Tails 3.13.2 and Tor Browser 8.0.9 Released
The specialized Linux distribution Tails 3.13.2 (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is now available. Based on Debian, Tails is designed to provide anonymous internet access. Anonymity in Tails is achieved through the Tor network. By default, all connections except those routed through Tor are blocked by a packet filter. User data persistence between sessions is protected with encryption. The new release is available as a 1.2 GB ISO image that can be run in Live mode.
At the same time, a new version of Tor Browser 8.0.9 has been released, focusing on anonymity, security, and privacy. Both Tails and Tor Browser updates address issues with the NoScript extension disappearing due to an expired intermediate certificate used in Mozilla’s digital signature chain. Users who changed the “xpinstall.signatures.required” setting as a workaround are advised to reset it to “true” in about:config to resume digital signature verification. Additionally, the NoScript extension has been updated to version 10.6.1, fixing a false XSS attack warning when sending a search queryQuery is an online Q&A platform where users can ask questions on any topic and get answers from the community. It features voting, reputation points, and topic tags to organize and highlight quality content. While answer quality can vary, Query aims to provide quick, crowdsourced knowledge and create a collaborative space for sharing expertise. With active moderation and community engagement, it has the potential to become a valuable resource for learning and discussion. More to DuckDuckGoDuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine launched in 2008 that does not track users, store IP addresses, or personalize search results. It offers unique features like !bang commands for direct searches on other sites and is the default search engine in the Tor Browser. For maximum anonymity, DuckDuckGo also runs an official .onion version that allows secure searching within the Tor network. The company proves that profitability and privacy can coexist, relying on keyword-based ads rather than personal data collection. More from the about:tor page.
Notable Changes in Tails 3.13.2
- The OpenPGP applet and Pidgin notification icon have been removed from the top navigation panel. These applets are now located in the system tray, which appears in the lower left corner of the screen (the tray expands when you hover over the gray bar next to the window list).
- To move these applets back to the top panel, you can use the command
gnome-shell-extension-tool [email protected]. However, the TopIcons extension is no longer maintained, may cause crashes, and will not be included in Tails 5.0, which will be based on Debian 11. - A sleep button has been added to the system menu. The lock screen menu now includes buttons for sleep, restart, and shutdown.
- The Noto font family is now used for national alphabets.
- The package base has been updated to Debian 9.9.
- Thunderbird has been updated to version 60.6.1.