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Network Obstacle Documentation Desktop Previous page: Network Obstacle Index page: Documentation Next page: Desktop Follow Whonix Developments

It is absolutely crucial to subscribe to and read the latest Whonix news category 'important-news' to stay in touch with ongoing developments. This way users benefit from notifications concerning important security advisories, potential upgrade issues and improved releases which address identified issues, like those affecting the updater or other core elements.

Whonix News

For user convenience, there are multiple avenues for receiving news. Choose the most suitable option below.

1. Whonix Important News Forum Tag (onion) - Only critical information is reported. This includes security advisories specific to Whonix and new stable Whonix versions. It is best suited for people with very limited time and interest in Whonix development and news.
2. Whonix News Forums (onion) - This includes everything including important news and has a relaxed posting policy. Testers-only and developers Whonix versions are announced here, along with the publishing of news about updated articles, new features, future features, development, calls for testing, general project ideas and so on.
3. Whonix Telegram News Channel: Whonix website whonix.org server status updates as well as same as above.
4. Other choices.

If time-constrained, users should at least read the Whonix Important News Forum Tag. Follow the Whonix News Forums if detailed anonymity / privacy / security-related issues are of interest, or to follow recent Whonix developments.

Reason

In the future a theoretical situation might arise that requires users to be notified about a critical security vulnerability, for example: "A severe vulnerability in APT is being actively exploited by Tor exit relays against random users. Stop using APT until there is a solution." Therefore, a reliable mechanism is needed to quickly notify as many users as possible.

Debian Security Announcements

Since Whonix is based on Debian, users should consider subscribing to the Debian security announcement mailing list to stay informed about the latest security advisories. See also chapter Debian Security Announcements.

Operating System Updates

It is crucial to regularly check for operating system updates on the host operating system, and both the Whonix-Workstation^™ and Whonix-Gateway^™.

Social Media Profiles

There are some Official Whonix Social Media Profiles online, but please do not rely on them for the latest Whonix News or to contact Whonix developers (see support and contact).

As some users will disregard this advice, messages from the Whonix Feature Blog are most times posted on Whonix Telegram News Channel, Whonix Twitter Profile and the Whonix Facebook Profile. However, they are most times not mirrored to other Whonix social media profiles.

If it is safe to inform others about Whonix, feel free to Contribute via an anonymous account that follows or likes these profiles.

Source Code

If Whonix source code updates are of interest, subscribe to code changes.

Tor Browser

Tor Browser's built-in update check mechanism also works in Whonix, so use it whenever updates become available.

For additional information about Tor Browser updates see Tor Browser. Additionally, consider subscribing to https://blog.torproject.org for developments from The Tor Project.

Running systemcheck

See systemcheck.

Whonix Repository Testers

Whonix requires a critical mass of users to properly test planned updates by enabling the stable-proposed-updates or testers repository. Otherwise, bugs might go undiscovered and be inadvertently introduced into the stable repository.

To ensure a stable Whonix system is available at all times, willing testers should:

• Create new Whonix-Workstation^™ and Whonix-Gateway^™ Templates solely for testing.
• Enable the stable-proposed-updates or testers repository via the Derivative Repository Tool.
• Platform-specific advice:
  • Non-Qubes-Whonix: Create a clean snapshot or use Multiple Whonix-Workstation / Multiple Whonix-Gateway.
  • Qubes-Whonix^™: Use Multiple Templates and separate sys-whonix-test and anon-whonix-test TemplateBasedVMs.

Then perform normal user activities.

Please only report bugs after first searching relevant Whonix forums and developer portals for the problem. (Please use Search Engines and see Documentation First)

Footnotes

Whonix The most watertight privacy operating system in the world.

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Whonix is proudly supported until 2025 by Power Up Privacy, a privacy advocacy group that seeks to supercharge privacy projects with resources so they can complete their mission of making our world a better place. (Strictly subject to our sponsorship policy.)

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