Tails

What hackers pick instead

• OpenBSDA stable, security-focused Unix with simple configuration, excellent documentation and painless upgrades, though critics note limited hardware support, slower performance, and a minimalism that inflates its security reputation.248recommend
• Qubes OSRecommended for strong security through hardware-virtualized compartments, with disposable and offline VMs that keep secrets safe; critics cite slowness, setup hassle and weaker hardware security than phones.98recommend

Every quote

The 15 most detailed of 17 comments. Each links to the original.

1. It is specifically designed for anonymity and privacy, and can be booted from a usb stick.

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Private Operating System”

2. It's not specialized hardware, so there's no incentive for anyone to look for money on it

   Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Ledger confirms spy chip implant behind wallet crypto thefts”

3. Tails is made on the premise that exactly this kind of trick will occur.

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “We found a stable Firefox identifier linking all your private Tor identities”

4. Or shut down and boot tails again. You need privacy? Take your time.

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “We found a stable Firefox identifier linking all your private Tor identities”

5. get off your smart phone and boot tails and do the searches there

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “We want Texans to know their rights”

6. if you're ultra paranoid and want a private OS to read / write

   Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “Show HN: Tascli, a command line based (human) task and record manager”

7. that simply is just too complicated for the average consumer

   Mixed · Oct 2026 · in “Ledger confirms spy chip implant behind wallet crypto thefts”

8. I prefer to run tails in an isolated environment.

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “We found a stable Firefox identifier linking all your private Tor identities”

9. laptop with Tails on USB stick is all you need

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “GrapheneOS Defends Data-Wiping Function That Blocked US Border Search”

10. a fresh Tails USB is definitely the right move

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “We found a stable Firefox identifier linking all your private Tor identities”

11. Nice because it leaves no trace.

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Ageless Linux: A Debian-based distro that is illegal to distribute in California”

12. Tails (without persistent storage) will mitigate this though.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “We found a stable Firefox identifier linking all your private Tor identities”

13. set up to be as bland and uniform as possible

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The privacy nightmare of browser fingerprinting”

14. Tor, Tails, Bitcoin, TLS each give freedom

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “Stallman: Thousands Dead, Millions Deprived of Liberties (2001)”

15. And of course, there's TAILS.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “NSA Warning–Reboot Your Internet Router Now”