What is Tails?
Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is an operating system that runs from a USB stick. It uses Tor for all connections and forgets everything when you shut down.
Why Tails?
Amnesic
On shutdown, all traces are erased. No browser history, no files, no logs.
Tor built in
All connections go through Tor automatically. No traffic goes directly to the internet.
USB boot
Runs from any USB stick. Your normal OS stays untouched.
Installation
Get a USB stick
Minimum 8GB. Dedicate one stick just for Tails.
Download Tails
From tails.net. Verify the checksum.
Create USB
Use Tails Installer or Balena Etcher.
Boot from USB
Restart, select USB as boot device (F12/F2/ESC).
Persistent Storage
For files that should survive reboot: enable Persistent Storage (encrypted).
For daily use, Linux (Fedora, Ubuntu) + VPN + Firefox with privacy addons is enough for 95% of users. Tails is for situations where you need maximum anonymity: journalists, whistleblowers, people in authoritarian states.