Do you need to use a computer you can’t control? Do you want to access the Internet without being monitored or leaving a trace? Tails OS is the solution for you. This stand-alone operating system, which runs from a simple USB key, protects your communications, encrypts your data and makes all activity disappear as soon as it’s turned off. A digital shield designed for high-risk environments.
Tails OS: The operating system for anonymous Internet browsing
Tails OS (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is a free Debian-based operating system designed to protect online privacy and anonymity. It runs exclusively from a USB stick or DVD, without installing anything or leaving any traces on the computer used. All connections must pass through the Tor network or are blocked, preventing user identification and protecting against network surveillance.
Designed for journalists, activists, whistleblowers and citizens facing censorship, Tails offers a secure environment with integrated tools such as Tor Browser, Thunderbird with OpenPGP encryption, KeePassXC, and OnionShare. Optional encrypted storage lets you back up certain files or settings without compromising anonymity.
This amnesiac, ephemeral and portable system is regularly updated to correct critical vulnerabilities and incorporate the latest protection. Using Tails means choosing a radical approach to cybersecurity, focused on discretion, non-persistence and digital freedom.
Take your anonymity everywhere with Tails OS
Tails is an operating system designed for those who want to regain control of their digital life. Running live from a USB stick, it leaves no trace on the computer you’re using: no temporary files, no history, no system logs. As soon as you switch it off, everything disappears.
Its main advantage is its protection against surveillance. By forcing all connections to pass through the Tor network, Tails makes it extremely difficult to track your online activity. Whether it’s your ISP, a malicious actor or a government agency, no one can see the sites you visit or your actual location.
Tails is also an effective weapon against censorship in authoritarian countries or on restricted networks. It lets you access information freely, without depending on a compromised local system. Portable, discreet and encrypted, it offers a unique solution for secure, anonymous browsing.
The best privacy tools preinstalled in Tails OS
By default, Tails integrates a suite of tools selected to guarantee security, anonymity and autonomy. The Tor browser, configured with uBlock Origin, lets you surf anonymously, bypassing trackers, censorship and geographic restrictions. All connections pass through the Tor network, with no manual configuration required.
For messaging, Tails offers Thunderbird, already configured with OpenPGP encryption, ideal for exchanging sensitive emails securely. For password and cryptocurrency management, KeePassXC provides a local, encrypted safe, whileElectrum enables discreet Bitcoin payments. OnionShare facilitates encrypted peer-to-peer file sharing, without the need for third-party servers.
For office and creative tasks, there’s LibreOffice for documents, GIMP for photo retouching and MAT (Metadata Anonymization Toolkit), an essential tool for automatically removing invisible metadata from files (photos, PDFs, etc.). The whole package offers a complete, ready-to-use environment, without compromising on confidentiality.
LUKS: Safeguard your documents and passwords without compromising anonymity
Tails offers encrypted persistent storage, enabling you to keep certain files and settings from one session to the next, while maintaining a high level of security. Unlike the rest of the system, which is erased on each reboot, this encrypted space remains on the USB key and can only be unlocked with a strong password.
This storage is particularly useful for storing sensitive documents, KeePassXC credentials, known Wi-Fi networks or personalized settings (keyboard configuration, Tor bridges, browser favorites, etc.). It facilitates daily use of Tails without sacrificing anonymity.
All data stored in this area is encrypted using LUKS, a proven Linux security standard. Even if the key is stolen or lost, no one will be able to access its contents without the password. An ideal feature for combining discretion, practicality and advanced protection.
The system designed for those who can’t afford mistakes
Tails is not designed to replace your everyday operating system, but to meet a specific need: to protect your digital life in high-risk situations. It’s a solution designed for those who can’t afford any leaks: journalists, activists, whistle-blowers or ordinary citizens living in contexts of surveillance, censorship or digital repression.
Its live operation, anonymity via Tor and total absence of traces make it a discreet and powerful digital weapon, for occasional use when security must take precedence over comfort. As long as you understand its limits, Tails offers a real bulwark against digital intrusion.
Free and portable, Tails goes everywhere with you, but requires rigor, caution and autonomy. That’s the price of freedom in a connected world.
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About the author
Adrien Piron
