There is no such thing as a 100% secure or completely private operating system (that is a myth), but there are some that are designed with security and anonymity as a priority. They are designed for those who need to do more than just surf or work: we are talking about people who want to protect their identity, analyze networks or detect vulnerabilities with very specific tools.
One of the best known is Kali Linux. If it sounds familiar, it is because it is the favorite of many cybersecurity experts. It comes with over 600 tools focused on things like forensics, penetration testing and network audits. Ideal for ethical hackers who need to automate tasks and cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
But Kali isn't the only one. There's also Qubes OS, a system that takes security very seriously. How does it do that? By compartmentalizing everything. Basically, it creates isolated environments (like small virtual machines) according to the level of trust. So if something goes wrong in one part of the system, the rest is still safe.
And if you're worried about leaving a trace, that's where Tails comes in. This system runs from a USB stick and, when you shut down the computer, it leaves not a single file or piece of personal data behind. It literally disappears. It is an ideal option for those who need maximum privacy, even on computers that are not theirs.
These are just some of the operating systems that hackers tend to use (far from the typical Windows or macOS). Each one has its own approach, but they all share something in common: they are designed to go beyond, where security and total control are the most important.
What is Qubes OS?
It may not be well known outside the cybersecurity world, but Qubes OS is one of the most interesting (and secure) systems out there. Its secret lies in how it separates everything you do on the computer using a technique called compartmentalization. Basically, it divides your tasks into separate environments, as if each one were running in its own safe.
How it achieves this? Thanks to a virtualization system quite different from the one you know from programs like VirtualBox or VMWare. In those cases, if the main system gets infected, your virtual machines may also be at risk. But Qubes uses a different approach: a Type 1 hypervisor called Xen, which runs directly on the hardware. That means that each environment or “domain” runs in complete isolation from the rest.
For example, you can have one environment for mail only, one for browsing and one for work. If a virus or malware affects one of them, the rest continue to function as if nothing happened. It's like having multiple computers in one, each with its own level of trust.
This makes Qubes OS an ideal choice for those who handle sensitive information or simply don't want to take unnecessary risks. Especially useful if you are going to work with files or programs that you don't trust, because if something goes wrong, the damage is contained.
What is Tails? The Operating System that Leaves No Trace
Tails is one of those systems that does one thing and does it very well: it allows you to use a computer without leaving absolutely no trace. It works by booting directly from a USB stick, without touching the computer's system at all (be it Windows, macOS or Linux). It's as if you had your own portable system, which you can use on any machine without leaving any traces.
The most interesting thing about Tails is that, when you turn off the computer or remove the USB, everything you did disappears. Nothing is saved - no files, no history, no passwords, no WiFi networks. Nothing. Everything runs in your computer's RAM, which is automatically erased when you log off. It is ideal if you need to use a computer that is not yours or if you simply want to make sure that no one can track what you did.
This system is especially useful for people who work with sensitive information or who need to investigate without exposing themselves, such as journalists, activists or security researchers. Even if the computer you are using is infected, Tails offers you an extra layer of protection, as it never writes anything to the hard drive.
And as expected, it uses the Tor network by default, which makes your connection much more anonymous and difficult to trace. All this comes in a Debian-based version, with a GNOME desktop environment and several pre-installed tools that make it easy to work without having to configure anything from scratch.
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Kali Linux: The Swiss army knife of ethical hacking.
Kali Linux is probably the best known when it comes to cybersecurity. And that's no coincidence. It's a system designed specifically for doing things like penetration testing, digital forensics and network audits. That's why many call it “the Swiss army knife of the ethical hacker”.
The great thing about Kali is that it comes loaded with a bunch of ready-to-use tools. For example, Nmap, for scanning open ports on a network; Wireshark, which lets you see network traffic in real time; or John the Ripper, a classic password cracking tool. And that's just part of the arsenal it comes with.
Of course, it's worth remembering that these tools, while very powerful, can also be misused. And that's where responsibility comes in: they are meant to learn, investigate and protect systems, not to cause problems. Using them for malicious purposes is not only illegal, it can also put you in some pretty tricky situations.
In short, Kali Linux is an excellent choice if you're just starting out in the world of cybersecurity. Not only does it give you access to professional tools, but it also allows you to automate many repetitive tasks that can help you detect threats or vulnerabilities without having to do everything manually. If you are interested in this world, it is almost mandatory to have it in your kit.
