| Company / developer | Shmoo Group |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux |
| Working state | Discontinued |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest stable release | 1.0 / February 2002 |
| Latest unstable release | 2.0pre1 / 2003 |
| Supported platforms | i386 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic kernel |
| Default user interface | CLI / Bourne shell |
| License | Documentation: Modified BSD license[1] Software: Original licences |
| Official website | tinfoilhat.shmoo.com |
Tinfoil Hat Linux (THL) was a compact Linux distribution designed for high security. Version 1.000 was released in February 2002. It appears to be no longer actively maintained as of 2010[update], though the files are still available in gzip format. THL requires a 386DX computer or better, with at least 8 MB of RAM. The distribution fits on a single ordinary HD floppy. The small footprint provides additional benefits beyond making the system easy to understand and verify- the computer need not even have a hard drive, making it easier to "sanitize" the computer after use.
The logo of Tinfoil Hat is Tux, the Linux mascot, wearing a tinfoil hat.
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Tinfoil Hat uses a number of measures to defeat hardware and software surveillance methods like keystroke logging, video camera, and TEMPEST:
An advantage of THL is that it can be used on virtually any modern PC using the x86 processor architecture. For example, one might install it on a computer that is kept in a locked room, not connected to any network, and used only for cryptographically signing keys. While the paranoid mode security measures may seem over the top and might be found funny, they are a good education in the types of issues that must be considered for high security. It is fairly easy to create the Tinfoil Hat booting floppy with Microsoft Windows. Verifying the checksum can be more tricky. The text of the documentation is salted with just a few jokes, which reinforces their humor by the stark contrast with the serious and paranoiac tone of the surrounding text- the very name pokes fun at itself, as Tinfoil hats are commonly ascribed to paranoiacs as a method of protecting oneself from mind-control waves.
Tinfoil Hat Linux requires one to work in a text-only environment in Linux, i.e. starting straight off with a Bourne shell and the editor vi, not a graphical user interface. It uses BusyBox instead of the normal util-linux, the GNU coreutils (formerly known as fileutils, shellutils and textutils) and other common Unix tools. Tinfoil Hat also offers the nano text editor.
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