Privacy-From-Surveillance

Why This Project Exists

If you come from a poor or middle-class family, freedom of speech and human rights are often the only protections you have. So why not defend them as much as you can?

You could be a journalist, a civilian, or anyone who dares to speak the truth. If you live under an authoritarian state or in a country that is sliding toward authoritarianism, where government surveillance threatens your life or the lives of your loved ones simply because of your criticism, then this project shows a method to safely communicate and share files with people that you care without exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.

Project Requirements

Hardware

• A laptop or desktop with USB boot capability
• At least one USB drive (8 GB or larger) for installing Tails OS

Operating System & Tools

• Tails OS (latest stable version)
• Tor Browser (included in Tails)
• OnionShare (included in Tails)
• Steghide (optional)
• Briar (Android app, optional)

Software

• Rufus (for writing Tails to USB)

What This Project Demonstrates

This project is not about hacking or illegal activity. Instead, it demonstrates practical techniques for censorship-resistant and anonymous communication, inspired by how people in restrictive environments protect their freedom of expression.

The project covers four main areas:

1. Anonymous Operating System (Tails OS)

• Running a live, amnesic operating system from USB.
• Leaves no trace on the host machine.
• All Internet connections are forced through Tor.

2. Secure File Sharing (OnionShare)

• Create temporary Tor-based file-sharing services.
• Send or receive documents without using centralized servers.
• No metadata leaks (like IP addresses or accounts).

3. Decentralized Messaging (Briar)

• Peer-to-peer messaging app that works over Tor, Wi-Fi, or even Bluetooth.
• Useful in environments where the Internet is censored or shut down.
• Designed for journalists, activists, and citizens under surveillance.

4. Steganography (Steghide) (Optional)

• Hiding sensitive messages inside harmless-looking files (e.g., images, MP3s).
• Only someone with the correct passphrase can extract the hidden content.
• Demonstrates how information can be disguised to bypass censorship.

Steps

1. Prepare the Environment

• Download the Tails OS ISO from the official site: https://tails.net/install/index.en.html
• Verify the ISO.
• Install Tails onto a USB drive using Rufus.
• Boot from the USB and start the Tails.
• I recommend you to NOT turn on the 'persistence storage'. KEEP IT TURNED OFF.
• If you want visual guidance, watch and follow the steps takes in this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLX-SyJLeKA

2. Steganography with Steghide (Optional)

Steghide is used to hide documents inside images or audio files, making them look harmless. For example, a PDF file can be embedded inside a holiday photo. Only someone with the right passphrase can extract it. Do note that there are image-based, audio & video based, text based and network based. I did image and audio based. You can steghide your documents before you send them to anyone thorugh OnionShare.

• Open a terminal in Tails.

• Install steghide with these commands :

sudo apt update
sudo apt install steghide

• Embed a file inside an image or audio (PDF inside JPG or WAV) with these commands:

steghide embed -cf cover.jpg -ef secret.pdf -sf output.jpg

(You will set a passphrase.)

• To extract the file later:

steghide extract -sf output.jpg

• Only someone with the passphrase can recover the hidden content.
• Use AI tools like ChatGPT if you want guidance.

3. Secure File Sharing with OnionShare

• In Tails, open OnionShare.
• Choose “Share Files” or “Receive Files.”
• Drag and drop the files you want to share.
• OnionShare will generate a .onion link.
• Send this link securely to the receiver (can be via Briar or in person).
• The receiver opens the link using Tor Browser to download the files.
• Visual guidance : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCDbHkpkNJ0

4. Private Messaging with Briar

• Download Briar (Android only) from playstore.

• On both sender and receiver devices:

• Install Briar.

• Exchange QR codes in person (for maximum security).

• Start chatting over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

• Use Briar for text communication when files aren’t needed.

• Visual guidance : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI2y3PnqRCI

5. Combine the Tools

• Draft sensitive text or documents offline.
• Hide them inside images or audios (Steghide).
• Share them safely with OnionShare.
• Use Briar for coordination and back-channel communication.
• Always run everything inside Tails OS for anonymity.