I just bought a new laptop and I want to set it up, but I want to set it to be completely private and confidential, is there a way to do that? My device is from Asus and it runs on Windows and I want my location or anything about me to not be tracked , is there a way?
install a new operating system that doesn’t spy on you 24/7
- Do not use Windows even if you use tails OS in a live USB. I think its possible to just to use the live USB.
- Get your internet connection via a cable.
- Do not brag or tell a single soul that you are visiting the dark web for any reason.
But you Already have defeated the whole privacy thing just by asking advice on reddit.
Now i know what kind of laptop you have
And i know that you are trying to visit the dark web
And just by scrolling through these comments i know what kind of precautions you might take
And if i just did a deep dive into your social media i will probably know your name and other things.
If you want to do more research, Whonix and QubesOS are also great privacy-oriented Linux distros.
For daily use install Linux mint Fedora or any other distro and if you need to be even more private and anonymous use tails.
Is “completely private and confidential” your main objective for having a new laptop, or just something that would be nice to have along the way? Because Windows is not the most private OS out there. (I know, using Tails could mitigate most of that, but primarily having Windows as the OS still seems the less obvious choice.)
Windows inherently doesn’t have privacy or control over software in your interest. I personally use Debian linux with Kicksecure or Qubes, just because I can rest assured my location will not be out of my control.
Here’s a guide to distro-morphing Debian with k/s:
You can see if your laptop is Qubes compatible here:
Most other linux distro’s provide a lot of control to the user, and if you’re new to it, consider Linux Mint. I use cinnamon as a daily driver.
When it comes to anonymity/confidentiality, your best defense is good discipline. Don’t log into personal accounts, store identifying data, download unfamiliar files, and don’t click on untrusted links.
You can find lots of search engine alternatives to Google/DuckDuckGo, and I recommend do so if privacy is your main concern.
Like many said, Tails is good for everyday users or new users. Whonix is even better if you’re a little more advanced
if I used tails without tor or vpn is this safe?
Where to download this is
Tails is tor-ified, so if you pay for a VPN you’re completely de-anonymizing yourself and undermining its sole purpose.
If you really feel that it’s that important consider using a proxy, or look into a free VPN or one you can pay for in crypto
here or you know you could literally just Google the thing you are trying to download and click on the first thing