Tails Project releases privacy-focused Linux distribution version 7.16

The Tails Project has released version 7.16 of its privacy-focused Linux distribution. The operating system is designed to run from a USB stick, routing internet traffic through the Tor network while leaving no traces on the host computer after shutdown.

A primary update in this version is the inclusion of Tor Browser 16. Based on Firefox ESR 153, the browser features a redesigned settings interface with dedicated categories for appearance, downloads, tabs, accessibility, and languages. To mitigate fingerprinting risks, potentially dangerous settings that could compromise privacy are now hidden or accompanied by warnings.

New features include an optional privacy setting called generic window titles. When active, this replaces specific webpage titles with a generic “Tor Browser” label to prevent local applications from identifying visited sites. Additionally, the update includes Tor client version 0.4.9.15 and a fix for Thunderbird’s OpenPGP functionality to restore support for encrypted and digitally signed emails.