Anonymizing Linux: Tails 7.4 corrects minor issues

The Linux distribution for carrying on a USB stick and for anonymous web surfing on other people's computers, Tails, has been released in version 7.4. The software is up-to-date again, and the programmers have also corrected minor annoyances that could occur.

In the release announcement for Tails 7.4, the developers particularly highlight that the settings for language, keyboard layout, and number formats in the Tails welcome screen can now also be saved on USB sticks. They will be automatically applied the next time it starts. If interested parties activate the option, Tails saves this information unencrypted on the USB stick. This is intended to be particularly useful for entering the passphrase to unlock the persistent storage and to simplify it.

Tails: Updated Software Packages

As usual, the Tails maintainers have updated the included software to current versions. The Tor Browser comes with version 15.0.4, while the mailer Thunderbird is in version 140.6.0. The developers have upgraded the Linux kernel to version 6.12.63.

They have also resolved minor issues. In Kleopatra, opening .gpg-encrypted files by double-clicking or using the “Open with Kleopatra” shortcut now works again. When unlocking VeraCrypt-encrypted drives, an incorrect password entry no longer causes the desktop to crash. The 24-hour time format should now be used consistently in the top navigation bar and on the lock screen.

The Tails project has now discontinued support for Bittorrent downloads. A migration from Bittorrent v1 to v2 is underway, and the existing v1 files can lead to security concerns. The Tails team does not elaborate on the exact nature of the problem. However, the Tails creators point out that migrating to Bittorrent v2 does not justify the migration and maintenance expenses, and direct download from one of the official download mirrors is usually faster. Versions are still available for transferring to a USB stick and ISO images for burning to DVD, for example.

Last December, the developers released version 7.3.1 of the anonymizing Linux distribution Tails. They skipped version 7.3 and closed a security vulnerability in a software library before the version was released. Otherwise, the release had essentially brought the core components up to a current, secure software level.

(dmk)