Tails
FreeAn operating system on a USB stick that forgets everything at shutdown
A portable Debian-based operating system that boots from a USB stick and forces all network traffic through Tor. By default it runs entirely in RAM and leaves no trace at shutdown — nothing is written to the computer's disk and no record of the session survives. It is developed by the Tor Project, which merged with the Tails project in 2024.
Why we picked it
Tails solves a problem no other tool addresses: you do not trust the computer you are sitting at.
Tor Browser protects your browsing traffic, but it runs on your operating system — and if that system has a keylogger, if the disk retains caches and logs, or if the machine is not yours, no amount of browser security helps.
Tails replaces the operating system instead. You write it to a USB stick, boot any computer from that stick, and land in a clean Debian system. The machine's own Windows or macOS install is neither touched nor read. All network traffic is forced through Tor, and connections that would bypass Tor are blocked outright, so "I forgot to turn the proxy on" cannot happen.
The defining design choice is forgetting. The system runs in RAM, and at shutdown everything from that session — pages visited, files downloaded, temporary keys — disappears with the memory. The next boot starts fresh. That is what the "amnesic" in its description means.
When you genuinely need to keep something, it offers an encrypted Persistent Storage volume: an encrypted region on the USB stick where you explicitly designate what survives between sessions, such as your GPG keys or a working directory. It is optional and off by default.
Its credibility is well established: developed by the Tor Project, with which Tails formally merged in 2024, and publicly recommended by Edward Snowden, the EFF and Access Now. The system ships with Tor Browser, KeePassXC, Thunderbird, GnuPG, Electrum and a full set of privacy tools.
Be very clear about the boundaries:
- It is not a daily driver. Every boot is new: your software, settings and files are absent, and you need the USB stick to start. It is a tool for specific situations, not a Windows replacement.
- It cannot protect you from your own behavior. Log into a real-name social account inside Tails and anonymity evaporates instantly. The technical layer is its job; operational discipline is yours.
- It is slow. The Tor network adds latency and USB storage is not fast. Do not expect a smooth experience.
- Installation takes some time. The official installation wizard is thorough — follow it, and never download the image from an unofficial source.
Who it suits: journalists and their sources, human rights workers, anyone handling sensitive matters on a computer they do not own, and any situation where this session must leave no trace. For everyday privacy, LibreWolf plus uBlock Origin is enough — you do not need this.