Frequently Asked Questions

SpecterOS is a privacy-first, Debian-based Linux distribution designed for security researchers, privacy advocates, journalists, activists, and anyone who values their digital freedom.

It features Persona Shards (isolated environments), Network Kill Switch, full disk encryption, audit logging, and Tor integration - all designed to protect your privacy and security.

Yes! SpecterOS is completely free and open source software licensed under Apache 2.0.

You can download, use, modify, and distribute it without any cost. We accept donations to support ongoing development.

Minimum:

• 2 core processor (x86_64)
• 2 GB RAM
• 20 GB storage
• USB drive or DVD for installation

Recommended:

• 4 core processor
• 4 GB RAM
• 64 GB SSD

Yes! SpecterOS includes a Live mode that lets you boot from USB and try the system without installing anything to your hard drive.

Select "SpecterOS (Live)" from the boot menu to use Live mode. Any changes you make will be lost when you reboot.

Persona Shards are isolated environments that keep your different digital identities completely separate. Each shard has its own:

• Encrypted storage
• Network configuration
• Application sessions
• Security policies

Default shards include: Work, Anon, Burner, and Lab.

The Network Kill Switch instantly blocks all network traffic at the system level. When activated:

• All network interfaces are disabled
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned off
• All active connections are terminated
• Network daemons are stopped

This is useful in emergency situations where you need to immediately disconnect from all networks.

Yes! SpecterOS uses LUKS2 full disk encryption by default. All your data is encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption.

Additionally, each Persona Shard can have its own encryption key for extra isolation.

Yes! SpecterOS has built-in Tor integration. You can route any application through Tor with transparent proxying.

The Network settings include easy Tor configuration for anonymous browsing and communication.

See our complete Installation Guide for step-by-step instructions.

In short: Download ISO → Create bootable USB → Boot from USB → Follow installer wizard.

Yes, but we recommend using a separate physical drive for best security and isolation.

If dual-booting on the same drive, use manual partitioning during installation and be careful not to overwrite your existing OS.

SpecterOS works on Intel-based Macs, but not on Apple Silicon (M1/M2) yet. We're working on ARM support for future releases.

For Intel Macs, you may need to disable Secure Boot and use rEFInd bootloader for best results.

Common solutions:

• Verify ISO checksum matches
• Recreate bootable USB
• Disable Secure Boot in BIOS
• Try "nomodeset" boot parameter
• Check hardware compatibility

See our Troubleshooting section for more help.

SpecterOS uses A/B updates for safe, rollback-capable updates:

Or use standard Debian commands:

Yes! SpecterOS is based on Debian, so you can install any software from Debian repositories:

You can also use Flatpak and AppImage for additional applications.

There are several ways to get help:

• Documentation - Official guides and tutorials
• GitHub Issues - Report bugs and request features
• Discord - Community support chat
• Mailing List - Security advisories and announcements

We welcome contributions! You can help by:

• Contributing code on GitHub
• Reporting bugs and suggesting features
• Improving documentation
• Translating to your language
• Helping others in the community
• Donating to support development

Visit our GitHub repository to get started.