Several months ago, I provided a brief overview of what Tails is. At that time, I hadn't had the opportunity to test the operating system, so I couldn't share my personal experience. I’ve decided to finally write up my experience, which acts as a mini-review of Tails.
For those who are unfamiliar, Tails (tails.net) is a portable operating system that protects users from surveillance and censorship by utilizing the Tor network. Tails is free (yes, really) thanks to donations supporting the OS and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers that are less than 10 years old.
I have only used Tails for tasks such as web browsing, some writing, and using the Metadata Cleaner tool for some photos. However, it was definitely more of a private experience, thanks to the Tor network. All tasks were done through the Tor Browser, which is the best browser to use if you are looking for maximum privacy and security. However, the Tor Browser in Tails differs from the original one by including the uBlock Origin content blocker, so ads can be blocked.
Tails also has a host of other tools, such as LibreOffice, Thunderbird, KeePassXC, and Metdata Cleaner. One tool I hope to try soon is Persistent Storage, which allows you to save some files to your USB drive and boot them up in your next session. Tails is, by default, amnesic, meaning it doesn’t remember anything you do during your sessions, so you need to enable Persistent Storage if you wish to save anything.
While I only have several sessions with Tails, I am confident in saying that it might be the best privacy tool I've encountered so far, and I strongly recommend adding it to your toolkit. It’s a fantastic tool to have, whether you are fighting against surveillance and censorship or just wanting more privacy when online. Tails is easy to download, carry, and use, and the best part is, you can use it at no cost.
Overall, Tails is a fantastic and powerful tool to have. Support Tails by spreading the word, contributing your translation or computer skills, and making a donation to fund the Tor Project! 💜
Until Next Time,
Monique 💻
Additional link for further reading:
Privacy Guides: In Praise of Tor: Why You Should Support and Use Tor
Tails OS does not work on MacOS unless you have Intel-style processor. Will not work on Apple Silicon.