Recently the release of the new version of the popular Linux distribution specialized in anonymity on the web, "Tails 4.8”(The Amnesic Incognito Live System) which is based on the base of the Debian package.
In this new version improvements to the welcome screen are highlighted, as well as of Unsafe Browser web browser removal and updates and bug fixes.
For those who are unfamiliar with Tails, you should know that this is a distribution that is based on the base of the Debian 10 package y designed to provide anonymous access to the network, in order to preserve the privacy and anonymity of the user on the network.
Anonymous output from Tails is provided by Tor In all connections, since the traffic through the Tor network, they are blocked by default with a packet filter, with which the user does not leave a trace on the network unless they want otherwise.
Main new features of Tails 4.8
In this new version of Tails stands out removing the Unsafe Browser browser, que allows direct connection without going through Tor, used to connect through captive portals of public wireless networks, it is prohibited by default.
Since misconsidered use Unsafe Browser can help de-anonymize the user (for example, after exploiting a vulnerability in Thunderbird, an attacker can launch Unsafe Browser and reveal the real IP), by default only Tor Browser is allowed in the distribution kit, and to use Unsafe Browser, a special option must be set in the settings.
Another change that stands out in this new version of Tails 4.8 is the significant redesign of the splash screen, which saves settings between reboots.
Currently, this feature is limited by the settings to enable the Unsafe Browser, but other options will appear in the next version.
As for the heart of the system, in Tails the Linux Kernel 5.6 is implemented and in the applications the updates of Tor Browser 9.5.1, Thunderbird 68.8.0, gnutls 3.6.7-4, tor 0.4.3.5, intel-microcode 3.20200609.2 and Libre Office 6.1.5-3.
For the part of the version of TorBrowser 9.5.1, this version is synchronized with the Firefox 68.10.0 ESR code base, in which several vulnerabilities have been fixed, the details of which have not yet been resolved.
In addition to the complemento NoScript has been updated to version 11.0.32 y correction of the Bug 40009 with which it is improves Tor client authentication stability.
Finally if you are interested in knowing more about it About this new version of the distribution, you can check the details in the original announcement.
Download Tails 4.8
Si you want to try or install this new version of this Linux distribution on your computer, You can obtain the image of the system which is already available from its official website in its download section, link is this. The image obtained from the download section is a 1 GB ISO image capable of working in live mode.
It is also important to take into account that this new version of Tails 4.6, like most of its predecessors, also corrects some security holes, so its developers strongly recommend that you upgrade to this new version if you are in a previous one. .
How to update to the new version of Tails 4.8?
For those users who have an older version of Tails installed and want to upgrade to this new version. They should know that the direct upgrade to Tails 4.8 can be done directly from Tails 4.2 or higher.
While for users who are still in the 3.xxx branch, they must first go to version 4.0 (although it would be advisable to perform a clean installation of Tails 4.6).
For this they can make use of their USB device that they used to install Tails, they can consult the information to carry this movement on their computer In the following link.