- For hardware compatibility issues, refer to our [[known issues|support/known_issues]].

- To learn what you can do with Tails, refer to our [[documentation|doc]].

- For questions related to Tor, see also to the [Tor support pages](https://support.torproject.org/).

Tails is part of the [Tor Project](https://torproject.org/).

Tails [[was founded|news/celebrating_10_years]] in 2009 and [[joined forces with Tor|news/tails_tor]] in 2024.

See also our explanation about [[why does Tails use Tor|doc/anonymous_internet/tor/why#relationship]].

See also our explanation about [[why does Tails use Tor|doc/anonymous_internet/tor/why#relationship]].

To store files in your Tails USB stick, use the encrypted [[Persistent Storage|doc/first_steps/persistenct_storage]]. To exchange files between Tails and another operating system, use a separate USB stick.

To store files in your Tails USB stick, use the [[Persistent Storage|doc/persistent_storage]]. To exchange files between Tails and another operating system, use a separate USB stick.

<h2 id="unetbootin">Can I install Tails with UNetbootin, YUMI, Rufus or my other favorite, Ventoy, or another tool?</h2>

<h2 id="unetbootin">Can I install Tails with UNetbootin, YUMI, Rufus, Ventoy, or another tool?</h2>

No. Upgrading whenever you get a notification from *[[Tails Upgrader|doc/upgrade]]* is enough.

No. Tails provides upgrades every six4 weeks, thatwhich are thoroughly tested
to make sure that no security feature or configuration gets broken.
Updating add-ons in <span class="application">Tor Browser</span> might
break the security built in Tails.

Tails provides upgrades every 4 weeks, which are thoroughly tested to make sure that no security feature or configuration gets broken.

If you upgrade the system yourself using `apt` or *Synaptic*, you might break things.

Our team sometimes publishes emergency releases, whenever important security upgrades are available in Debian or *Tor Browser* before the next scheduled release.

<p>In the future, we might make it possible to verify the integrity of a Tails
USB stick from another trusted OS. ([[!tails_ticket 7496]])</p>

<h1 id="browser">Web bTor Browser</h1>

<h1 id="browser">Tor Browser</h1>

InstallUpdating add-ons in <span class="application">*Tor Browser</span>* might break the security built in Tails.

Updating add-ons in *Tor Browser* might break the security built in Tails.

Currently, Tails does not work with VPNs.

Currently, Tails does not work with VPNs.

With VPNs, the administrators of the VPN can knowUnlike Tor, VPNs don't provide strong anonymity because the VPN provider can see both where you are connecting from and where you are connecting to.

Unlike Tor, VPNs don't provide strong anonymity because the VPN provider can see both where you are connecting from and where you are connecting to.

But VPNs have clear benefits over Tor in some situations where strong anonymity is not needed, for example:

- To access websites that block Tor or can only be accessed from a given country

- To use videoconferencing tools like *Jitsi* or *Zoom*