Desktop operating systems
Tails privacy rating
A portable live operating system that starts from a USB stick, routes all connections through Tor and leaves no trace on the computer unless Persistent Storage is used.
Summary
Tails scores 100 out of 100 (grade A) on the desktop operating systems criteria. It meets 4 of 4 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 100 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
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Yes
Open source Weight 3 of 3
Is all the source code needed to run the product public?
GPL-3.0 or later.
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Yes
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
Tails is made by the Tor Project, whose privacy policy rules out tracking, telemetry and analytics in its applications.
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Yes
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Funded by donations from individuals and organizations through the Tor Project.
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Yes
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
Radically Open Security audited automatic upgrades and recent changes, and the full report is published.