# Tails

> Linux distribution for anonymity and privacy

**Wikidata**: [Q2801412](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2801412)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tails_(operating_system))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tails

## Summary
Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is a security-focused Linux distribution designed to preserve user anonymity and privacy. Developed by The Tor Project, Inc., it is a free operating system that aims to leave no digital footprint on the host computer by default.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** The Amnesic Incognito Live System (also known as TailsOS).
- **Initial Publication:** June 23, 2009.
- **Developer:** The Tor Project, Inc.
- **Base System:** Built on Debian and utilizes the GNOME Shell user interface.
- **Hardware Requirements:** Requires a 64-bit processor as of version 3.0 (released June 13, 2017).
- **License:** Distributed as free software (GPL-compatible).
- **Predecessor:** Based in part on the Incognito operating system.
- **Update Method:** Features a dedicated update mechanism for system maintenance.

## FAQs
### Q: What does "Amnesic" mean in the context of Tails?
A: It refers to the system's design to leave no trace on the computer it is used on. By running entirely from the computer's RAM, Tails ensures that all data is erased as soon as the system is shut down, unless the user explicitly saves data to a persistent volume.

### Q: How does Tails protect user anonymity?
A: Tails is developed by The Tor Project, Inc. and is designed to route all internet traffic through the Tor network. This prevents network surveillance from identifying the user's location or the websites they visit.

### Q: Can Tails be installed on a computer's hard drive?
A: While it is a Linux distribution, it is primarily designed as a "Live System" to be booted from external media like a USB stick or DVD. This allows it to operate independently of the host computer's installed operating system.

### Q: How can a user verify that their version of Tails is authentic?
A: Users can verify the system using the developers' PGP public key. The official fingerprint for Tails developers is A490 D0F4 D311 A415 3E2B B7CA DBB8 02B2 58AC D84F.

## Why It Matters
Tails is a central tool in the global privacy and free software movements. It addresses the critical need for a portable, secure computing environment that can be used on potentially compromised or public hardware without leaving evidence of the user's activities. By forcing all outgoing connections through the Tor network and operating as a live system, it provides a high-level defense against both local forensic analysis and network-level tracking. Its development by The Tor Project, Inc. and its reliance on the robust Debian architecture make it a standard for journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users worldwide.

## Notable For
- **Amnesic Operation:** Automatically wipes all session data from RAM upon shutdown to prevent local data recovery.
- **Tor-by-Default:** Configured to route all internet traffic through the Tor network to ensure anonymity.
- **Live Media Portability:** Designed to boot from a USB drive or DVD, allowing users to turn almost any computer into a secure workstation.
- **Security Verification:** Uses a specific PGP signing key to allow users to cryptographically verify the integrity of the operating system images.

## Body

### History and Development
Tails was first published on June 23, 2009. It was developed as a successor to the Incognito operating system. The project is currently managed by The Tor Project, Inc. and is part of the broader free software movement.

### Technical Specifications
- **Architecture:** Originally supported IA-32 (32-bit) processors, but transitioned to requiring 64-bit processors with the release of version 3.0 on June 13, 2017.
- **Desktop Environment:** Uses GNOME Shell as its core user interface, a transition that was solidified with the release of Tails 2.0 on January 26, 2016.
- **Package Management:** Utilizes the `dpkg` system for managing software packages.
- **Base Distribution:** Built upon Debian; for example, Tails 2.0 was specifically based on Debian 8.

### Security Infrastructure
Tails employs several layers of security to protect user data:
- **Cryptographic Signing:** System images are signed by the Tails developers' PGP key (Fingerprint: A490 D0F4 D311 A415 3E2B B7CA DBB8 02B2 58AC D84F).
- **Source Code:** The source code is publicly available and hosted on a GitLab repository.
- **Privacy Movement:** The project is recognized as a key component of the privacy movement and is frequently cited in security documentation such as CryptoParty guides.

### Community and Support
The project maintains a wide range of support resources:
- **Official Website:** tails.net (available in English, German, Spanish, French, and other languages).
- **Social Media:** Active presence on Twitter (@Tails_live), Mastodon (tails@fosstodon.org), and Reddit (r/tails).
- **Communication:** Uses mailing lists (amnesia-news, tails-dev, tails-testers) and an XMPP chat channel (tails@conference.riseup.net) for developer and user coordination.
- **Documentation:** Comprehensive user manuals and FAQs are provided on the official website in multiple languages.

## References

1. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/doc/about/license/index.en.html)
2. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/about/index.en.html)
3. [Source](https://www.cryptoparty.in/learn/how-tos#virtual_machines_live_discusb)
4. [Tails 2.0 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.0/index.en.html)
5. [The Tails Project's The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails)](http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/tails-projects-amnesic-incognito-live-system-tails)
6. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/doc/about/license/)
7. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.3/)
8. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.4/)
9. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.5/)
10. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.5.1/)
11. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.4.1/)
12. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.3.2/)
13. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.3.1/)
14. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2.3/)
15. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2.2/)
16. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2.1/)
17. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2/)
18. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.1.2/)
19. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.1.1/)
20. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.1/)
21. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.0.1/)
22. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.0/)
23. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.6/)
24. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.7/)
25. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.8/)
26. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.8.1/)
27. [Tails 1.8.2 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.8.2/)
28. [Tails 1.8.2 is out. 2016](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2016-January/000101.html)
29. [Tails 2.0.1 is out. 2016](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.0.1/)
30. [Tails 2.2 is out. 2016](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.2/index.en.html)
31. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.2.1/)
32. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.3/)
33. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.4/)
34. [Tails 2.5 is out. 2016](https://marc.info/?l=tails-news&m=147015676028334&w=2)
35. [Tails 2.6 is out. 2016](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2016-September/000113.html)
36. [Tails 2.7 is out. 2016](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.7/index.en.html)
37. [Tails 2.7.1 is out. 2016](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.7.1/index.en.html)
38. [Tails 2.7.1 is out. 2016](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2016-December/000119.html)
39. [Tails 2.9.1 is out. 2016](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2016-December/000120.html)
40. [Tails 2.9.1 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.9.1/index.en.html)
41. [Tails 2.10 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.10/index.en.html)
42. [Source](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_2.11/index.en.html)
43. [Source](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2017-April/000130.html)
44. [Source](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2017-June/000134.html)
45. [Tails 3.3 is out. 2017](https://mailman.boum.org/pipermail/amnesia-news/2017-November/000142.html)
46. [Tails 3.5 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_3.5/index.en.html)
47. [Tails 3.6 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_3.6/index.en.html)
48. [Tails 3.6.1 is out](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_3.6.1/index.en.html)
49. [Source](https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/tags/3.7)
50. [https://tails.boum.org/news/version_3.8/index.en.html](https://tails.boum.org/news/version_3.8/index.en.html)