_A TAILS USB DRIVE IS A VERY USEFUL TOOL WHILE TRAVELING, AND AT HOME BASE. You can bring it anywhere: The entire operating system fits on a USB stick, and launches from just about any computer. Tails is designed to protect you from malware; all your session files and activity are wiped from memory as soon as you power down, and never touch your computer’s hard drive.
Once set up, it’s simple to email, chat, and browse. In order to have a secure place to store files you want to access in the long-term, enable Persistent Storage. All networking on Tails is over Tor, so you are naturally set up for privacy when conducting risky research. If you suspect that using TorTor encrypts your network traffic across multiple servers, masking the source more strongly than a VPN would. Tor Browser also features anti-fingerprinting measures to further protect your privacy. will flag you to any authorities while abroad, you can disable networking and run Tails in offline mode when you start a session. Tails is still useful offline as a safe space to view documents, review footage, or take notes.
Note: Some computers have known hardware compatibility issues with Tails. In some cases, Tails might not recognize your computer’s wi-fi card, keyboard, or trackpad. Review Tails’ hardware recommendations and incompatibility solutions, and be sure to test your setup beforehand.
STEP 1
Create a Tails USB, and start using it as your primary operating system while traveling.
STEP 2
Enable Persistent Storage on your Tails USB to create a space for long-term file storage.
Save the passphrase you set to unlock your persistent storage in whatever password manager you plan to bring with you abroad. Or, memorize it!