Whonix 18.0, a distribution kit known for providing guaranteed anonymity, security, and protection of private information, has been released. Based on Debian GNU/Linux and utilizing Tor for anonymity, the project’s developments are distributed under the GPLv3 license.
For download, images of virtual machines have been prepared in ova format for VirtualBox (2.5 GB with LXQt and 1.6 GB console) and qcow2 for the hypervisor KVM (3.4 GB with LXQt and 2.3 GB console).
Whonix is unique in that it is divided into two components – Whonix-Gateway for anonymous communications and Whonix-Workstation for desktop use. These components run in separate virtual machines within one boot image, with network access from the Workstation only possible through the Gateway. This setup prevents the leakage of real IP addresses in the event of a breach.
If Whonix-Workstation is hacked, the attacker can only obtain fictional network parameters, as the true IP and DNS information is isolated in the Whonix-Gateway. Despite this security, it’s important to note that Whonix components are vulnerable to potential exploits in virtualization platforms, so running both components on the same computer is not recommended.
Whonix-Workstation comes with the LXQt user environment by default, along with programs like VLC and Tor Browser. The Whonix-Gateway includes server applications like Apache httpd, ngnix, and IRC servers for Tor hidden services. Users can also forward tunnels over Tor for services like Freenet, i2p, JonDonym, SSH, and VPN. Those who prefer can use only the Whonix-Gateway to connect their existing workstations for anonymous access, including Windows systems.