tails and other secure operational system

[Sunny Dragon]

Hi guys. I don't know if this is the right place to ask this but:

I tried to use the system Tails, I even bought a pendrive to use it. But, my pc has a modern motherboard and graphics card, so it doesn't work on it (I discovered it just after I bought the pendrive, got really sad). Is there an alternative for Tails that com also run on the pendrive and have an scripted system so no one can see the archives without the password? My idea was to use this for ToZ pdfs, navigate here and save others documents to separate from my student/personal/public profile and be anonymous on the internet. Thanks in advance!

Also, if there aren't none like Tails, can I get some recommendations of linux that are secure and these kinda of things? I've never used linux before, but I'm planning to migrate to it.

 

[Hárbarðr]

I tried to use the system Tails, I even bought a pendrive to use it. But, my pc has a modern motherboard and graphics card, so it doesn't work on it (I discovered it just after I bought the pendrive, got really sad).

You will either have to wait for a new version of Tails to come out or download the latest Linux kernel and replace Tails' kernel with the latest version.

This happens because in Linux all drivers are inside the kernel and not external like it is in Windows. So if a Linux system uses a 1 or 2-year-old kernel and your computer is brand new, many of its devices will not work.

If your computer is really new then most Linux distros will not work for you, you will have to find a bleeding edge one that uses the latest kernel, like Arch.

 

[Hárbarðr]

AFAIK Tails and most other "secure" Linux distros except Qubes OS are based on the latest stable Debian, because it's the most tested and stable distribution. And the latest stable Debian was released 2 years ago and the packages in that release were already a year old when it was released(are testing them for a year before releasing them). So that means the Tails distro you downloaded has a 3-year old kernel. That's why it's not working for you.

 

[Ol argedco luciftias]

You can use a virtual machine program like Virtualbox to test and try different operating systems, without actually installing them or deleting your actual OS. Just download the installation packages for any OS that you are interested in, and "install" them into the virtual machine program. Then if you don't like it, it is just one button to delete everything and try again with a different OS.

This is not what I would recommend for a permanent solution, but it is the best way to try different OSs without having to actually erase your entire hard drive and lose everything on your computer. Actually this might be a good solution, because it is like having a 2nd seperate computer inside of the first one.

 

[Henu the Great]

You can use a virtual machine program like Virtualbox to test and try different operating systems, without actually installing them or deleting your actual OS. Just download the installation packages for any OS that you are interested in, and "install" them into the virtual machine program. Then if you don't like it, it is just one button to delete everything and try again with a different OS.

This is not what I would recommend for a permanent solution, but it is the best way to try different OSs without having to actually erase your entire hard drive and lose everything on your computer. Actually this might be a good solution, because it is like having a 2nd seperate computer inside of the first one.

A permanent solution could be with Linux, or another system than Windows as the host operating system for a more secure and private experience.

 

[Francophone]

A good alternative to TAILS is Whonix (whonix.org) basically it's a virtual machine that comes out of the box with softwares to protect you. Similarly to TAILS, all the traffic transits via TOR.

 

[Ol argedco luciftias]

A good alternative to TAILS is Whonix (whonix.org) basically it's a virtual machine that comes out of the box with softwares to protect you. Similarly to TAILS, all the traffic transits via TOR.

One thing about tor, it is really not so good as people think it is. It is not perfect. But I have heard whonix be recommended before.

Www.privacytools.io

 

[FancyMancy]

You zould use ZorinOS. I haven't used it for ages, but it is like a halfway house when getting out of the jail of windose and moving onto Linux, but still looks and feels like windose.


Zorin OS is a personal computer operating system based on Ubuntu. It is marketed as an operating system designed for users new to Linux-based computer systems. One of the operating system's built-in features allows users to change the interface to resemble those of Microsoft Windows or MacOS It also comes bundled with Wine and PlayOnLinux, allowing users to run Windows software for ease of transition and gaming. Zorin OS's creators distribute different versions of the operating system; three of the versions, an "Ultimate", an "Education" and a "Business" version, are for purchase.
This quote is from an Internet search result and doesn't appear to be from the link below directly.

Zorin OS - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[FancyMancy]

One thing about tor, it is really not so good as people think it is. It is not perfect. But I have heard whonix be recommended before.

Www.privacytools.io

There are apparently a lot of "israel" nodes within Tor, now, as well. At least that was the last I knew from maybe 2 or 3 years ago.

 

[Francophone]

One thing about tor, it is really not so good as people think it is. It is not perfect. But I have heard whonix be recommended before.

Www.privacytools.io

About TOR, I often hear these two statements :

- It is technically possible to "break" the network and de-anonymize several users at the same time.
- 100% of black markets admins, dealers... Who used TOR only got caught because of a human error.

Anyway, TOR stays way too slow for daily usage. I would recommend buying a (no-log, trustworthy) VPN ; Or using another darknet such as I2P (I heard the community developed a "outproxy" plugin).

 

[AFODO]

Tor is basically using 3 vpns in sequence, the chance that all 3 nodes you connected trough is from the same source is very very unlikely.
Using a vpn + Tor can be useful but only if you 100% trust your vpn provider, for example mullvad is pretty much trustable. This way your ISP won't see that you are connected to Tor, only to vpn, and you basically add a trusted node to the beginning.

But I don't know why would this level of privacy would be needed here, we are not criminals, a VPN on itself is completely okay. This will also slow your interned down grately, things like I2P is close to unuseable.

 

[Henu the Great]

Tor is basically using 3 vpns in sequence, the chance that all 3 nodes you connected trough is from the same source is very very unlikely.

But it does not need to be, the first and last are enough to deanonymize single users, and having control of the last node gives access to the data anyway.

Using a vpn + Tor can be useful but only if you 100% trust your vpn provider, for example mullvad is pretty much trustable. This way your ISP won't see that you are connected to Tor, only to vpn, and you basically add a trusted node to the beginning.

Tor bridge is a thing, you know.

The Tor Project | Privacy & Freedom Online

Defend yourself against tracking and surveillance. Circumvent censorship.

bridges.torproject.org

 

[Francophone]

things like I2P is close to unuseable.

I must say I never used I2P. I only know it exists and basically how it works. How your experience there was ?

 

[Sunny Dragon]

So I ended up downloading Kali Linux and using the distro version with encryption data. As I`ve seen people saying here that maybe it`s no need of using to much things to hide here, but lol I`m kinda ``paranoic`` about privacy here because you know, they try to own and spy everything. I try to avoid a lot being ``exposed`` about our work, but now that FancyMancy said about ``Israel nodes``, I don`t doubt that lol. But I guess it`s still better to use Kali Linux + Tor + VPN/Tor Brigde than using Win11 + Tor/Chrome, right?

You will either have to wait for a new version of Tails to come out or download the latest Linux kernel and replace Tails' kernel with the latest version.

Is it hard to do? I`m still new to programming and this technological era. I`ve asked ChatGPT about something like that but it said it could have some privacy problems when changing the kernel.

You can use a virtual machine program like Virtualbox to test and try different operating systems, without actually installing them or deleting your actual OS. Just download the installation packages for any OS that you are interested in, and "install" them into the virtual machine program. Then if you don't like it, it is just one button to delete everything and try again with a different OS.

That`s actually a good ideia, I didn`t thought about that. Thanks, for sure I`m going to try that

A good alternative to TAILS is Whonix (whonix.org) basically it's a virtual machine that comes out of the box with softwares to protect you. Similarly to TAILS, all the traffic transits via TOR.

I`ve thought about using it but I wanted my files, accounts and everything related to our work separated from personal/study/work things, that`s why I`m using a distro live. But if it had a distro version, for sure I would use it. I`m actualy thinking about try to pass all the traffic in tor network with Oniux, but I`m still searching about it and I`m not sure about it`s limitations and security.

You zould use ZorinOS. I haven't used it for ages, but it is like a halfway house when getting out of the jail of windose and moving onto Linux, but still looks and feels like windose.

Hmmm, this sounds interesting as well. I really think about using Linux but I do download a lot of pirated games, so I don`t know if it is possible in Linux. But thanks, I`m going to search about it!

Anyway, TOR stays way too slow for daily usage. I would recommend buying a (no-log, trustworthy) VPN ; Or using another darknet such as I2P (I heard the community developed a "outproxy" plugin).

I`m actually thinking about using it only for our things, navigating here in the forum, maybe being an activist in social media with it as well and this kind of things. For general things I thing I dont mind ``being exposed``.

But I don't know why would this level of privacy would be needed here, we are not criminals, a VPN on itself is completely okay. This will also slow your interned down grately, things like I2P is close to unuseable.

I know we aint criminals, but I prefer to be most safe possible. I`m also doing this cause before, I had Tor in my cellphone, and in my pc, that are devices I could lost or someone could use and see all the things I search and etc (also my favorites, which are all posts here in the forum). I prefer putting everything together in one device, ``separating from my personal life``.

Maybe I`m just being overprotective and paranoic, but I also like to learn about these kind of things, so if I`m being an overthinker (which I actually am), I`m still learning new things (IT student btw).

Thanks btw S2

 

[FancyMancy]

Hmmm, this sounds interesting as well. I really think about using Linux but I do download a lot of pirated games, so I don`t know if it is possible in Linux. But thanks, I`m going to search about it!

You shouldn't admit breaking laws. We don't promote nor endorse that. That being said, it was quite a few years ago that I found ZorinOS, and looking on it I found Wine (or I found the other things below, then downloaded and tried Wine separately) which can run Windows programmes, and... something-something of a list of games which I was a bit excited about. Unfortunately, Wine, and/or my capabilities (but I followed instructions, so I am saying Wine) was more or less unusuable. Like I said, it was ages ago and I've not tried since then so I can't remember correctly, but I think there was also another thing, like a respository with its own programme to run games/programmes, which didn't work. I (think I) followed instructions (correctly) but it just didn't seem to work. It might have been me/my computer not being good enough, since I was new to Linux/ZorinOS. Linux distributions are good for what you can get, though. There's a learning curve, and command-line interface/terminal needs figuring-out, but it's quite good, and apparently (I say apparently, because I am not claiming it) more secure and robust.

 

[Ol argedco luciftias]

SteamOS is a version of linux, and this is designed to be able to run as many games as possible. This is designed for mostly handheld devices like a steamdeck, but it can also be used on a normal computer. It might not be the best choice, but one thing it should be able to do is run games.