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Operating system

Qubes OS

Qubes OS Project · PL · since 2012-09

Security-by-compartmentalization OS based on Xen. Each task runs in its own isolated VM (qube): banking in one, web browsing in another, untrusted email in a disposable third. Steep curve, paranoia-grade payoff.

Open sourceAuditedE2EEGPL-2.0Free

Pros

  • + Compromise of one VM doesn't escape
  • + Endorsed by Snowden
  • + Strong threat model

Cons

  • Demands strong hardware (16GB+ RAM)
  • Steep learning curve
  • Hardware support narrow

Highlights

  • VM-level compartmentalization
  • Disposable VMs for risky tasks
  • TemplateVMs for fast OS rebuild

Specs at a glance

License
GPL-2.0
Open source
Yes
E2EE
Yes
Audited
Yes
Self-host
No
HQ
PL
Pricing
free
Platforms
1 platforms