Fans of Tails (The
Amnesic Incognito Live System) Linux operating system use it because of
the well-documented security and anonymity features it provides. The
system utilizes a Tor browser, which also affords more anonymity to
users while browsing sites on the web. The Linux Journal is a monthly technology magazine and news site that focuses on topics related to Linux and open source programs.
Documents leaked in connection with Edward Snowden purportedly included XKeyscore, a surveillance program that Snowden and anti-surveillance proponents criticized. Members of the Tor Project obtained the XKeyscore source code and reviewed it in detail. The Tor Project discovered that the NSA flagged members of the Tor community and their related IP addresses for surveillance.
The program flags any IP address involved in any web search for the term Tails or its meaning. The program refers to Tails Linux distribution as “a comsec mechanism advocated by extremists on extremist forums,” according to Techspot.
Some speculation exists that a second leaker (in addition to Snowden) helped provide and possibly decipher the source code, but no supporting evidence of this has yet come to light. In response to the allegations, the NSA released an official statement, saying “the NSA collects only what is authorized by law to collect for valid foreign intelligence purposes.”
The statement emphasized that strict oversight and compliance processes are in place to ensure that programs like XKeyscore are used as intended, and as allowed by law. Countries including the U.K., New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the U.S. are exempt from surveillance of this kind.
Other OS proponents may consider Linux users to be a unique or eccentric group of users, but the application of the “extremists” blanket label has created a strong backlash in the tech community.
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