Tails 6.0 launches first Release Candidate based on Debian 12 and GNOME 43

The Tails team, creators of the privacy-focused Linux-based operating system, has announced the first release candidate (rc1) for the forthcoming Tails 6.0. This update is scheduled for an official launch on February 27, with the team seeking assistance from users to test the release candidate before February 18.

The Tails 6.0 update will be the first to be based on Debian 12 “Bookworm” and GNOME 43, bringing with it updated versions of the majority of the software included in Tails. It will also incorporate several key security and usability enhancements.

A notable new feature in Tails 6.0~rc1 is the automatic mounting of external storage devices, such as USB sticks or external hard disks. If the device contains an encrypted partition, Tails 6.0~rc1 will offer to unlock the encryption automatically.

In a move to bolster security, Tails 6.0~rc1 will ignore any USB device plugged in while the screen is locked. Users will only be able to use new USB devices if they are plugged in while the screen is unlocked.

The release candidate also includes a light/dark theme switcher, a new screenshot/screencast shortcut, and simplified Gmail configuration in Thunderbird. There are also numerous software updates, improvements, and bug fixes.

In addition, Tails 6.0~rc1 now generates suggested passphrases in Catalan, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish when creating a Persistent Storage, thanks to contributor jawlensky who created the word lists for Catalan, Italian, and Spanish for Tails, but also made them available to all users of Diceware.