As you might have noticed, our last monthly report was a long time ago,
because the people who were doing them had really no time left. Somebody
new finally takes over, let's hope it lasts :)
So, here is a minimal report for the second half of 2014, the next ones
will be more complete.
Releases
========
* Tails 1.1.1 was released on September 2, 2014. (minor release)
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.1.1
* Tails 1.2 was released on October 14, 2014. (major release)
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2
* Tails 1.2.1 was released on December 3, 2014. (minor release)
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2.1
* Tails 1.2.2 was released on December 15, 2014. (special minor release
for security reasons)
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_1.2.2
Code
====
For details, see each release announcement. Notable changes include:
* 1.1.1: I2P now needs to be enabled with a boot option. We made this
choice after a security hole affected I2P ; this problem is now
fixed, but if any other is discovered in the future, it won't affect
Tails users who don't use I2P.
https://tails.boum.org/doc/anonymous_internet/i2p
https://tails.boum.org/security/Security_hole_in_I2P_0.9.13
* 1.2: Tor Browser replaces the previous Firefox + Torbutton setup.
This allows us to work more closely with Tor people and provide a
more unified experience to the user.
https://tails.boum.org/doc/anonymous_internet/Tor_Browser
* Several major applications are confined with AppArmor. This improves
the overall security provided by Tails, and AppArmor work is going on
to confine more applications :)
https://tails.boum.org/contribute/design/application_isolation
* 1.2.1: finally removes TrueCrypt. It was abandonned upstream since a
long time, and it's safer to use maintained, reviewed encryption
methods, like LUKS (that's what the persistence. You can still open
your TrueCrypt volumes, but we recommand you switch to LUKS volumes as
soon as possible.
https://tails.boum.org/doc/encryption_and_privacy/truecrypt
https://tails.boum.org/doc/encryption_and_privacy/encrypted_volumes
Funding
=======
- We passed a call for donations on our website which was quite
successful. Donations are still welcome though :)
https://tails.boum.org/news/who_are_you_helping
- The grant proposal that we submitted to the Digital Defenders was
approved. It will fund part of our activity over 2015:
- Build our capacity to provide same-day security updates:
- Increase the test coverage of our automated test suite to cover
most of our remaining manual tests.
- Write automated tests for the new features to be developed during
2015.
- Buy dedicated hardware to allow core developers to be able to run
the test suite locally.
- Streamline the installation process for less tech-savvy people:
- Have Tails Installer available in Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives.
- Write a Firefox extension to automate the ISO verification at
download time.
- Rework our download and installation instructions as a web
assistant to guide new users step-by-step through the process.
- Provide one year of help desk.
https://digitaldefenders.org/
- We submitted a full proposal to the Open Technology Fund. It passed a
first round of review and is now waiting for the approval of their
final committee.
https://www.opentechfund.org/
Outreach
========
- Several Tails contributors attended the 31C3 in Hamburg. We held a
Tails table where many people came to ask questions, get Tails
installed, start to contribute or just say thank you. We even had some
origami folding moments :)
https://events.ccc.de/category/31c3/
- We passed a call for help on porting Windows camouflage to GNOME 3.14.
https://tails.boum.org/news/windows_camouflage_jessie
Press & Testimonials
====================
For more information concerning the second half of 2014, see our press page.
https://tails.boum.org/press/
* 2014-12-29: In Reconstructive narratives at the 31th Chaos
Communication Congress, Jacob Appelbaum and Laura Poitras explained
that properly implemented encryption technologies such as Tor, Tails,
GnuPG, OTR, and RedPhone are some of the only ones that can blind the
pervasive surveillance of the NSA. They are rated as "catastrophic"
by the NSA itself.
http://media.ccc.de/browse/congress/2014/31c3_-_6258_-_en_-_saal_1_-_201412282030_-_reconstructing_narratives_-_jacob_-_laura_poitras.html#video
* Tails is being used in the film Citizenfour by Laura Poitras and
appears in the credits.
https://citizenfourfilm.com/
Documentation
=============
- We documented a workaround to empty the trash of the persistent
volume.
https://tails.boum.org/doc/encryption_and_privacy/secure_deletion#empty_trash.
Metrics
=======
In August 2014:
* Tails has been started more than 287,156 times in August.
This makes 9,263 boots a day on average.
* 19,910 downloads of the OpenPGP signature of Tails ISO.
* 110 bug reports were received through WhisperBack.
In September 2014:
* Tails has been started more than 344,639 times in September.
This makes 11,488 boots a day on average.
* 26,311 downloads of the OpenPGP signature of Tails ISO.
* 102 bug reports were received through WhisperBack.
In October 2014:
* Tails has been started more than 364,727 times in October.
This makes 11,765 boots a day on average.
* 27,342 downloads of the OpenPGP signature of Tails ISO.
* 160 bug reports were received through WhisperBack.
In November 2014:
* Tails has been started more than 337,962 times in November.
This makes 11,265 boots a day on average.
* 21,301 downloads of the OpenPGP signature of Tails ISO.
* 74 bug reports were received through WhisperBack.
In December 2014:
* Tails has been started more than 347,669 times in December.
This makes 11,215 boots a day on average.
* 26,549 downloads of the OpenPGP signature of Tails ISO.
* 91 bug reports were received through WhisperBack.
