To stay anonymous on the Internet, many people use various plugins to disable tracking, anonymizers, and VPN services. However, to ensure high anonymity on the web, while playing MuchBetter casino, for example, you do not need to install an unlimited amount of software – it’s enough to use OS Tails.
What is the Tails?
Tails is an operating system for anonymous use, based on Linux Debian. The system software can run on any computer or laptop using an external drive or memory card.
Tails allows you to use the Internet, play the best Aussie online casino anonymously, and keep important information safe thanks to the TOR browser. The operating system is equipped with special programs that are designed to work securely with documents, media files, messages, and emails.
The main feature of the described system is considered a full-fledged functioning from the removable device. That is, the user does not need to install this software on the computer. It is enough to connect the drive to the device and use the tools Tails regardless of the installed operating system.
It is also possible to work with encrypted data storage. The described feature will not allow access to the stored information by third party users.
What programs are in Tails?
Some of the programs included in Tails:
- Tor Browser – the main Tails web browser that uses the Tor network;
- KeePassXC, a password manager;
- Mozilla Thunderbird – email client;
- Calculator;
- Text editor – Notepad analog;
- Files – file manager;
- Audacity – program for audio file editing;
- Brasero – CD/DVD burner;
- Dictaphone – a very simple program for recording audio;
- GIMP – raster graphics editor;
- Inkscape – a vector graphics editor;
- Simple Scanning;
- Libre Office – a package of office programs, similar to Microsoft Office;
- Disks – a utility for disk management;
- Archive Manager;
- Utility for viewing images;
- Command Line Utility.
As with any operating system, you can install your programs or play on online casino websites in Tails. This is easy to do from the command line or, if you prefer a graphical interface, from Synaptic. However, Tails was originally designed as an environment where no traces are left behind. So when you reboot, you will see a “clean” Tails again. This makes sense for security reasons. If you want to save installed programs for the next session, Tails has “Permanent Storage”.
Tali’s advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the operating system include:
- The ability to install additional programs;
- Storage of encrypted information on the removable device with Tails OS;
- The possibility to use persistent storage on third-party OS;
- Program configurations can be changed independently.
The operating system includes the following disadvantages:
- Threat to the security of permanent storage while using third-party operating systems;
- Reduced level of security if a non-default program is installed;
- Reduced anonymity as a result of program configuration changes.
What to know when using Tails?
Despite the advanced protection system, it is still possible to detect the use of a hidden operating system. First of all, the connection to the TOR host will be known to Internet service providers. They detect the use of Tails due to the different traffic patterns.
Also, the system leaves many traces that can be detected without the use of third-party applications. For example, photos and other graphic elements leave data from the shooting location or camera model. Text files are saved with the name of the author and the document completion date. Also, the system does not automatically delete metadata. To do this, you’ll need to use the built-in MAT application.
The software considered does not protect the information from the computer from an incorrect password and possible malware installed from unknown sources.
Tails installation
To download the latest Tails, it is recommended to use the official website of the developer. There are also a lot of resources on the web that allow you to download the OS using a torrent client. However, you should keep in mind that downloading files from unknown sources harm security, as there is always the possibility of installing malware.
The described software can be installed from several operating systems:
- Windows;
- MacOS;
- Linux.
For each operating system, it is possible to create an installation image on a virtual drive, DVD, or external storage device (USB flash drive, SD card).
How to install Tails from Windows
Before proceeding, you must prepare portable storage with at least 8 GB of space ( USB or SD card).
Downloading Tails image
- First, we need to download an image of the operating system Tails. To do this, go to the official website and click on the Windows button;
- The next window prompts us to download and install the image. Click the “Install from Windows” button;
- The next page of the site tells us what we’ll need to install and brief step-by-step instructions. Click “Let’s GO”;
- The next step is to download an image of the operating system from the site, or a torrent file;
- We choose the more suitable option for ourselves and wait for the download to finish.
Preparing to install Tails
Once the image with the operating system has been downloaded, the user will need to authenticate it.
It is not recommended to skip this step.
This check will keep you safe from:
- Errors in the image caused by a broken connection or an incomplete download;
- Verify checksums of a file to guarantee software authenticity.
To verify an OS image you need to:
- Click Verify Tails;
- It will open a window where you have to select the downloaded file.
After verification is completed successfully, we will see the message: Verification successful!
Then we can proceed to burn the distribution onto the media.
Media Download and First Run
To begin, you will need to save the OS to the first flash drive and use it to boot your computer. There are many applications for saving Tails with the Windows operating system. The most effective are considered to be:
- Win32 Disk Imager;
- Universal USB Installer;
- UltraISO;
- Alcohol;
- Rufus.
But let’s consider the method offered on the official site, where the Etcher program is used to save the Tails image. And let’s do the installation according to the following instruction:
- Run the Etcher utility;
- Click the “Flash from file” button and select the downloaded Tails image.
After that, go to the next step:
- Insert the previously prepared USB flash drive;
Important: All data on this USB flash drive will be lost!
- Press “Select target”;
- Select the desired drive.
Start saving by pressing “Flash”:
This will start the installation of Tails on the Flash drive. When this procedure is finished we will see the message: “Flash complete!
This completes the installation of Tails from Windows.
To start the operating system we need the following:
- Reboot the computer;
- Enter BIOS;
- Set the Flash drive as the boot disk.
When Tails loads for the first time, you will see a choice of modes – standard (default) and safe:
For stable operation, legal online gambling sites recommend that you select standard mode and wait for the system to boot completely. After the final boot, we will see a welcome screen, where we can set the language and regional settings for the operating system, as well as specify additional system parameters, which can be opened by pressing “+”.
In the additional options menu, you can:
- Set the administrator password. This allows you to install additional programs and configure the system;
- Turn on (default) or turn off changing the MAC address of the network interface to increase anonymity. It is not recommended to turn off this option.
- Configure the network connection settings. For example, if your Internet service provider blocks TOR, you can connect through a bridge connection or disable network interfaces altogether.
Next, you can start the OS by pressing the “Start Tails” button, which is located on the welcome screen.
Among the standard Tails programs, it is worth noting:
- Thunderbird – email client with Enigmail and TorBirday plugins installed. These allow you to encrypt e-mails, increasing privacy and anonymity;
- Electrum Bitcoin Wallet – Bitcoin wallet;
- Pidgin – popular messenger with encryption support and the ability to transfer messages over the TOR network;
- LibreOffice – office applications.
To maximize privacy there are applications:
- Tor Browser;
- MAT – a utility that removes metadata;
- KeePassX, GnuPG, and TrueCrypt are responsible for data encryption.
How to install Tails from Linux – unique instructions
To install the described Linux-based operating system, the following steps must be followed:
- Download the software image on the first removable drive. To do this, use the command dd and enter the following data “dd if=name of the downloaded image of=/path to the first flash drive=512k”.
- Boot the computer using the recorded media.
- Insert the second flash drive into the device and install Tails.
Installing
We need two flash drives to install Tails. Why two? First, you need to understand what recursion is. And you can only install Tails using Tails. We download the ISO from the official website tails.boum.org. It is recommended to check the image immediately with OpenPGP, detailed instruction on how to do that is on the site.
We save the downloaded image to the first, intermediate flash drive with Universal USB Installer. After that, you can shut down your computer and boot from the flash drive. When the OS boots, insert the second (main) flash drive and select Applications → Tails → Tails Installer Install by Cloning.
Conclusions
This article has not described all the functions of the operating system, but it is safe to say that Tails is the most secure and anonymous operating system in the world today. Its founder is Edward Snowden himself, and this is already a guarantee of your complete anonymity, especially when using the World Wide Web.
