$ cat /etc/motd
Desktop security, without the snake oil.
Independent, threat-model-first guides to secure operating systems — Qubes OS, Tails, Whonix, hardened Linux and full disk encryption. Built on the legacy of the Secure Desktops project that lived on this domain from 2015 to 2017.
// latest guides
2026-06-12 · #encryption #luks #opsec
Full Disk Encryption in 2026: LUKS, BitLocker, FileVault and VeraCrypt Compared
A practical guide to full disk encryption across Linux, Windows, macOS and cross-platform tools — what it protects, what it does not, and how to get it right.
2026-06-12 · #linux #distros #hardening
The 7 Most Secure Linux Distros in 2026 (Ranked by Threat Model)
Choosing the most secure Linux distro depends on your threat model. This guide ranks 7 secure Linux distros by what they actually protect against.
2026-06-12 · #qubes #compartmentalization #linux
Qubes OS in 2026: How the Most Secure Desktop OS Actually Works
A technical deep-dive into Qubes OS — the compartmentalization-based desktop OS recommended by Snowden and used by security professionals worldwide.
2026-06-12 · #tails #tor #live-os
Tails OS Explained: The Amnesic Operating System That Forgets You (2026)
Tails OS is a live USB operating system that routes all traffic through Tor and leaves no trace. Learn how it works, who needs it, and its real limits.
2026-06-12 · #whonix #tor #virtualization
Whonix: The Two-VM Operating System That Makes IP Leaks Impossible
Whonix uses two isolated virtual machines to route all traffic through Tor by design. No configuration errors, no IP leaks. Here's how the architecture works.
// lineage
In October 2015, developers from Subgraph, Qubes OS and Tails met and created the Secure Desktops mailing list, hosted at secure-os.org. For two years it was a working forum for the people building the most secure desktop systems in the world. This site preserves that history and carries the same questions forward.
→ read the full history