tails issueshttps://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues2023-04-06T13:50:42Zhttps://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18588No way of rebooting from GDM error2023-04-06T13:50:42Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgNo way of rebooting from GDM errorDuring the usability test in August, P2 wondered how to restart the computer after they arrived on the GDM error screen.
Could we add instructions to press "R" to restart or something like that?
I kind of remember that we were very lim...During the usability test in August, P2 wondered how to restart the computer after they arrived on the GDM error screen.
Could we add instructions to press "R" to restart or something like that?
I kind of remember that we were very limited in the number of characters on this screen so it might not work.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18586Customize the "can't connect" error screen of Tor Browser2023-04-06T13:48:41Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgCustomize the "can't connect" error screen of Tor BrowserIn Tails 4.22:
![Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-25-21](/uploads/a4a3639604c3fba38d666075813e08f2/Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-25-21.png)
During the usability tests in August, P4 had made a typo while copying an URL and the last bullet ...In Tails 4.22:
![Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-25-21](/uploads/a4a3639604c3fba38d666075813e08f2/Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-25-21.png)
During the usability tests in August, P4 had made a typo while copying an URL and the last bullet point made them think that it was firewall issue in Tails.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18585Add placeholder to replace the Tor settings in Tor Browser2023-12-19T11:27:17Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgAdd placeholder to replace the Tor settings in Tor BrowserOutside of Tails, Tor Browser has a specific section about network settings:
![Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-16-46](/uploads/d40bf1e7438fee8a67cc732e559da50f/Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-16-46.png)
It would be better to replace it wit...Outside of Tails, Tor Browser has a specific section about network settings:
![Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-16-46](/uploads/d40bf1e7438fee8a67cc732e559da50f/Screenshot_from_2021-09-13_18-16-46.png)
It would be better to replace it with a placeholder:
- [ ] Keep the "Tor" icon in the sidebar
- [ ] Write something smart on the right pane
Depending on whether the text on the right would be custom to Tails or generic to different Tor Browser flavors, it could be different. So I'll wait until we have more implementation clues to propose something.
**User research findings**
- During the usability tests in August 2021, P2 searched for the bridge settings in Tor Browser.
- During #18762 in August 2022, P2 searched for these settings in Tor Browser again.
We improved the layout of the email sent by BridgeDB since 2021, but the fact that this section is completely hidden still confuses people.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18570Timezone offset is not taken into account when reopening the time sync UI2023-07-08T17:15:16Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgTimezone offset is not taken into account when reopening the time sync UISteps to reproduce:
1. Enter a buggy custom bridge.
1. In the error screen, choose "Fix Clock".
1. In the "Fix Clock" dialog, choose "Europe/Berlin" and "18:50".
1. Click "Apply".
1. The clock in the top navigation bar displays 16:50, w...Steps to reproduce:
1. Enter a buggy custom bridge.
1. In the error screen, choose "Fix Clock".
1. In the "Fix Clock" dialog, choose "Europe/Berlin" and "18:50".
1. Click "Apply".
1. The clock in the top navigation bar displays 16:50, which is the correct UTC equivalent of 18:50 in Berlin.
1. Choose "Fix Clock" again.
1. The "Fix Clock" dialog displays "Europe/Berlin" and "16:50", which is incorrect.
When reopening the "Fix Clock" dialog, it should take into account the offset of the timezone that was selected previously and display the local time, here "18:50". Otherwise, as a user, I might wonder whether my clock is actually fixed and try to fix it again.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18548Display current time in the error screen2023-07-08T17:15:15ZintrigeriDisplay current time in the error screen- During #18074, P3 spent time fixing the clock when there was no need to (and presumably the solution to their problem was elsewhere).
* Since then, we implemented #6284.
- During #18762, P4 opened "Fix Clock" again right after fixin...- During #18074, P3 spent time fixing the clock when there was no need to (and presumably the solution to their problem was elsewhere).
* Since then, we implemented #6284.
- During #18762, P4 opened "Fix Clock" again right after fixing it already.
* I think that #19166 and #19171 would have helped him better prevent this confusion in the first place
So yeah, I still think that it would be useful to help people better diagnose if the clocks need fixing from the error screen, but there are other more important issues to tackle first.
As suggested in https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/15548#note_173670, this could be:
`Please fix your clock if the time is more than 15 minutes away from **2021-07-20 12:34:56 UTC**.`https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18541Add link to Tor Connection from Onion icon menu2023-04-06T17:52:17Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgAdd link to Tor Connection from Onion icon menu<img src="https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/blueprints/-/wikis/network_connection/onion_menu_-_not_connected.png"/>
**User research findings**
- During #18762, P1 tried to connect to Tor by clicking on the onion icon.<img src="https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/blueprints/-/wikis/network_connection/onion_menu_-_not_connected.png"/>
**User research findings**
- During #18762, P1 tried to connect to Tor by clicking on the onion icon.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18482Add "Cancel" button to Tor Connection when trying to connect to Tor2023-05-09T13:32:22Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgAdd "Cancel" button to Tor Connection when trying to connect to TorRight now, when Tor Connection is trying to connect to Tor there is a progress bar but no "Cancel" button.
If I close Tor Connection and open it again, I'm going back to the progress bar.
If I know that I made a typo while entering my ...Right now, when Tor Connection is trying to connect to Tor there is a progress bar but no "Cancel" button.
If I close Tor Connection and open it again, I'm going back to the progress bar.
If I know that I made a typo while entering my bridges, I have to wait for the full progress bar anyway.
We should have a Cancel button on the window with the progress bar.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18152Offer users to turn on the Persistent Storage feature of applications when st...2024-02-08T17:50:25Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgOffer users to turn on the Persistent Storage feature of applications when starting themMade possible by #10553!
![applications_-_wrapper](/uploads/03c4dbcde8098c60438d67e81d0ae08e/applications_-_wrapper.png)
The wrapper should be generic but the list of what is saved and what is not saved should be customizable.
During ...Made possible by #10553!
![applications_-_wrapper](/uploads/03c4dbcde8098c60438d67e81d0ae08e/applications_-_wrapper.png)
The wrapper should be generic but the list of what is saved and what is not saved should be customizable.
During the usability tests of #15572, P2 didn't turn on the Persistent Storage feature for Mumble because he thought that it would record all the conversations.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18151Ask to save networks to the Persistent Storage when first connecting to a net...2024-01-03T18:31:22Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgAsk to save networks to the Persistent Storage when first connecting to a networkMade possible by #10553!
![notification_-_wi-fi](/uploads/5819c9abef6d1b865748dd1c229b05f6/notification_-_wi-fi.png)
During #18784, P3 and P4 got lost in the Wi-Fi settings of GNOME when trying to save the Wi-Fi password. This dialog w...Made possible by #10553!
![notification_-_wi-fi](/uploads/5819c9abef6d1b865748dd1c229b05f6/notification_-_wi-fi.png)
During #18784, P3 and P4 got lost in the Wi-Fi settings of GNOME when trying to save the Wi-Fi password. This dialog would have helped.
See "Implement design for enabling features from other apps" on tails/tails#19215, where we already put a fair bit of thought into this topic. Spoiler alert: if we want UI to reflect progress (and possibly failure), it's not cheap.
### Next steps
- [ ] Needs more design on the workflow on top of the screenshot (@sajolida)https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18057Distribute the USB image in a ZIP file2024-01-22T23:39:15Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgDistribute the USB image in a ZIP fileThat's the only way that I could think of to:
* Help people who might tried to click and open their download, like jaster did in #14548.
* Add a README file to the download to point people to our installation and starting instructions.
...That's the only way that I could think of to:
* Help people who might tried to click and open their download, like jaster did in #14548.
* Add a README file to the download to point people to our installation and starting instructions.
* Clarify what the image is used for: USB stick, DVD, etc.
That would be useful for people who might get their download from elsewhere, close our website while their download is running, or end up on /install/download from a search engine.
See also #7495 for our previous discussions on shipping a README file.
Also popped up during #18074:
- 4 out of 5 participants tried to open their download or the file browser
- 2 out of 5 participants copied the USB image to the USB stick directlyhttps://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/18026Redesign /doc/about/features2024-01-03T18:23:03Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgRedesign /doc/about/featuresOur features page is in our top 3 documentation pages (#17683), but hasn't been improved significantly since it was first written in 2009.
From #19472:
- People need help knowing *what* to use in Tails, especially when coming from Wind...Our features page is in our top 3 documentation pages (#17683), but hasn't been improved significantly since it was first written in 2009.
From #19472:
- People need help knowing *what* to use in Tails, especially when coming from Windows, maybe we could explain equivalents there or comparison between different options?
- Digital security trainers need help knowing that has changed in Tails, maybe we could present a summary of changes there or elsewhere?https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/17818Qt file chooser does not display GNOME bookmarks2021-02-25T19:13:32Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgQt file chooser does not display GNOME bookmarksFor example:
1. Start *OnionShare* or *KeePassXC*.
1. Click **Add**.
1. The file chooser doesn't display the usual GNOME bookmarks (*Tor Browser*, *Persistent*, etc.).For example:
1. Start *OnionShare* or *KeePassXC*.
1. Click **Add**.
1. The file chooser doesn't display the usual GNOME bookmarks (*Tor Browser*, *Persistent*, etc.).https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/17641Add Boot Loader entries for common hardware problems2022-09-22T06:34:59ZintrigeriAdd Boot Loader entries for common hardware problemsWe should add bootloader entries with common kernel command line options
that we recommend as workarounds. Could prevent having people to tweak
boot options and fail (typos).
To make this happen, we need:
- [x] Decide if having this fo...We should add bootloader entries with common kernel command line options
that we recommend as workarounds. Could prevent having people to tweak
boot options and fail (typos).
To make this happen, we need:
- [x] Decide if having this for EFI boot only would be a good enough first iteration (Help Desk)
- [x] Add a "Tails (External Hard Disk)" option that removes `live-media=removable` (!665)
- [ ] Wait for #17545
- [ ] Adjust the design/implementation of #17545 to also report additional boot options
- Minimize cost because we don't know yet whether this will actually be used
- [ ] Wait for some time i.e. collect data
- [ ] Check the data sent by users' systems in order to:
- [ ] Figure out if it's worth doing this analysis regularly
- if it's worth it, figure out how we're going to do this analysis regularly
- if it's not worth it, abort and reject this issue
- [ ] Identify most commonly used boot loader options
- [ ] Figure out how to present this to users (FT + UX)
- [ ] Implement (FT)
In a second iteration, it is even possible to have GRUB add these
options automatically, depending on the hardware it detects, thanks to the `smbios` GRUB module. Let’s not block on this initially.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/17521Add generic names to the applications in our menu who are only "branded names"2023-12-07T21:13:17Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgAdd generic names to the applications in our menu who are only "branded names"For example Brasero, Audacity, Thunderbird doesn’t tell you anything
about what these applications do.
See
<https://lists.autistici.org/message/20200306.181628.1d401fc7.en.html>
Proposals:
- Dasher → Dasher Text Input System
- Bra...For example Brasero, Audacity, Thunderbird doesn’t tell you anything
about what these applications do.
See
<https://lists.autistici.org/message/20200306.181628.1d401fc7.en.html>
Proposals:
- Dasher → Dasher Text Input System
- Brasero → Brasero CD/DVD Burner
- Sound Juicer → Sound Juicer CD Ripper
- Audacity → Audacity Sound Editor
- OnionShare → OnionShare File Sharing
- Thunderbird → Thunderbird Email Client
- KeePassXC → KeePassXC Password Manager
- Inkscape → Inkscape Image Editor
- GtkHash → GtkHash Checksum Calculator
- Kleopatra → Kleopatra OpenPGP Encryption
We could try to suggest these changes upstream and otherwise patch the
.desktop files ourselves.
The part of this work that's ~"UX:debt" and ~"Core Work:Foundations Team" is: cheap attempt to upstream this change to OnionShare, Thunderbird, and KeePassXC.
**User research findings**
- During #18762, P2 commented on not knowing what GtkHash and Kleopatra were.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/17312Prevent users from closing Tails Upgrader while an upgrade is being applied2023-05-17T10:18:47Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgPrevent users from closing Tails Upgrader while an upgrade is being appliedThe current dialog can be closed by pressing "Esc".
The upgrade is still being applied in the background: tails-upgrader is
still running and the USB stick is flashing.
We should prevent people from closing this dialog until the upgrad...The current dialog can be closed by pressing "Esc".
The upgrade is still being applied in the background: tails-upgrader is
still running and the USB stick is flashing.
We should prevent people from closing this dialog until the upgrade is
fully applied.
At this point, Tails is offline and we recommended people to close
everything else. People click OK might wonder what should happen next
and we won’t display anything else before several minutes. I guess that
a lot of people might restart in doubt of what’s happening.
I guess that this is the root cause behind tails/tails#14754.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/16906Use USB images instead of ISO images in Tails Cloner2024-02-21T09:21:37Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgUse USB images instead of ISO images in Tails ClonerRight now we have:
( ) Use a downloaded Tails ISO image
Since we distribute USB image, ISO images are only advertized for DVD
and virtual machines. To be consistent with both USB images and Tails
Installer being for USB sticks only...Right now we have:
( ) Use a downloaded Tails ISO image
Since we distribute USB image, ISO images are only advertized for DVD
and virtual machines. To be consistent with both USB images and Tails
Installer being for USB sticks only, it should accept USB images instead
of ISO images.
It could also accept both USB images and ISO images and detect which is
which. I don’t know how much more complicated this would be.
This feature of Tails Installer now only makes sense:
- To do a manual upgrade to the latest version: as a simpler way than
GNOME Disks to create the intermediary Tails.
This is the manual upgrade scenario that we recommend as “more secure”,
so it’s important. Endless upgrades will make it less common but it will
still happens sometimes, for example when changing Debian version or
when automatic upgrades break.
Right now, it’s better to keep documenting GNOME Disks for manual
upgrade inside Tails because we want to avoid these people possibly
getting confused about ISO vs USB images.
- To do a manual upgrade to another version: for example, someone
upgrading a USB stick to a beta or testing version, with some
Persistence on it (for testing).
My guess is that this is not so common.
- To install a new Tails: as a simpler way than GNOME Disks to create
another Tails. This would only make sense when manipulating 2
different versions, for example when installing a new version from
an old version or installing a beta or testing version. Otherwise
people might just clone.
My guess is that this is not so common.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/16611Propose users to add relevant internationalization Debian packages2021-02-25T19:31:16Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgPropose users to add relevant internationalization Debian packagesSee https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/15807#note_22892: when someone starts Tails in a language for which
we don’t include all dictionaries or Thunderbird language pack we could
offer them to add them to their Additional...See https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/15807#note_22892: when someone starts Tails in a language for which
we don’t include all dictionaries or Thunderbird language pack we could
offer them to add them to their Additional Software.
We would only do this for people with Persistence and only once we have
tails/tails#10553.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/15902No error message when saving to a volume that is not mounted2023-04-06T16:48:29Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgNo error message when saving to a volume that is not mountedTo reproduce:
- Open **GNOME Screenshots**.
- Take a screenshot.
- Plug in a USB stick (it’s not mounted automatically, see tails/tails#15900).
- Choose to save the screenshot to the USB stick.
- No error message but the file ...To reproduce:
- Open **GNOME Screenshots**.
- Take a screenshot.
- Plug in a USB stick (it’s not mounted automatically, see tails/tails#15900).
- Choose to save the screenshot to the USB stick.
- No error message but the file is not saved to the USB stick.
Next step is to research if that’s possible to fix without enabling
automount.https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/15830Use a username and hostname that makes more sense to our users2024-01-03T18:38:11Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgUse a username and hostname that makes more sense to our usersRight now we use “amnesia” which dates back from … uhhh… and probably
doesn’t make much sense for our users. See for example tails/tails#15571. It’s
also made visible in the screen locker.
Candidates for user name:
- “user”, as suggest...Right now we use “amnesia” which dates back from … uhhh… and probably
doesn’t make much sense for our users. See for example tails/tails#15571. It’s
also made visible in the screen locker.
Candidates for user name:
- “user”, as suggested in tails/tails#5655
- “tails”
- Something else?
Next step is to evaluate whether "user" or "tails" is better, based on concrete places when
these could create confusion. Trying to replace "amnesia" in our website might be a good starting point.
While doing so we should keep #5655 in mind. We don't want the privacy
benefit that we might get from #5655 to undermine usability.
Candidates for host name:
- "debian"
- "host"
- "localhost"
- "tails"
### User research findings
- During #18648, P2 thought that everything inside the "amnesia" folder would by amnesic and disappear when shutting down. Putting the Persistent folder there didn't make sense to her.
- Whonix has "user" and "host".https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/15678Improve UX of saving downloaded files and pages to PDF from Tor Browser2023-06-12T08:55:27Zsajolidasajolida@pimienta.orgImprove UX of saving downloaded files and pages to PDF from Tor BrowserThis is a parent issue for the whole problem. See below for child and related issues.
### Solutions
- #10422+ would be the ideal solution, but it seems like it will still take years to get there.
- #19254+ would remove part of the conf...This is a parent issue for the whole problem. See below for child and related issues.
### Solutions
- #10422+ would be the ideal solution, but it seems like it will still take years to get there.
- #19254+ would remove part of the confusion and is needed even with #10422.
- #15028+ would orient people better to a folder where they can actually save something
- #10790+ would limit the number of shortcuts where people can't actually save anything
- #19255+ could temporarily lift a bit of this UX regression
- Improve the language of the error message to provide guidance?
* Is this message possible to customize?
### Print → Save to PDF
Reported by @cbrownstein on #18915:
In Tor Browser: ☰ ▸ Print… ▸ Save to PDF silently fails when in default directory
Help Desk has received reports about this issue and I'm able to replicate it.
In Tor Browser, selecting ☰ ▸ Print… ▸ Save to PDF silently fails when the directory is not changed from the default. The default directory is /usr/local/lib/tor-browser/.
This behavior also occurs if Print using the system dialog… ▸ Print to file is selected.
I'm sure that users expect the default directory to be a writable directory.
### User research findings
- During #18648, all of the 4 participants failed to save an image without help.
- During the user testing of the VeraCrypt beta in 2018, participants had to save
a keyfile from Tor Browser and use it to unlock a USB stick:
* 2 participants saved it to \~/Tor Browser without problems.
* The other 3 participants had a very hard time finding how to save it:
- It took P2 2 minutes to find where it was possible to save it.
He even tried “\~/Tor Browser/” without realizing it would work
and went ahead checking more folders.
- P3 dismissed the error message and saved it to the desktop but
it was not save. Then she couldn’t find it.
- P4 has an odyssey of 8 minutes and was unsuccessfully looking
for her file under `/usr/local/lib/tor-browser/` when I rescued
her.
Some user quotes:
* P3: « I don’t want to read. I want to save. » after getting the
error message “Could not read the content of …”
* P4: « I don’t have permission to save anywhere. It’s fucking
useless. »
* P4: « Why am I using a computer I don’t have permissions to use. »
* P4: « This is fucking kafkaesque… »