There are several methods to improve privacy and anonymity when browsing, but one of the main recommendations from the more hardcore users is to abandon Windows and adopt some flavor of Linux as an alternative. This is especially true if the ultimate goal is to enter the Deep Web and explore its content. If you want to enter the Deep Web with Tor, you need three tools: the Tor network itself, the Tails distribution, and a USB stick to keep everything there.
The First Question: "Why?"
Contrary to what authorities insist on communicating, privacy and anonymity are two rights that every user should be able to access online. Of course, there is always a dark side to consider, but my intention is not to judge anyone here, and I won't start now.
The fallacy of "I have nothing to hide" is bigger than a house, and it's surprising to see the politicians of the day return to that sterile argument again and again. Fortunately, technology is on our side, and it doesn't take much work to carry all its advantages in your pocket.
The first step is to get a USB stick that is large and fast enough (the suggested minimum is 8 GB). Then you need to download a copy of the Tails distribution, focused on resources that seek to repel surveillance and censorship mechanisms. Finally, we'll need a tool that allows us to dump the Tails ISO image onto the USB stick.
Learn to Enter the Deep Web with Tor Using a USB Drive
The Tails portal offers three download options, but in practice we are interested in the first two: an .img image to dump to the USB stick with balenaEtcher, or the traditional ISO image compatible with Rufus and optical discs. You can download the images directly from Tails' server, but if you want to help, don't hesitate to choose the BitTorrent download.
Both balenaEtcher and Rufus are very easy to use. Both should detect the USB stick that will receive Tails and process all the content automatically. In general, balenaEtcher is simpler and more convenient for beginners, but many users favor Rufus for its compact size (1.2 MB vs 125 MB for balenaEtcher) and its advanced options.
Regardless of the route you chose, at this point you should have a USB stick with Tails loaded and ready to boot. The rest of the process is on par with any live distro: select the language (Tails' translation into Spanish is partial), confirm the automatic connection to the Tor network, and open the Tor Browser. If you want to turn Tails into a permanent installation on the machine, you can also do that.
I've tested the latest build of Tails, both virtualized and "on metal". Depending on the computer, it may need a few extra seconds to detect and activate Ethernet connections, but nothing more than that.
If you plan to enter the Deep Web with Tor on a public WiFi network, the access point might have a captive portal configured. If that causes problems, you'll need to log in using the "insecure browser" (you have to activate it on the welcome screen), do what the captive portal asks (watch ads, videos, etc.), and once the connection is confirmed, open the Tor Browser. If there's any connectivity issue with Tor, Tails will let you know more than once.
In Summary: Tails and Tor Are Not Enough
Why do we say that? Simply because they are not magic tools, and for them to work properly we must modify our behavior while browsing. Tor will help you browse the web anonymously and securely as long as the services you use don't organize a carnival with your data. Good luck!
Downloads: Tails, balenaEtcher, Rufus
