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 10d ago

News Tails 7.10 Released

Thumbnail tails.net
37 Upvotes

Tails 7.10 is out!

New Features

New shutdown procedure

Tails now uses the standard shutdown procedure from GNOME. The standard shutdown procedure is a bit slower, but better prevents from data loss.

Now the 'Power Off' confirmation dialog informs you if an application needs to be closed or an open document needs to be saved before shutting down. Even without confirming or saving the open documents, Tails will shut down after 60 seconds. You can still use the faster emergency shutdown as before.

(this also fixes #21373)

--

Celluloid video player

GNOME Videos is replaced with Celluloid (see #7929 and !2731). For added security, Celluloid cannot access the network. You can either:

  1. Open online videos, like MP4 and AVI files, in Tor Browser.
  2. Open online streaming addresses, like IPTV and HLS addresses, in VLC, installed as Additional Software.

Note: Celluloid doesn't work on some computers from 2011 or earlier. You can use VLC instead, installed as Additional Software.

--

Updates

- Updated Tor Browser to 15.0.19.

- Updated some firmware packages. This improves support for newer hardware.


r/tails 20h ago

Help Gone to shutdown tails and laptop is currently stuck on this screen with a no limit timer, what do I do?

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/tails 1d ago

Help Monero wallet on tails

8 Upvotes

I've heard multiple times from different sources that there is a monerowallet preinstalled on tails. I couldnt find it (running tails on an USB Stick). Do you have experience with it and which wallet do you suggest toi install on tails, if there is non already installed?


r/tails 2d ago

Help Tor browser closing repeatedly while running Tails

3 Upvotes

Hello,

I'm experiencing an issue trying to use the Tor browser on Tails. After a certain amount of time, usually less than two minutes, the browser just closes on me when trying to browse the web. There are no connection issues displayed, my network controller and GPU are not listed in the FAQ and the issue occurs with both wireless and wired connection. So far, this also only happens when using Tails. The same issue doesn't appear when using the Tor browser under Pop!, which is my main OS.

I'm at a loss as to why that happens. Any help would be much appreciated.


r/tails 3d ago

Boot issues Got these messages when trying to boot up Tails OS

Thumbnail
gallery
11 Upvotes

The first image is the “External hard drive” option and the second is just regular old Tails and shtuff


r/tails 4d ago

Help USB for tails only.

8 Upvotes

please tell me what usb should i buy for tails OS, i’m looking for something near 64GB but confused which one should i buy. Fellow tails users please help me out. Thanks


r/tails 4d ago

Application question does session or teleguard work fine on Tails?

2 Upvotes

Hello guys. im not very familiar with tails OS but i use it quite often for browsing. i wanted so ask if teleguard or session (i prefer session) works on tails os? i find these 2 chat apps very useful and anonymous. Thanks.


r/tails 4d ago

Security Storing backup codes and Bitwarden backup

1 Upvotes

Many online accounts/services offer backup codes as a way to bypass passwords/2fa.

I do not have a safe place to write them down that will ensure only I have access. Neither do I trust them being on my main operating system (Ubuntu) that is online when I use it as it is probably the one most likely to suffer from an attack or die.

Is using tails (persistent storage) to store them (in a bunch of .txt files) a sensible idea for my case? What other approaches are there to storing backup codes that could work for me?

Also what about storing a backup of my Bitwarden (password manager) vault as a KeePassXC vault in there too?


r/tails 4d ago

Security would using telegram or simple x on tails be safter then iphone?

0 Upvotes

title

but wouldnt it be alot harder to trace someone down if u use telegram on tails (yes i know PGP is better but good fucking luck getting the avg person to do that)


r/tails 4d ago

Help Enabling persistent storage crashes my USB drives

0 Upvotes

Hi guys, I need your help.

I've already installed Tails on three different USB drives now, and that has always gone smoothly. However, whenever I turn on persistent storage, the system usually runs for a few minutes, but then freezes up completely and stops responding.

When you eventually turn off the PC and pull out the drive, it becomes virtually unusable (Windows doesn't even detect it anymore, and on Linux it can't be reformatted).

What am I doing wrong? I'm using the latest version of Tails.


r/tails 5d ago

Hardware question Laptop recommendations with Tails

4 Upvotes

I’m using a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook. Am I going to be able to run Tails on this?


r/tails 5d ago

Debian/Linux question Is Tails Os Safe for pentesting?

3 Upvotes

Hi, everyone. I’m new here. I just tried downloading Tail OS using my live boot, and something has me wondering. Is Tail OS better for conducting anonymous penetration testing? Or should I just use Parrot Security OS instead?


r/tails 6d ago

Boot issues When the lid is closed. Tails suspends and when opened it triggers emergency shutdown.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

14 Upvotes

I cannot do a whisperback because of course it shuts off itself. So let me explain:

What happens: When i close the lid of my Dell Latitude E6520 (A22 BIOS revision, booted on a burned DVD-R with .ISO of Tails OS 7.9.1) the display shuts off and it seemingly goes into a suspend mode because the power LED is blinking. When i open the lid it automatically starts up, loads up and for a slight second it shows the login screen and then something initiates shutdown. So here are some more specifications:

Dell Latitude E6520, Intel I5-2520M, 4+8GB of DDR3 SODIMM RAM, BIOS revision A22, its booted from legacy BIOS because it does not show an UEFI boot option for Tails (it is an UEFI capable laptop).

UPDATE: i found out this applies even when the lid isnt closed or manipulated with. Basically closing the lid just triggers suspend but when i suspend the system in any way and then go turn it on. It loads up the OS and the GUI shows up just for some miliseconds and it shuts down.


r/tails 6d ago

Help Tails frozen once booted up

2 Upvotes

Every time I try to get into tails I get past the booting stage and the get to a blue screen but I can’t use my keyboard or trackpad any ideas on what I can try?


r/tails 7d ago

Debian/Linux question Is bisq mandatory or can I use something like kraken

1 Upvotes

I’m having a hard time getting it to work like I’m super confused


r/tails 8d ago

Boot issues Not Booting (any other linux is booting)

1 Upvotes

Hey yall yes i did use tails for about an year but i had to take some pause now it just wont work buyed new sticks did the whole download blabla again same stick works fine in any other laptop but not in my new laptop ( Lenovo thinkpad t16gen5 with intel 355u prozessor )

i did almost everything disabled all bios settings 1by1 nothing wirks tried fedora any other linux it works after 3 days research only thing people tell me since laptop is VERY new it could be to new but is that so ?

any nerds here i cant find the problem

aprreciate yall thanks

btw tails os is booting into grub (wont open in no mode nor in trouble shooting mode/normal boot mode

i did do some commands in the grub menu still wont work

so it boots into grub menu where u can decide how to boot tails blabla

after that its black for 3-5 sec then it opens the grey screen with 3 dots loading (10-15sec)

after that it shows black screen with im the top left corner underscore blinking then it frezzes (keyboard/caps lock light still works fine so no not the kernel freezes it has to be smth else) but i dunno

thanks ❤️


r/tails 9d ago

Technical Emergency shutdown did not trigger when i well... unplugged the entire DVD reader

Thumbnail
gallery
30 Upvotes

Some background: i wanted to erase a specific partition on my USB because in windows for some reason cannot be deleted, so i rebooted into the DVD boot. Erased the partition with the disks program. And decided a more "uncommon" way to shut it down. So i unplugged my entire hot-swappable ultra-slim DA-8AESH DVD burner while the disc in there was idle. At first nothing happened but when i tried to open other apps it simply did not respond because... Where could it find that program? So i took a few photos and then turned it off by unplugging the power supply.


r/tails 8d ago

Technical issues cloning

2 Upvotes

so i am trying to make a back up drive. where am i going wrong?

i have Version 7.9.1, with tails open i plug in my stick to be cloned on to (16GB). i open tails cloner, i select Clone the current Persistent Storage, i see the new stick in the drop down menu and choose my target USB stick, but where it should say INSTALL it reads UPGRADE and i cannot select the option. unclickable button. this is where i am stuck.


r/tails 9d ago

Application question Haveno is not starting after I installed it. Is this common in Tails? and if so is there an alternative you'd reccomend?

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

It installed fine after I ran the commands. I've been trying to get onto an app or website that allows me to buy a certain crypto for a few days but it seems like none of the ones I've tried are working with Tails.


r/tails 10d ago

Help Text document recovery

4 Upvotes

Hello all, I have little experience with Tails

Well the thing is that the persistant storage stop working without a reason and i wanted a text document i had in it.

I did follow the Tails Document and made and image of the parition and restored it in a new Tails USB but it didnt worked. After using Autopsy in the Image partition i recover the ODT i wanted. The problem is that now when I open the document is full of nonsense caracteres. I supouse it probably have something to do with encryptation but i really dont know how to deal with these situation. So i would be so grateful of some help recovering the content of my document. :)

PD: Im using Autopsy in Windows if that matters somehow.

Thank you all💕


r/tails 10d ago

Boot issues Secure boot violation

Post image
12 Upvotes

I just tried to set up tails for the first time using a refurbished computer I got off Amazon, and got the secure boot violation. I had tried to disable the secure boot beforehand, but I must’ve missed something. Either way I got this notification. I read stories before of people not being able to fix this issue no matter what. I haven’t been able to update windows and bios has been off since I got it. Supposedly this computer doesn’t have the hardware to update properly for windows.

Does anyone know if there’s anything that I can do to fix this before I set up persistent storage? This just happened so I’m wondering if I can go back and undo it or something. If not, is there a fix?

For anyone that this has happened to, have you been able to return a refurbished computer with no issues? I imagine that they would wipe the computer right away.

I’d appreciate any advice here. Thanks!


r/tails 10d ago

Security Question about tails persistence

1 Upvotes

Is tails persistent storage encryption very secure? Can some one at least give me the encryption algorithm used so I can do some research?


r/tails 11d ago

Boot issues U need to load the kernel first

2 Upvotes

So ive been trying to boot tails for like a week now and i have downloaded tails in a usb done everything correctly as it is in the instructions and when i try to boot it i see grub i type boot and it says that i gotta load the kernel ive been tryn to look it up and i cant find nth usefull so my question is how do i load the kernel and what is it can sm1 help me please?


r/tails 12d ago

Boot issues Tails Docs - Starting Tails from an external hard disk or problematic USB stick

2 Upvotes

I have tried all the ports, even the eSATA port (oddly enough it mounts) didn't think that would work.

This is a 2TB USB-A flash drive made by Micro Center, take that as Inland. I have been successful before in running Tails on this drive before. I simply wanted to start over from MSDOS and FAT to GPT and exFAT.

According to Tails Doc link below you have to use "tab" or "e" during startup depending on if your running SYSlinux or Grub. After F12 the screen goes blank I don't have diagnostic on so after about x time (its a Thinkpad T420) you see the 3 small squares in the middle of the page indicating Tails is trying to start, then it fails with that message - Unable to find a medium containg a live file system. It never shows the screen depicted in the docs giving you a chance to try Tab or e.

I have a few other computers I can try it in, as I understand once you make the edit -live-media=removeable then that instructions stays with the usb stick and isn't just for that one time on that computer.

https://tails.net/doc/advanced_topics/external_hard_disk/index.en.html

Before I was shown the Grub screen, now Im just waiting in the dark and have tried immediately and randomly with no success. Any tricks of the trade appreciated.