The Tails Project has released Tails 7.12, the latest version of its privacy-focused Linux distribution that routes Internet traffic through the Tor network while leaving minimal trace on the computer used.
Although the release is modest in new features, Tails 7.12 marks an important change: it is the first version to follow a new two-week release cycle.
This change follows Firefox’s move to a two-week release schedule starting in September. Since Tor Browser closely follows Firefox, Tails is adopting the same rhythm. Users should expect more frequent updates going forward.
On the software side, Tails 7.12 updates Tor Browser to version 15.0.21. Electrum, the Bitcoin wallet included with the distribution, has also been upgraded from version 4.7.2 to 4.8.1.
Several firmware packages have also been refreshed. These updates improve compatibility with newer hardware, including graphics cards and Wi-Fi devices, making Tails easier to boot and use on recent computers.
Existing users running Tails 7.0 or later can upgrade automatically to version 7.12 while keeping their Persistent Storage. Users with problems upgrading automatically can perform a manual upgrade.
For additional details, refer to the changelog or the release announcement.
As usual, users creating a new Tails USB stick can download the USB image, while an ISO image remains available for DVDs and virtual machines. The project warns that performing a fresh installation instead of an upgrade will erase Persistent Storage on the USB drive.
