14 DAY TRIAL // Ubuntu Privacy Remix, a distribution that aims to provide an isolated working environment where sensitive data can be dealt with safely, is now at version 12.04r1.
With all the security and anonymity issues that are now affecting the online community, a Linux distribution that promises to keep users secure is not something out of the ordinary. In fact, there already is a number of OSes that seem to fit into this category, like Tails for example, and Ubuntu Privacy Remix is just one of them.
Unlike most Ubuntu-based distros that try to implement the latest version released, Ubuntu Privacy Remix is working slowly up the food chain. The previous release that was made available in October 2013 was still based on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and the new one is using Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS as the base.
“The goal of Ubuntu Privacy Remix is to provide an isolated working environment where sensitive data can be dealt with safely. The system installed on the computer running UPR remains untouched, UPR is not intended for permanent installation on hard disk. Instead of that Ubuntu Privacy Remix runs from a modified Live-CD based on Ubuntu Linux. All user data reside exclusively on encrypted removable media.”
“UPR raises the ‘basic’ protection already offered by live systems with several measures. It is intended only for local offline work and offers no connection to the internet. Data meant to be transmitted over the internet can be encrypted with e.g. GnuPG while working with UPR,” reads the official announcement.
Ubuntu Privacy Remix 12.04r1 is a Live system, which means that it is not meant for installation. This is just one of the measures taken by the developers to limit the exposure of the user to any problems that could arise.
The good news is that even if it's based on an older system, Ubuntu Privacy Remix is able to boot on newer machines with UEFI + SecureBoot and comes with support for new hardware. It also uses the GNOME Classic environment, which ensures that the distribution is able to run on systems with low-end hardware.
Also, Ubuntu Privacy Remix 12.04r1 is using Linux kernel 3.8, X.Org 7.7, LibreOffice 4.2, Scribus 1.4.2, GIMP 2.8, and many other new packages. As an additional security feature, the OS comes with RAM wiping at shutdown, which can prevent “Cold Boot Attacks.”
A complete list of changes and improvements can be found in the official announcement. You can download Ubuntu Privacy Remix 12.04r1 right now from Softpedia.