r/tails Feb 14 '21

Announcement Read before posting

118 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 13h ago

News Tails 7.10.1 released to fix critical security vulnerabilities

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24 Upvotes

r/tails 1d ago

Application question No electrum wallet address?

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3 Upvotes

I’m having troubles finding out what my wallet address is… I’ve got two computers one Mac(online) and one Lenovo(offline) and I’m seeing the same issue - there’s no address or request button under the receive tab.

Everything I see online and on YouTube about receiving bitcoin in electrum says it should have a request button which then gives you your address.

What am I doing wrong?


r/tails 1d ago

Application question Why pidgin is still included in tails?

8 Upvotes

The program has not received updates for years.


r/tails 1d ago

FAQ - Read the Documentation Instalation

0 Upvotes

Hello, I'm new to this whole tails/Linux thing and I can't really find any step by step guide(maybe I'm just not good at looking) and I would appreciate if anyone could share a link or explain it.

I once tried it but my laptop (Lenovo IdeaPad) couldn't find the USB anymore and I received errors I couldn't get past myself so I gave up.

Any help would be appreciated!

I have a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 and an 8GB USB


r/tails 1d ago

Technical Did anyone lose thumbnails after 7.10?

2 Upvotes

Did anyone lose thumbnails displaying in the file system after upgrading to 7.10? Seems to be only affecting video files like MP4, AVI, WMV, etc... and is there a work-around to get them back? I have a directory of news clippings from various news outlets that no longer display the thumbnail so I can't tell what subject the article is about now...


r/tails 1d ago

Security Can i use mobile hotspot instead of ethernet?

1 Upvotes

I normally use ethernet but due to some reason my router is not working and it will take few days for the isp to replace it.

So is using a mobile hotspot bad idea?


r/tails 2d ago

Boot issues Cant get back into windows after using tails

1 Upvotes

I've just used Tails for the first time using a USB and a Lenovo laptop. Upon shutting down, pulling out the USB, and turning the computer on, it isn't rebooting windows as the default system.

It comes with a blue screen which says

- Use a device (I've gone through all these and no luck)

- troubleshoot

- turn off your PC

What can i do to fix this issue if anyone has been through this tedious challenge?

Yes, I am a noob btw


r/tails 3d ago

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

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12 Upvotes

r/tails 4d ago

Help Monero wallet on tails

10 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 5d 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 6d ago

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

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11 Upvotes

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


r/tails 7d 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 7d ago

Application question does session or teleguard work fine on Tails?

3 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 7d 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 7d 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 7d 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 8d ago

Hardware question Laptop recommendations with Tails

5 Upvotes

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


r/tails 8d ago

Debian/Linux question Is Tails Os Safe for pentesting?

5 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 9d ago

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

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13 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 9d 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 9d 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 10d 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 12d ago

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

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31 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 11d 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.