This Linux distro updates Tor Browser and kernel for safer anonymous browsing

Credit: Sergio Rodriguez / How-To Geek Published Nov 12, 2026, 12:01 PM EST Jefferson Mangubat is an experienced technology journalist who has reported on consumer electronics, software updates and big stories in the industry. He's now a Reporter at How-To Geek, and has built a solid reputation for delivering accurate, accessible, and insightful tech journalism. Prior to that, he was a tech reporter for Neowin, where he extensively covered hardware developments from Apple and Google, in addition to digital trends and application updates. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Privacy-focused operating systems have a tricky job, as they need to protect users from online tracking but keep the tools that make that protection possible up to date. That’s a constant battle for Tails, the Linux distribution built around anonymous browsing and leaving as few traces as possible on the computer it runs on. The latest release continues that effort with an updated Tor Browser and a newer Linux kernel. The Tails Project has released Tails 7.17, which includes three major software updates and offers a simple upgrade path for current users. The most noticeable change, perhaps, is the upgrade to Tor Browser 16.0.1, which gives users a newer version of the browser used for anonymous web access. Tails also updates its Tor client to version 0.4.9.16, which manages connections to the Tor network, and a Linux kernel upgrade to version 6.12.116 from the 6.12 Long-Term Support series. Tails 7.17 makes upgrading easier for existing users Here's what you need to know about Tails and its latest upgrade If you’re not familiar with Tails, the operating system is a different take on everyday computing. It's based on Debian Linux and can be run from a USB stick. It routes Internet traffic through Tor, helping to protect users’ anonymity and reduce the digital footprints left behind during a session. It’s especially useful for journalists, activists, researchers, and privacy-conscious users who want to keep their online activity from being casually exposed. Existing users can take heart, as upgrading will not mean starting over. You can automatically upgrade Tails 7.17 from any version starting with Tails 7.0. Even better, the process leaves Persistent Storage untouched, allowing users to keep their saved files, settings, and other information from one session to the next. In case the automatic upgrade fails or Tails won’t start after the upgrade, the project suggests trying a manual upgrade instead. New users can download Tails 7.17 as a USB image or as an ISO image for DVDs and virtual machines. It's important to note the difference between upgrading and installing: a fresh install on an existing USB stick will erase its Persistent Storage. If you’re on an older version, check out your upgrade options. New users can download the latest image directly from the Tails website. Source: Tails