The iv Best Linux Distros for Helping You Stay Bearding
In this article, nosotros'll expect at four Linux distros that aid to proceed you anonymous on the Web. The Linux operating system offers a lot of privacy options, and information technology's arguably the best Bone to use if online security and privacy is important to you.
The Privacy Trouble
It's difficult to stay anonymous online these days. Whether you're browsing the Web or even using programs connected to the Internet, you're being tracked. Even your operating system is watching you lot.
Past running an operating organisation similar Windows, or a program like VS Code, you're beingness tracked via telemetry. Virtually of the data that's collected about y'all is used to improve the software you use every day, only if your priority is to stay anonymous, you should be looking for better options.
Various distros of the Linux operating organisation offering features that enhance anonymity and privacy. Only being anonymous tin can have drawbacks.
Before I proceed, a disclaimer of sorts. The aim of this article is to prove what'due south bachelor for protecting your privacy. It'southward not intended as an encouragement to engage in practices prohibited past your state's laws.
What Does Information technology Mean to Be Anonymous?
Staying anonymous can mean unlike things to different people, and then let's clarify this concept before moving on.
To stay bearding online, you demand to constitute who you're hiding from, and what tools volition enable you to hide your real identity.
You lot tin apply a threat modeling approach to place the risks yous might exist exposed to. To put it simply, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Applied science (NIST) has 4 steps:
- identify and narrate the arrangement and data of involvement
- identify and select the attack vectors to be included in the model
- narrate the security controls for mitigating the set on vectors
- analyze the threat model
If you lot desire to know more than almost threat modeling, follow the NIST draft, which includes detailed information nearly this process.
For example, a journalist may want to stay anonymous while sharing their thoughts on the Web. This would cut out the fear of bigotry or retaliation. Only put, they don't want people to know who they are, so they know who they must hide from.
One time you know who you want to stay anonymous from, information technology's fourth dimension to use tools like Tor or the anonymity-focused Linux distributions shown next.
Of class, anonymity has many advantages, but here are the main ones:
- freedom of speech: yous tin share your thoughts without the fearfulness of existence judged
- Less tracking: it's more difficult to rail what you're doing online
- Personal safety: no one knows your real identity
- Information security: your data is precious, and staying anonymous makes information technology harder to steal information technology
Various Methods for Using the Following Linux Distros
In general, Linux-based operating systems are more secure and privacy-oriented than proprietary ones. Taking this into account, information technology's of import to know how the following Linux distros piece of work, and how they'll help y'all stay anonymous.
Using Virtual Machines
Virtual machines (VMs) are environments that work equally a virtual computer that runs on pinnacle of your physical computer.
VMs are isolated from the residuum of the system, and they can exist used to run most any operating organization, so they support the following Linux distributions.
The most pop software for running VMs is VirtualBox, which is an open-source hypervisor created past Oracle. It works in Windows, Linux, and macOS, and is easy to fix up.
From a normal user perspective, the chief advantage of using a VM is that you can run it along with your host operating organisation, which means y'all tin can use both at the same fourth dimension.
Using a Live Boot USB
A live USB runs an operating system without installing information technology on your computer. A live USB lets you jump into a alive surround when y'all apply it to install a Linux distro. A good instance of this is the Parrot OS live environment, pictured beneath.
The chief advantage of this method is that y'all don't demand to install anything, so you lot tin can run the live USB on your computer, utilize the Linux distro, unplug the USB, and continue using your daily-driver Os.
Accept a look at Qubes for a total VM-based operating arrangement.
Installing on Blank Metal
If you want to stay anonymous, installing a Linux distro as the principal Bone on your organization isn't the all-time option, since you'll be using your estimator through multiple sessions.
Each time you apply your computer, you leave traces of information about the websites you lot've visited, files you opened, and even the Wi-Fi network you used.
That's why using a live boot USB, or a VM, is usually more than secure.
One time you're done with the live environs, shut it down and all the data will go abroad. Likewise with VMs, you can delete them once the chore is done.
Before Jumping In, What'southward Tor?
Tor — The Onion Router — is an open-source project that hides your IP address when browsing the Internet. It redirects your spider web request to a worldwide overlay network with over six k relays.
When you use Tor, you're routing all of your net traffic through three machines selected from thousands of volunteer computers from dissimilar people and organizations.
The first relay knows who are yous, merely non the next relay you're going to connect to. The third relay only knows where yous're going (an external server, such as a web page) merely non your original IP accost.
All of this occurs in an encrypted surround, and that'southward why it's and so of import to avoid insecure pages — those without HTTPS.
This process makes it well-nigh impossible for anyone (websites, net providers, and so on) to know your IP address.
What not to do when using Tor
Tor lets you hibernate your IP address, simply it becomes useless if you don't use it properly. Here are a couple of things yous shouldn't exercise when using Tor:
- authenticate using your cellphone
- employ personal social accounts in Tor (Twitter, Facebook, Gmail)
- share personal information
- use an erstwhile Tor version
- use Google search; DuckDuckGo doesn't collect user information
- browse any non-HTPPS (unencrypted) web pages
One time y'all've internalized these tips, you can utilize a shortcut made for the average user, the Tor browser parcel.
Nowadays, y'all tin can download the Tor Browser which is a browser that runs on superlative of Tor in all major operating systems. If you want, yous can too download and compile Tor source code.
Merely using Tor has some drawbacks. The well-nigh of import one is that it limits your internet speed. This occurs considering you're routing your traffic through the Tor network, which means each web asking yous do has to laissez passer by multiple computers.
Another disadvantage is that some websites similar Netflix, Bank sites, and and then on, are blocked by Tor. Also, if yous use Tor regularly, y'all'll need to fill in CAPTCHA forms in well-nigh pages you visit.
Of course, this is a modest price to pay for online security and anonymity.
Tails
Tails is an anonymous Linux distribution based on Debian. It's a lightweight and fast operating system which uses Gnome as its default desktop environment.
It starts from a clean land and leaves no trace when y'all get out. That'due south called "amnesia", and it's the magic that makes Tails a secure OS. You lot tin use someone else's calculator deeply considering Tails doesn't write to disk at any indicate.
Another awesome thing nigh Tails is that information technology uses the Tor relay as the only way to access the Cyberspace. That ways that all the networking programs you use (programs that need to connect to the Net) must redirect their traffic through a Tor network.
So even if you're using a simple app like Thunderbird, all the information it sends or retrieves from the Internet must pass through Tor.
By default, Tails has installed the following apps:
- Thunderbird
- Tor Browser, with Ublock Origin, and DuckDuckGo as the default search engine
- Libre Role
- graphical editing apps like GIMP and Inkscape
After using it for a while, information technology feels like a solid yet lightweight operating organisation, then y'all could run it on old computers. (It'due south based on Debian 10)
Likewise, I constitute this distro comes in handy when using a friends' computer, so you can keep both users' information safety.
Tails Features
- Tor relay for everything.
- Tails' storage isn't persistent, and then there's no style to track you subsequently you log out. However, you tin can enable an encrypted/persistent storage in case you need to install some other program or relieve some boosted settings.
- It connects to the hardware of the computer but doesn't interact with disk drives.
- In most cases, you can apply it on virus-infected devices without whatsoever run a risk.
- Information technology includes mutual-apply apps, likewise as encryption and privacy-focused software.
- It allows you to install any parcel available in official Debian repositories.
You lot can admission a more detailed list of features on Tails' official website.
Tails download options
You'll need to download Tails' USB stick version and install information technology on an 8Gb USB (or greater).
If you want other options, Tails offers ii means of usage: via USB stick, and via virtualization (for employ inside a VM).
Hither are the different installation images:
- USB
- Virtual auto ISO image
Note: Running Tails in a VM has ii bug. Your host OS and hypervisor can monitor what you lot're doing in Tails, and Tails tin go out traces on the difficult disk, which is why information technology warns you when you lot're using it in a VM.
It's up to you if you want to proceeds some degree of comfort (using Tails without restarting your PC) while losing a picayune bit of security.
Parrot Bone
Parrot OS is used for ethical hacking, security audits, and pen-testing. It's a Debian-based Linux distribution, and so yous tin get access to the reliability of the apt bundle manager.
It comes with Tor, Tor Browser, and OnionShare out of the box, so yous can use this anonymity-oriented browser correct out of the box.
Information technology's considered an bearding distro because near of its users know what they're doing (about of them work in the cybersecurity industry), and they use the right set of tools to stay anonymous.
Maybe you'd recollect information technology'south merely a normal Debian distribution with absurd and dangerous ethical hacking software, merely the Parrot security team created a script named Anonsurf that lets you root all of your traffic through Tor.
If you apply Parrot with Anonsurf, information technology results in a similar experience to using Tails Bone.
Parrot uses Firejail in all compatible applications by default. Firejail is a programme that reduces the risk of security breaches by restricting the admission a program needs to piece of work.
Also, you accept different networking tools like EtherApe (a graphical network monitor), chat clients like Ricochet (an bearding, Tor-based conversation client), and a share file utility like OnionShare.
On the other manus, this is the only Linux distro of this commodity that can exist used every bit a daily driver because of the new Parrot's dwelling edition.
This can result in a disadvantage, because, dissimilar with Tails, you lot're leaving traces of your activeness on your computer. But if y'all're a normal user seeking anonymity, Parrot tin fit your needs.
You tin consider Parrot as the sweetness spot of a security and anonymity-focused Linux distro, without the technical complications of other distros like Qubes.
Features
- has a cracking community
- has low system requirements
- offers domicile and security editions
- is user friendly (compared to the other Linux distros on this listing)
- comes with pre-installed software
- includes several tools to turn your calculator into an bearding machine
Parrot download options
You lot can download any Parrot OS edition on the official Parrot website, and also employ it with unlike methods:
- USB stick
- Virtual motorcar OVA file
- blank metal
Whonix
Whonix is different from all the other Linux distros we've looked at so far. It works in two parts: a gateway that acts as the Tor gateway (which redirects all of your traffic just equally Tails does), and a workstation that routes all the connections via that Tor gateway.
Since it doesn't requite a complete Os feel, it needs a host Os that can run VirtualBox.
The paradigm below shows how information technology looks to have both the gateway and the workstation working.
The gateway must be running at the same time every bit the workstation.
Although the gateway shows off a basic XFCE surround, it's not meant to be used. Just go out it there handling the Tor routing.
And here'due south the workstation, where y'all can launch the Tor browser, and several applications which only connect to the Internet through a Tor relay.
Just there's a huge problem with this anonymity-based distro: resources consumption. You're using VirtualBox, which it'due south a heavy awarding, to run two virtual machines. And call up, the workstation depends on the gateway.
Even though Whonix is very well optimized to work inside VirtualBox, you can come across how much resource it's consuming without much usage.
Merely once you accept away these drawbacks, you go an extremely secure and anonymous virtual machine running on superlative of your operating arrangement. If you care about being anonymous, Whonix is a good-to-get option.
Whonix'due south squad has done an outstanding job comparing their Linux distribution to other anonymity OSs.
In general, Whonix is the best Linux distro yous can run on top of your host Bone, since it's optimized to run as two separate VMs. Information technology has additional security hardening like that strength Linux account isolation, and a VM alive mode that prevents malware propagation.
Besides, you have the pick of using only a CLI, in case you don't care about GUI programs.
Whonix Features
- Tor routing for every awarding
- Alive way, hence a non-persistent way to use Whonix
- keystroke anonymization
- a rock-solid system because of its Debian base
- gratuitous and open-source admission, like any other Linux-based Os
Whonix download methods
Virtual machines are the just way to run Whonix Os, so you can choose the right download method according to your current Bone.
Qubes
Qubes is an open-source, security-oriented operating system. Unlike other Linux OSs covered in this article, Qubes need to be installed direct on your computer.
Qubes uses Xen level virtualization (bare-metal virtualization) to create tiny isolated compartments called "qubes".
You can utilize unlike templates to run dissimilar kinds of software. For case, run Microsoft Word on top of a Windows template, or use a terminal app qube based on the Debian template.
Each qube is a virtual motorcar that can exist configured to run whatever program you want. These little VMs have unlike purposes, natures, colors, or levels of trust (green for trusted, red for untrusted), and can use Whonix to route all their internet traffic through Tor.
That being said, don't expect Qubes to run on a low-end machine. It creates a VM for each program you run, so it it has extensive hardware requirements.
To be clear, Qubes isn't meant for beginner Linux users. You tin can utilize information technology if you accept extremely crucial private data on your PC. Simply if yous just want to use information technology to browse the Internet anonymously, it would be meliorate to use some of the options above.
Qubes Bone has its drawbacks, just it's one of the most secure operating systems you lot can run.
Qubes Features
- isolates the software y'all use
- it'southward an extremely secure system
- it has extensive documentation
- it includes Whonix integration
- information technology offers device isolation
Qubes download methods
You lot can download Qubes' ISO images from its official downloads page and check Qubes' installation process correct after.
Conclusion
All of the Linux distros presented in a higher place can assist you stay anonymous when using the Internet through the Tor network, but they aren't flawless. Which to choose, and how much anonymity they offer, depends on a number of factors.
To decide which Linux distro is the right for you think about the usage you'll give it.
Are you an exposed person, with crucial individual data to protect? Or maybe it's extremely important to yous to hibernate your real identity on the Cyberspace? If some of the answers to these questions are "yes", you should take a look at Qubes or Whonix.
Or perhaps you're an average user looking for a little bit of online privacy. Then, using Parrot and the Tor browser could be the best fit for you.
Perchance you just desire to apply someone else's computer deeply. In that case, Tails is a proficient selection.
Information technology's all about how much yous intendance about your information, and if you're willing to apply more private software with a higher learning curve.
Finally, recollect that, in general, any Linux distro is more secure and private than Windows or macOS, because:
- Linux OSs are less targeted by cybercriminals than Windows or macOS
- Linux OSs take few security leaks, and if constitute, they're fixed extremely speedily
- Most software installed in Linux is open-source and malware-free
If yous're new to Linux, cheque out SitePoint's beginner's guide to using Linux.
In that location are, of form, other ways to stay anonymous online, including using a VPN. Bank check out "VPNs: What They Are, and Why Yous Need One" for more on this.
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