Tails 7.3.1 releases with key security updates for Tor and Thunderbird

The Tails Project has just released Tails 7.3.1 as its next major version. This should have been numbered 7.3, but when that version was spun, it was discovered that it had a security vulnerability, so a new version, 7.3.1, had to be released. The vulnerability was in one of the pieces of software that Tails uses, but now it is fixed.

For those that don't know, the Tails operating system is a private operating system that runs on a USB stick. The developers work closely with the Tor Project to make an entire operating system that is hidden behind the Tor network, rather than just the web browser.

This update does not contain too much in the way of major user-facing changes like some versions of Tails do. The main improvements here are the update to key software, helping to protect you from anyone looking to uncover your identity. The updated software includes Tor Browser, which is now on version 15.0.3; the Tor client was updated to 0.4.8.21, and Thunderbird is now on version 140.5.0.

The new version of Tails can be acquired following various methods, including automatic upgrade, manual upgrade, new installation, and direct download. Automatic updates are available on Tails 7.0 and later and will be offered after you connect to the internet. These are by far the easiest. In case of difficulties, you can also perform a manual upgrade by following these instructions.

If neither upgrade option works and you want to start fresh or you want to get Tails for the first time, you can create installation media following the specific instructions for Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you do not need to install Tails for whatever reason but just want a copy, you can simply do a direct download of the images for USB devices or DVDs and virtual machines.

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Posted Saturday 13 December 2025 at 5:28 pm AEST (my time).

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