Operating Systems #

Using a secure operating system is one of the most important parts of using the darknet. The main operating system we will be focusing on in the guide is called Tails we will also be mentioning using Whonix or Qubes.

NOTE: You will see this note come up a few times as you read on, but it cannot be said enough. DO NOT USE WINDOWS OR MAC.

Selecting your setup #

In this chapter we are going to talk about a few different secure setups, but most of it will be based around Tails. Below is 3 different setups people often use.

Tails #

If you’re a new user or someone not very tech savvy you should stick with using tails. Tails is a live operating system, meaning it runs off a USB stick and automatically deletes data after each use. Unless you enable persistance (we will cover this later) Tails works out of the box, and includes all the tools you will need to get started on your darknet journey. Most of this guide will be written around using tails, and it’s pretty easy to use! For most users this is the setup we recommend.

Whonix #

Whonix is a great intermediate setup. With this setup you will use a host operating system, and virtual box. This setup can be run off a USB, however because of the amount of data being written it is recommended to install on a separate hard drive. With this setup you will need to fully encrypt everything yourself. If you’re uncomfortable doing that, and running things in terminal. Tails is the better option for you. Running this setup allows you to have multiple workstations, and all traffic is routed through your gateway. Meaning you can keep everything isolated.

Whonix/Qubes #

Using a Whonix/Qubes setup is one of the most secure setups. This setup is very advance, if you do not configure everything correctly you can potentially hurt your opsec or put yourself at risk. Qubes is your host operating system, and will have Whonix baked right into it! Qubes works by allowing you to run multiple Qubes and keeping everything completely isolated from each other. If you do not know what you are doing just stick with using Tails.

Additional Information #

For most people Tails is the best option to go with. It will keep everything encrypted automatically, and come with all the necessary tools to keep you safe! If you’re interested in more information about Whonix you can read them here

For a comparison between Whonix, tails, and just running Tor alone give this a read.