Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is a free, Debian-based operating system built around one goal: leave no trace and protect your identity online. It runs entirely from a USB drive, forces all internet traffic through the Tor network, and by design forgets everything the moment you shut it down — nothing is written to the host computer’s hard drive unless you explicitly set up encrypted persistent storage.
What makes it different from a normal OS
- Amnesic by default — every session starts fresh; nothing persists unless you deliberately configure encrypted persistent storage.
- All traffic routed through Tor — any application trying to connect directly, bypassing Tor, is blocked automatically.
- Leaves the host computer untouched — boots and runs entirely from the USB drive; nothing is installed on the internal drive.
- Comes with privacy tools built in — the Tor Browser, KeePassXC for password management, OnionShare for anonymous file sharing, and encryption tools, all pre-configured.
Who actually uses Tails
- Journalists communicating with sources who need protection.
- Activists and NGO workers operating under surveillance or censorship.
- Whistleblowers needing to avoid identification.
- Domestic abuse survivors needing to browse or communicate without leaving a trace on a shared or monitored device.
- Privacy-conscious individuals doing sensitive browsing, banking on an untrusted machine, or simply minimizing their digital footprint.
What Tails does not do
It’s worth being precise: Tails protects against a computer or network retaining a record of your activity, and it anonymizes your network traffic’s origin through Tor. It does not make you invincible — logging into a personal account still identifies you to that service, and operational mistakes (like sharing identifying details) undermine anonymity regardless of the OS underneath.
How our Tails USB helps
Our Tails Linux USB stick ships ready to boot — verified, pre-written, no download or manual verification required. See our setup and first-boot guide for exactly how to get started.
Shop Tails USBSkip the trial and error — use a ready-made RecoveryUSB
Every RecoveryUSB ships pre-built and tested, with a step-by-step guide. Free fast worldwide shipping.
Shop Recovery USBsFrequently asked questions
Is Tails OS legal to use?
Yes. Tails is free, open-source privacy software, legal to download and use in the vast majority of countries. Some countries do heavily restrict or monitor Tor usage — check local law if you're in a jurisdiction with internet censorship.
Does Tails make me completely anonymous online?
It significantly improves anonymity by routing traffic through Tor and leaving no trace on the machine, but logging into personal accounts or sharing identifying information still identifies you to that specific service, regardless of the OS.
Does Tails save anything between sessions?
Not by default — every boot starts completely fresh. You can optionally set up encrypted persistent storage on the same USB drive if you want specific files or settings to carry over.