Two weeks after announcing its merger with the Tor Project, Tails has just rolled out version 6.8, bringing along some important improvements and fixes. This update includes new features for Persistent Storage repair, a browser upgrade, and more. Here are the release’s highlights.
File System Repair for Persistent Storage
One of the standout new features in Tails 6.8 is the ability to repair the file system of Persistent Storage. In other words, if errors are detected in Persistent Storage, Tails now offers the option to repair them directly from the Welcome Screen.
This makes it easier for users to get back to using their secure environment without diving into complicated manual steps.
However, it’s worth noting that not all file system issues can be resolved automatically. The Tails team has provided comprehensive documentation to guide you through recovering data from Persistent Storage using additional methods if necessary.
Tails 6.8: Updates and Improvements
- Tor Browser Update: The bundled Tor Browser has been updated to version 13.5.6, ensuring you have the latest features and security updates from the Tor Project.
- Network Interface Notification Improvements: The update also brings a clearer notification when a network interface is disabled due to a failure in MAC address anonymization. The message now reads: “Wi-Fi Disabled. MAC address anonymization failed for your Wi-Fi interface, so it is temporarily disabled. You might prefer to restart Tails and disable MAC address anonymization. Learn about MAC address anonymization.”
Fixed Issues
Several issues have been addressed to improve user experience and system reliability:
- Persistent Storage Unlock Time: The maximum waiting time when unlocking Persistent Storage has been increased to 8 minutes, reducing premature error messages.
- Password Privacy Enhancement: Passwords are now hidden by default while unlocking Persistent Storage, improving privacy.
- WhisperBack Improvements: Tails has also improved the reliability of WhisperBack error messages:
- Input fields now work better when Tails is not connected to Tor.
- The accessibility of input fields for screen readers has been enhanced.
Automatic upgrades are available for users running Tails 6.0 or later. If you encounter issues, you can follow the instructions for a manual upgrade on the Tails website.
Those interested in the technical details and the complete list of changes can refer to theย release announcementย or visit the fullย changelog.
