Tinfoil Hat Linux

Last updated
Tinfoil Hat Linux
Tinfoillinux.jpg
Developer Shmoo Group [1]
OS family Linux (Unix-like)
Working stateDiscontinued
Source model Open source
Latest release 2.0pre1 / February 2002;22 years ago (2002-02)
Platforms i386
Kernel type Monolithic kernel
Default
user interface
CLI / Bourne shell
License Documentation: Modified BSD license [2]
Software: Original licences
Official website tinfoilhat.shmoo.com

Tinfoil Hat Linux (THL) is a compact security-focused Linux distribution designed for high security developed by The Shmoo Group. The first version (1.000) was released in February 2002. By 2013, it had become a low-priority project. Its image files and source are available in gzip format. THL can be used on modern PCs using an Intel 80386 or better, with at least 8 MB of RAM. The distribution fits on a single HD floppy disk. The small footprint provides additional benefits beyond making the system easy to understand and verify. The computer need not even have a hard drive, making it easier to "sanitize" the computer after use.

Contents

The logo of Tinfoil Hat is Tux, the Linux mascot, wearing a tinfoil hat.

The Shmoo Group website says "It started as a secure, single floppy, bootable Linux distribution for storing PGP keys and then encrypting, signing, and wiping files. At some point, it became an exercise in over-engineering." [1]

Security features

Tinfoil Hat uses a number of measures to defeat hardware and software surveillance methods like keystroke logging, video camera, and TEMPEST:

Applications

THL can be used on most modern PCs using the x86 processor architecture. For example, one might install it on a computer that is kept in a locked room, not connected to any network, and used only for cryptographically signing keys. It is fairly easy to create the Tinfoil Hat booting floppy with Microsoft Windows. Verifying the checksum can pose a greater challenge. The text of the documentation is salted with a few jokes, the humor working in stark contrast to the serious and paranoiac tone of the surrounding text. The very name of the distribution pokes fun at itself, as Tinfoil Hats are commonly ascribed to paranoiacs as a method of protecting oneself from mind-control waves.

Tinfoil Hat Linux requires one to work in a text-only environment in Linux, electing to start users with a Bourne shell, the text editor vi, and with no graphical user interface. It uses BusyBox instead of the normal Util-Linux, the GNU Core Utilities (formerly known as FileUtils, ShellUtils, and TextUtils), and other common Unix tools. Tinfoil Hat also offers the GNU nano text editor.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Shmoo website - projects page" . Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  2. FAQ (archived)