5 best Linux distros for staying anonymous – when a VPN isn’t enough

Once upon a time, I was hired by a client, but I wasn’t sure if they could be trusted. I couldn’t ignore this suspicion, but they offered to pay me rates I’d never been paid before. 

I accepted the gig, knowing I’d have to take extra precautions to keep my information safe. Instead of a VPN, I opted for a Linux distribution geared toward anonymity, privacy, and security. When dealing with anything related to that client, I’d fire up the specialized Linux distribution and do whatever I needed to do. Once finished, I’d shut down the distribution, knowing I’d have to fire it back up soon.

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It worked to perfection. My data and identity were safe, and I could still get paid for a job well done. The client had no idea of my suspicions, and all was well.

You may or may not have a similar need, but you never know what the future holds. To that end, you might want to at least be prepared for that fateful day when you need to lean into anonymity. That’s when you turn to one of these five Linux distributions.

Before you think, “I don’t know how to install an operating system,” understand two things:

• These distributions are run as live instances, so you don’t have to install them. (You just boot them using a USB thumb drive.)
• Installing Linux is as easy as installing an app.

What makes these distributions different from other versions of Linux? Essentially, they focus on keeping users anonymous while in use and leaving no trace when not. 

Let’s take a look at each of these distributions.

1. Linux Kodachi

Linux Kodachi (mostly called Kodachi) is a highly secure, anti-forensic, and anonymous computing environment that focuses on anonymity and privacy, routing all internet connections through a VPN and then the Tor network. Kodachi includes a suite of privacy-protection tools and leaves no trace on the computer unless specifically requested. With Kodachi, you gain the following benefits:

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• All online activity is routed through a VPN and then the Tor network.
• Network traffic uses DNS encryption to ensure maximum privacy.
• Includes measures to prevent DNS leaks.
• By default, Kodachi does not leave any footprints on your computer unless explicitly instructed to do so.
• Cutting-edge cryptographic and privacy tools allow you to encrypt files, emails, and instant messages.
• Pre-configured firewall to protect against network threats.
• Includes malware protection.

Kodachi can be downloaded and used for free.

2. Tails

Tails (The Amnesiac Incognito Live System) is one of the more popular distributions on this list. If you’ve never heard of Tails, know that it’s a portable operating system that protects against surveillance and censorship. Tails can be run in Live mode, running entirely from RAM (like most of the distributions on this list), leaving no trace of activity when you reboot your system. Think of it like this: Every time you reboot your computer into Tails, it’s a brand-new instance and there’s nothing left of the previous session. All network traffic on Tails runs through the Tor network for privacy and anonymity. 

There are also apps like KeePassX and Paperkey installed for added privacy. If you need, you can run Tails with persistent storage, but that kind of defeats the purpose of no trace.

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Stand-out features of Tails include:

• Tor Integration.
• Amnesic design.
• Runs from a USB stick or DVD without installation.
• Built-in encryption.
• Preinstalled security applications include GnuPG for email and file encryption, LUKS for drive encryption, and KeePassXC for password management.
• Each boot starts from a clean state, minimizing the risk of malware or keyloggers.
• Based on Debian.
• Plenty of preinstalled software.
• Option for persistent storage.

Tails can be downloaded and used for free. Keep in mind that the default Tails download is an img file. Instead, download the ISO image for easier use. 

3. Whonix

Whonix is a bit different, as it was designed to be run as a virtual machine. You download an OVA file and add it in VirtualBox. (It’s much easier than you think.) Whonix has something the other options do not — Sdwdate, which stands for “Secure Distributed Web Date.” This app is a time synchronization tool designed to prevent time-based attacks that could compromise your security and anonymity. 

The Sdwdate tool does slow down the initial usage of Whonix, because you need to wait for the gateway to connect. That’s where things get a bit tricky. With the Whonix Virtual appliance, you must run two virtual machines — the gateway and the workstation. First, start the gateway and then run the workstation. With the gateway running, the workstation can then connect to the gateway for added security and privacy. Whonix includes apps like KeepassXC (password manager), a pre-configured firewall, Tor Browser Downloader, and more. Finally, Whonix is built on Kicksecure, an operating system that’s security-hardened by its developers.

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Stand-out features of Whonix:

• Whonix uses a two-VM architecture with a “workstation” for user activities and a “gateway” for routing all traffic through Tor.
• A high level of isolation protects the user’s real IP address even if the workstation is compromised.
• Tor Network integration with enforced Tor usage.
• Different applications use different Tor circuits, enhancing privacy and reducing correlation risks.
• Can be run on Windows, MacOS, or Linux as the host OS.
• Available in different versions, including KVM, VirtualBox, and Qubes OS integration.
• Hardened kernel.
• Secure and anonymous time synchronization to prevent time-based attacks.
• Anti-fingerprinting measures.
• Updates are verified and delivered through Tor to maintain anonymity.

Whonix is a great option if you need a live distribution that’s built from the ground up to be secure and offer anonymous usage. The VirtualBox image can be downloaded from the official download page.

4. Qubes OS

Qubes OS is also a bit different because it focuses on security through isolation. But don’t be fooled, Qubes OS does include very strong privacy features and uses virtualization to isolate certain sections of the OS to prevent malware from infecting any other section. 

Qubes OS allows users to securely compartmentalize their digital activities by leveraging Xen-based virtualization to create isolated compartments called qubes. Qubes OS includes the usual array of software.

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There are two things to consider before opting to even try Qubes OS. First, it’s for advanced users only. Second, you have to install the OS, so the leave-no-trace option you find in similar operating systems isn’t there. That said, Qubes OS is a unique operating system that can ensure your privacy and security thanks to another unique feature called disposables. You can create disposables, work within them, and then when you reboot, the disposable self-destructs. You can also assign different levels of trust to various qubes based on their purpose.

Stand-out features of Qubes:

• Uses Xen hypervisor to create multiple, isolated VMs called “qubes.”
• Each task or application can run in its own qube, isolating potential threats.
• Different VMs are assigned different colors to make it easy to identify which security domain you’re using.
• Users can create and customize security domains based on needs.
• Uses template virtual machines to create and manage multiple similar VMs efficiently.
• Each qube can have its own firewall and network settings.
• Tor integration.
• USB isolation.
• GPU pass-through.
• Split GPG for secure handling of GPG keys by isolating them in separate virtual machines.
• Creates temporary virtual machines for one-time, potentially risky tasks.
• Provides extra-secure virtual machines for storing sensitive data, with no network access.

Qubes OS can be downloaded and installed for free.

5. Parrot OS

While Parrot OS is known primarily as a penetration testing distribution, it also includes strong privacy features and tools for anonymity. Parrot OS offers a Home version that is tailored for everyday computing tasks but with extra privacy protection to meet a wide range of end-user needs. Some of the key features found in Parrot OS include:

• Tor and Tor Browser are pre-installed.
• Anonsurf routes all system traffic through the Tor network.
• Firejail for app sandboxing.
• OnionShare for anonymous file sharing.
• Richochet for anonymous chat.
• Based on Debian stable with Linux 6.1 kernel.
• MATE is the default desktop environment.
• Requires low system resources (such as 256MB of RAM).
• Supports 64-bit (32-bit support is being phased out)
• Preinstalled tools for security, digital forensics, and privacy protection.
• Office and media tools are included in some editions, making it suitable for everyday use.

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Focusing on security, privacy, and lightweight performance, Parrot OS is designed for ethical hacking, penetration testing, digital forensics, and privacy-conscious users. It comes with just enough apps pre-installed and includes tools for general-purpose use, making it suitable for daily use.

You can download and use Parrot OS for free.

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