How to be Anonymous Online (2 page)

If you would rather download the
Tools
directly from the developer websites up front, the links are posted below:

1. Tails ISO Image (
   https://tails.boum.org
   )
   
2. Plop Boot Manager (
   http://www.plop.at
   )
   
3. InfraRecorder (
   http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/infrarecorder_portable
   )
   

Step 3:
Burn two DVD's

Burn Tails

1. Insert a blank DVD-R into your computer
   
2. Go to your
   Toolbox
   folder
   
3. Right-click the
   Tails.iso
   file
   
4. Select
   Burn
   or
   Burn disc image
   *** (if this option doesn’t exist or work, see below) ***
   

Burn Plop Boot Manager

1. Insert a blank DVD-R into your computer
   
2. Go to your
   Toolbox
   folder
   
3. Right-click the
   Plop Boot Manager.iso
   file
   
4. Select
   Burn
   or
   Burn disc image
   *** (if this option doesn’t exist or work, see below) ***
   

***To burn your DVD's, install
InfraRecorder
from your
Toolbox

• Install
  InfraRecorder
  by double-clicking the
  InfraRecorderPortable_XXX.exe
  file and selecting
  OK
  
• Install and take note of the install location (probably Toolbox/InfraRecorderPortable)
  
• Once installed, open
  InfraRecorder
  by double-clicking InfraRecorderPortable.exe
  
• Click the
  Write Image
  box
  
• Find the
  Toolbox
  folder and
  Open
  the
  Tails.iso
  file or
  Plop Boot Manager.iso
  file
  
• Choose your DVD drive from the drop-down box and click
  OK
  (the drive is probably preselected)
  
• Once the DVD is burned, you may close
  InfraRecorder
  

Now, you are now ready to boot your computer using the Tails DVD

The single biggest advantage of the Tails DVD is that you cannot save data or customize it. These limitations reduce your risk of falling victim to a virus or Malware.

Here's how to use it:

1. You need to boot your computer from the Tails DVD. Pretty much every computer made in the last ten years will boot straight from the DVD if it is inserted during the startup process. So, either restart the computer with the Tails DVD inserted or insert it immediately upon starting the computer. If the system boots into Tails, pat yourself on the back.
   
2. If the computer boots properly from the Tails DVD, you will come to a screen that says
   Boot Tails
   
3. Select
   Live
   
4. You may see a number of 'error' and 'failed' messages during the boot process. Just wait them out. Tails should boot within 3 or 4 minutes.
   
5. Once Tails starts, you will see the
   Welcome to Tails
   screen. Just click
   Login
   

Getting Online:

Ethernet Cable

1. Once an Ethernet cable is plugged in, just wait, Tails will automatically establish a connection.
   
2. You will get a message in the top right corner that says
   Connection Established
   , followed by another that says
   Synchronizing the System's Clock
   .
   

Do not worry if you get a message saying your version of Tails is out of date or has numerous security holes… You will fix this later.

1. The
   Iceweasel
   Web
   Browser
   will automatically open once you are online.
   

Wi-Fi

1. Click on the network icon (it is a little icon with two computers and a little “x” located toward the right side of the top toolbar).
   
2. Click it to see the available wireless networks.
   
3. Select a network and, if needed, enter its password.
   
4. You will get a message in the top right corner that says
   Connection Established
   , followed by another that says
   Synchronizing the System's Clock
   . 
   

Do not worry if you get a message saying your version of Tails is out of date or has numerous security holes… You will fix this later.

1. The
   Iceweasel Web Browser
   will automatically open once you are online.
   

IMPORTANT!
- You have to disable JavaScript manually. That does not happen automatically (Remember, JavaScript leaves you vulnerable to malware).

In the
Iceweasel Web Browser
:

1. Click
   Edit
   >
   Preferences
   
2. Select the
   Content
   tab and uncheck the “
   Enable JavaScript
   ” box
   
3. Click
   Close
   

Go to
https://check.torproject.org
to see if your connection is secure. If so, you are anonymous enough to browse online and feel fairly safe, but, you are NOT running the latest version of Tails. You are not as secure as you will be once you make it all the way through
this manual. In later sections, I will cover properly updating your software. Also, don't worry if the connection speed is slow. It varies based on the bandwidth available in the Tor network.

Go to
http://www.whatismyipaddress.com
to see where it thinks you are. Your IP address will change often, so your location will change, as well.

You have reached the two-hour mark for achieving anonymity. Again, if you are already bored with these instructions, go play, but, come back later because there is A LOT more that must be done to secure your system.

The big advantage of the Flash Drive or MicroSD card version of Tails is it allows you to upgrade safely. Also, the Flash Drive lets you do an emergency shutdown simply by removing it. Furthermore, you can save files, bookmarks, etc. from session to session.

To minimize the chances of compromising your anonymity, you should keep changes to Tails at a minimum. Part of your anonymity stems from not having a digital fingerprint... Or, more accurately, not having a unique digital fingerprint. Every time you make a change to Tails your digital fingerprint becomes a little more unique. You do not want Kim Jong-Un using your prints to compile a track record of everywhere you have been.

Also, saving data opens the possibility of housing malware inside your system. Encryption and anonymous IP addresses are not going to protect you if you are being watched from inside your system.

That being said, it is time to set up your Tails USB Flash Drive or Micro SD card:

***
Important
- “Windows 8 Certified” Flash Drives Do Not Work With Tails.
“
Windows 8 Certified” flash drives are not bootable, meaning you cannot use them to boot your computer into Tails. Flash drives that are NOT “Windows 8 Certified” work fine,
unfortunately, they
are getting harder to find. If you have an old flash drive, you are probably fine. If not, the best alternative
is to use a Micro SD Card with a USB
adapter. Many SD Cards are sold with a USB
adapter for under $15. USB adapters sold separately cost even less.***

1. (Re)Boot your computer from the Tails DVD (to shut down or reboot, click the top-right red button or press ctrl+alt+delete)
   
2. It is common to see a number of 'error' and 'failed' messages during the boot process. Just wait them out. Tails should boot within 3 or 4 minutes.
   
3. Unlike before, at the
   Welcome to Tails
   screen, click
   Yes
   under
   More Options
   , and then
   Forward
   
4. Create a
   Password***
   (this is temporary so you can make it easy) and
   Login
   

***This is a temporary administrative password that only lasts one session. Occasionally you will be required to use an administrative password to perform certain tasks.
***

1. Once logged in, insert your USB Flash Drive or Micro SD card with its USB adapter
   
2. From the top toolbar, click
   Applications > System Tools > Tails USB installer
   
3. Click
   Clone & Install
   
4. In the
   Tails LiveUSB Creator
   window, click the
   Target Device
   drop-down menu a
   nd choose your USB Flash Drive (it is probably preselected)
   
5. C
   lick
   Create Live USB
   
6. Click
   Next
   
7. Once installation is complete, click
   OK
   
8. YOU ARE NOT FINISHED
   

Now, you will configure a
Persistent Volume
.

1. Go ahead and shutdown Tails (click the top-right red button or press ctrl+alt+delete)
   
2. Leaving the Tails USB Flash Drive or Micro SD card inserted, restart the computer and boot from the Flash Drive or Micro SD card. If you know how to do this skip to step 4, if not…
   
3. Leaving the Tails USB Flash Drive or Micro SD card inserted, restart the computer with the Plop Boot Manager DVD also inserted. The computer will boot to a menu with a few options. Choose
   USB
   
4. Next, choose the
   Live
   option to start Tails
   
5. At the
   Welcome to Tails
   screen, choose
   Yes
   , and then
   Forward
   
6. Create a Password
   (this is temporary so you can make it easy) and
   Login
   
7. From the top toolbar, click
   Applications > System Tools > Configure persistent volume
   
8. Create an insanely strong 20+ character password (
   You can go to
   https://identitysafe.norton.com/password-generator
   to generate some strong password examples, then make up your own)
   and click
   Create
   .
   THIS IS THE SINGLE KEY TO YOUR NEW SECRET WORLD. MEMORIZE IT!
   
9. A
   Persistence Wizard – Persistent volume configuration
   window will open once the persistence volume is created. Personally, I click every option except the last three (APT Packages, APT Lists, Dotfiles). This way almost everything I do in Tails carries over to the next session
   
10. Once you have made your selections, click
    Save
    
11. Now, restart Tails and boot from the
    Tails USB Flash Drive or Micro SD card
    (using Plop Boot Manager if necessary)
    

Now that a Persistence volume has been created, you have the option to use it each time you start Tails from your Flash Drive or MicroSD card. If you choose not to use a Persistence volume at startup, Tails will run like the DVD version. If you choose to use a Persistence volume, Tails will run with your personal settings, files, etc.

To use a Persistence Volume:

1. In the
   Welcome to Tails
   window, answer
   Yes
   to
   Use Persistence?
   
2. Enter the Persistence volume password you created and
   Login
   
3. Once you login to Tails, you can find your
   Persistent
   folder inside the
   Amnesia Home
   folder located on your desktop. Anything you save into the Persistent folder will carry over each time you use Tails with the persistence option selected
   

A few things you should know about the Persistence Volume:

• Your encrypted persistence volume is not hidden. This means that Kim Jong-Un cannot randomly access it, but, since he knows it is there, he might torture you for the password.
  
• Tails relies on consistency across all platforms to reduce the uniqueness of your digital fingerprint, therefore, customizing your system may create a traceable digital fingerprint.
  

REMINDER – When you go online, do not forget to disable JavaScript in the
Iceweasel
Web Browser
(
Edit
>
Preferences
, select the
Content
tab and uncheck “
Enable JavaScript
”).