Tails 3.9 is the biggest update of Tails this year!

It includes two new features on which we have been working for more than a year:

  • Additional Software
  • VeraCrypt integration

This release also fixes many security issues and users should upgrade as soon as possible.

  1. Changes
  2. Known issues
  3. Get Tails 3.9
  4. What's coming up?

Changes

New features

Additional Software

You can now install additional software automatically when starting Tails.

When installing an additional Debian package from Tails, you can decide to install it automatically every time.

To check your list of additional software packages, choose Applications ▸ System Tool ▸ Additional Software.

The packages included in Tails are carefully tested for security. Installing additional packages might break the security built in Tails, so be careful with what you install.

VeraCrypt integration

To unlock VeraCrypt volume in Tails, choose Applications ▸ System Tool ▸ Unlock VeraCrypt Volumes.

unlock-veracrypt-volumes-with-partition.png

The integration of VeraCrypt in the Files and Disks utilities was done upstream in GNOME and will be available outside of Tails in Debian 10 (Buster) and Ubuntu 18.10 (Cosmic Cuttlefish).

Read our documentation on using VeraCrypt volumes.

News reading in Thunderbird

Thunderbird is now the official RSS and Atom news feed reader in Tails.

Liferea will be removed from Tails in version 3.12, early 2019.

Upgrades and changes

  • Improve the configuration of the persistent storage to make it easier to scroll and consistent with the GNOME guidelines.

Included software

  • Update Tor Browser to 8.0, based on Firefox 60 ESR.

  • Update Thunderbird from 52 to 60.

  • Update Tor to 0.3.4.7-rc.

  • Update Electrum to from 3.0.6 to 3.1.3.

Hardware support

The following updates make Tails work better on recent hardware (graphics, Wi-Fi, etc.):

  • Update Linux to 4.17 which also fixes the Foreshadow attack.

  • Update the DRM and Mesa libraries to improve support for some graphics cards.

  • Update the Intel and AMD microcodes and most firmware packages.

Fixed problems

  • Stop displaying the Enigmail setup wizard every time Tails is restarted. (#15693 and #15746)

  • Show a spinner while starting Tor Browser, Tails documentation, and WhisperBack. (#15101)

  • Use Tor Browser again for browsing the documentation offline. (#15720)

  • Show Synaptic and Root Terminal even when no administration password is set. (#11013)

  • Tails Installer

    • Link to upgrade documentation when upgrading. (#7904)
    • Hide the Reinstall option when the USB stick is too small. (#14810)
    • Correct the size of the USB stick in the confirmation dialog when reinstalling. (#15590)

For more details, read our changelog.

Known issues

  • Starting Tails 3.9 from DVD is twice slower than earlier releases. (#15915)

See the list of long-standing issues.

Get Tails 3.9

What's coming up?

Tails 3.10 is scheduled for October 23.

We need your help and there are many ways to contribute to Tails (donating is only one of them). Come talk to us!