Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Tails VS Subgraph OS

Compare Tails VS Subgraph OS and see what are their differences

Tails logo Tails

Tails is a Debian based live CD/USB with the goal of providing complete Internet anonymity for the...

Subgraph OS logo Subgraph OS

Adversary resistant computing platform.
  • Tails Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-25
  • Subgraph OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07

Tails features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    Tails is designed to preserve your privacy and anonymity by routing internet traffic through the Tor network, which conceals your IP address and encrypted communications.
  • Amnesic System
    Tails runs from a USB stick or DVD and does not leave any traces on the computer, as it operates entirely in memory and does not alter the hard drive.
  • Pre-installed Security Tools
    Tails comes with a suite of pre-installed applications configured for security, including a web browser, instant messaging client, email client, office suite, and more.
  • Regular Updates
    The development team behind Tails releases regular updates and security patches, ensuring that the system remains up-to-date against vulnerabilities.
  • Open Source
    Tails is open source, meaning its source code is available for anyone to inspect, ensuring transparency and allowing the community to contribute to its development.

Possible disadvantages of Tails

  • Performance Limitations
    Running from a USB stick or DVD typically results in slower performance compared to an installed operating system.
  • Limited Persistence
    While Tails is designed to be amnesic, it offers limited options for persistence, meaning that any changes made or files created are not saved unless explicit steps are taken to store data on an encrypted persistent volume.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    For new users or those unfamiliar with Linux-based systems, Tails may have a steep learning curve, making it challenging to understand and use effectively.
  • Software Restrictions
    Tails includes a curated set of software focused on privacy and security, which means some commonly used applications are not available by default and need additional effort to install and configure.
  • Internet Dependency
    Since Tails relies heavily on the Tor network, disruptions or limitations in Tor service can impact the effectiveness and availability of anonymity services.

Subgraph OS features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Subgraph OS is designed with multiple layers of security in mind, including AppArmor profiles, kernel hardening, and integrated encryption, providing a robust and secure operating environment.
  • Isolation
    It utilizes containers to isolate applications from each other, minimizing the risk that a compromise in one application can affect the entire system.
  • Anonymity
    The operating system comes pre-configured to use Tor for internet connections, which helps maintain user privacy and anonymity online.
  • Secure Communication
    Subgraph OS includes applications like Oz, which further enhance secure communication through mandatory access controls and sandboxing strategies.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Despite its security focus, Subgraph OS maintains a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users who may not be technically inclined but require enhanced security.

Possible disadvantages of Subgraph OS

  • Limited Software Availability
    Due to its security-focused development, Subgraph OS may have limited support for some software applications, which can restrict usability for certain users.
  • Resource Intensive
    The extensive use of containers and security features can lead to higher resource consumption, potentially affecting system performance on older hardware.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    For users who are not familiar with privacy-focused operating systems, the initial setup and configuration may be challenging.
  • Potential Overhead
    The numerous security features, while beneficial, can create additional overhead and complexity, possibly complicating troubleshooting and system maintenance.
  • Niche User Base
    Subgraph OS caters primarily to users with specific privacy and security needs, which may limit its relevance to a broader audience seeking a general-purpose operating system.

Tails videos

Tails OS Installation And Review - Access The Deep Web/Dark Net

More videos:

  • Review - Tails Reviews Sonic The Hedgehog Movie | Post Credits Scene Reaction
  • Review - 5 Reasons to Use Tails | Privacy Linux

Subgraph OS videos

Breaking the security model of Subgraph OS

More videos:

  • Review - Subgraph OS: Hardening a Linux Desktop - David Mirza Ahmad at 44CON 2017
  • Review - Subgraph OS overview | Adversary resistant computing platform

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tails and Subgraph OS)
Linux
97 97%
3% 3
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100
Operating Systems
95 95%
5% 5
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Tails and Subgraph OS

Tails Reviews

Best Linux distro for privacy and security of 2024
All connections are routed through the anonymity network Tor, which conceals your location. The applications in Tails have also been carefully selected to enhance your privacy – for example, there’s KeePassX - which, while not the best password manager, is still pretty good - and Paperkey, a command line tool used to export OpenPGP secret keys to print on paper. There are...
Top 5 Secure Operating Systems for Privacy and Anonymity
Tails has the option for persistent storage which can improve usability, albeit at the cost of some anonymity. Although it enables saving files across sessions, it creates a trace of your activities, which contradicts Tails' amnesic feature. However, you still preserve a high degree of privacy due to robust encryption. This is made possible due to how the persistent data is...
The 5 Best Privacy-Focused Operating Systems
Tails, short for "The Amnesic Incognito Live System," is a privacy-focused portable Linux distribution, designed with anonymity and security in mind. What makes Tails stand out is its focus on leaving no digital trace. It operates as a live OS, meaning you can run it directly from a USB stick or DVD without leaving any footprint on the host system.
Avoid The Hack: 11 Best Privacy Friendly Operating Systems (Desktops)
TAILS is a live operating system focusing on anonymity in addition to user privacy; TAILS effectively disappears, wiping data when you shut down the system.
Best Secure Linux Distros for Enhanced Privacy & Security
Tails uses the Tor network, a network heralded for its privacy and anonymity benefits, to keep users safe online. All connections run through this network - concealing users’ location and other private information. Tails comes with a secure browser, a secure email client and other secure Internet tools. Tails is the most well-known privacy-focused distro, and a popular...

Subgraph OS Reviews

Top 15 Best Security-Centric Linux Distributions of 2020
Subgraph OS is a lightweight Debian-based distribution designed to be impervious to surveillance and interference from adversaries over any network no matter their level of sophistication. It is created to use a hardened Linux kernel coupled with an application firewall to block certain programs from accessing the network and it forces all Internet traffic to go through the...
Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Tails seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 385 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Tails mentions (385)

  • Ten years from Snowden revelations – what's next for Tor and privacy online?
    I’m not sure about the Tor project, but the closely-related Tails project (which is excellent, BTW) seems to be uncomfortably adjacent to far-left anarchist groups. Their website, https://tails.boum.org, is hosted by one such group, and on it they prominently link to another anarchist “collective” called RiseUp. Why are we okay with this kind of implicit endorsement of violence-adjacent groups? It should be just... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • very strange
    I noticed that the website url https://tails.boum.org/ was changed to https://tails.net/. Does anyone know why? Source: over 1 year ago
  • My Mother Found Out I was Installing Linux...
    If you pop this onto a USB you can leave a beautiful Windows installation on your computer unfettled with: https://tails.boum.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How does this work in Proton?! I was told it's impossible...
    If you want to factor out your host machine entirely whilst surfing the web, have a look at https://tails.boum.org/ . Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is it possible for a skilled hacker or government to remotely access my computer?
    Tails is a security-focused Linux distro that (by default) only runs as a live-USB and is not meant to be used as a traditional daily-driver. As you've probably understood by now, it's a 'limited' system for the sake of security and privacy. At least it's assuring to have a far better protected distro than what distros like Arch/Debian/Fedora offer by default. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Subgraph OS mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Subgraph OS yet. Tracking of Subgraph OS recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tails and Subgraph OS, you can also consider the following products

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

BioCatch - Seamless and secure online experiences are built with BioCatch behavioral biometrics. We’re more than just fraud prevention. Our solution powers your digital growth.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Deep Instinct - Deep Instinct is revolutionizing cyber security, offering advanced cyber security solutions that harness the power of deep learning analytics with unprecedented deep machine learning and AI prediction models.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

Quarkslab - Quarkslab is a security platform that makes applications and data safe with its skilled vulnerability search tools and design of security solutions.