2025/02/01
14:38 UTC

1

What kind of encryption does tails use for PS (Persistent Storage)?

What kind of encryption does tails use for PS (Persistent Storage)?

2 Comments
2025/02/01
14:33 UTC

1

Error after upgrade to 6.11

Hi all, after upgrading from other tails, at startup appears this error. I have tried to do an upgrade from a completely new tails (manual upgrade) but error still there. This happens not on all usb devices I've upgraded.

Any suggestions?

2 Comments
2025/02/01
14:29 UTC

1

What is the recommended way to use Veracrypt with Tails

Hello, I am wondering what would be the best way to use Veracrypt with Tails, meaning benefitting of the advantages of Veracrypt over LUKS to store sensitive data, while benefitting Tails amnesia to manage them.

I have thought of 3 models:

  1. Using a file-hosted Veracrypt volume within the LUKS persistence storage. According to Veracrypt documentation, file-hosted volumes are less good in terms of plausible deniability, but still achievable with hidden volume: https://veracrypt.eu/en/Plausible Deniability.html Another question is the perennity of the persistence storage, whether it survives multiple Tails upgrades.

  2. Using a Veracrypt encrypted partition next to Tails partition and persistence storage, within the same USB stick. However, according to this post, I understand it is not feasible anymore: https://www.reddit.com/r/tails/s/j1I9dwOLbX

  3. Using 2 different USB sticks, one for Tails and one fully encrypted stick with Veracrypt. Here we can even use a keyfile in addition to the passphrase, to put in the LUKS persistence storage to make sure it is only opened with Tails. To the condition that the Veracrypt USB stick does not use wear-leveling system, which is not recommended : https://veracrypt.eu/en/Wear-Leveling.html I don't know whether having the volume within LUKS would mitigate this in some way or not.

What do you think would be the best way to do so ? Is there a better model I didn't think of ?

4 Comments
2025/02/01
14:00 UTC

2

How do you save onion links when in live mode

Hi,

What methods do you use to save onion links, saving it in your tor mail or any onion site that allows to store text?
Please note that I'm in live mode so no fav in browser and no txt.

8 Comments
2025/02/01
09:15 UTC

1

Persistent storage questions

  1. Do you have to eject a USB drive on shutdown or will the system do this automatically?

  2. How secure is your Persistent Storage pass? EFF advice is 6 to 8 random words. This seems like a lot? I know it depends on the threat level.

  3. What's best practice for creating a Persistent Storage backup? Passwords, local, device advice pls?

  4. Is there a benefit on a home network to creating two SSIDs for different traffic? Both by default have the same Network ID / pass. Should I run tails over a Guest connection instead?

2 Comments
2025/02/01
08:27 UTC

1

Trouble with balenaetcher while downloading.

I have followed the steps for downloading tails off of the official website to a T. I downloaded Balena Etcher, then ran it as administrator, plugged my 8GB USB stick in, then attempted to flash from file. The file extension for tails is .img. This is where I ran into my problem. Balena Etcher seems to just do nothing at all, and none of the buttons are able to be clicked, displaying my mouse as a red circle with a cross through it when I hover it over any of the buttons.

Is there a fix to this? Can I use a different etcher to flash tails onto my usb?

3 Comments
2025/02/01
07:04 UTC

5

I am stuck on this after selecting troubleshoot (dell g15)

8 Comments
2025/02/01
06:56 UTC

1

"Decryption failed: no secret key" - New error after update

I just updated Tails to 6.11 today. I'm very familiar with it and with the use of Kleopatra to encrypt/decrypt messages.

After the update, I attempted to decrypt a message that had been encrypted with my public key, like I've always done. Now, I get the error listed in my title above.

I even attempted to delete my old key pair and create a brand new key pair and have the same result. I give my public key out, I receive a message encrypted with my public key, I paste the message in notepad, I attempt to decrypt and I receive the message "decryption failed: no secret key".

I've changed nothing at all about the way I do this and I've been doing this for years. Any help would be appreciated!

2 Comments
2025/02/01
05:33 UTC

0

Access an online community over Tails?

It'd be cool if I could access and post to an online community to ask questions using tails. I can view Reddit but can't post? A Discord app would also be great.

Are there any popular online communities out there that accept users over Tor?

6 Comments
2025/02/01
02:40 UTC

1

Error connecting to Tor

Hello, I am trying to use Tails for the first time. When I try to connect to Tor, it says there is an error. (I'm not using Unsafe Browser, I want to hide that I am using Tor but I am on my home internet.) I copied a bridge over on a USB stick.
The only thing I can think of that is wrong is the timezone. I am in Canada EST, but this does not seem to be an option. When I select "Canada/Eastern", it doesn't work and the clock bumps 5 hours ahead. I've tried the other Canadian and US timezones and nothing is working. Can someone please help?

4 Comments
2025/02/01
00:24 UTC

2

Balenaetcher messing up ..

Ok I’ve done everything. And whenever I get here this is what says. Any help is appreciated.. I also downloaded Rufus but need some help with that too.. Balrnaetcher also just keeps on loading and loading and then not doing anything.. what do I do

4 Comments
2025/01/31
09:55 UTC

1

Why is this not working? - Acer Aspire Go

3 Comments
2025/01/31
07:05 UTC

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