- For hardware compatibility issues, refer to our [[known issues|support/known_issues]].

- To learn what you can do with Tails, refer to our [[documentation|doc]].

- For questions related to Tor, see also to the [Tor support pages](https://support.torproject.org/).

<h2 id="dedicated-stick">Do I need a USB stick dedicated to Tails?</h2>

Yes. Tails requires a USB stick dedicated to only running Tails.

If it were possible to use the same USB stick with another operating system, for example to store files to use on Windows, a virus in the other operating system could corrupt your Tails.

That's why your Tails USB stick is not recognized in Windows and why we discourage installing other live operating systems on the same USB stick.

To store files in your Tails USB stick, use the [[Persistent Storage|doc/persistent_storage]]. To exchange files between Tails and another operating system, use a separate USB stick.

<h2 id="unetbootin">Can I install Tails with UNetbootin, YUMI, Rufus, Ventoy, or another tool?</h2>

It is impossible to verify the integrity of a Tails USB stick or DVD while running Tails from it. It would be like asking to someone whether they are lying: a true liar would always pretend to tell the truth.

If you worry that your Tails might be corrupted, do a [[manual upgrade|upgrade]] from a trusted operating system to upgrade it to a trusted version of Tails.

<p>In the future, we might make it possible to verify the integrity of a Tails
USB stick from another trusted OS. ([[!tails_ticket 7496]])</p>

Tor Browser also includes a [[security level|doc/anonymous_internet/Tor_browser#security-level]] and the [[NoScript|doc/anonymous_internet/Tor_browser#noscript]] extension to optionally disable more JavaScript. This might improve security in some cases. However, if you disable JavaScript, then the [[fingerprint|doc/anonymous_internet/Tor_Browser#fingerprint]] of your *Tor Browser* differs from most users. This reduces your anonymity.

<p>We have plans to allow storing the security level in the Persistent Storage. ([[!tails_ticket 9700]])</p>

As explained in our documentation about
[[the fingerprint of *Tor Browser* in Tails|doc/anonymous_internet/Tor_Browser#fingerprint]], Tails provides anonymity by
making it difficult to distinguish a particular user amongst all the users of
<span class="application">Tor Browser</span> (either in Tails or on other operating systems).

Currently, Tails does not work with VPNs.

Unlike Tor, VPNs don't provide strong anonymity because the VPN provider can see both where you are connecting from and where you are connecting to.

But VPNs have clear benefits over Tor in some situations where strong anonymity is not needed, for example:

- To access websites that block Tor or can only be accessed from a given country

- To use videoconferencing tools like *Jitsi* or *Zoom*