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Which Whonix Debian packages are safe to remove? What is a meta package? What other packages do Whonix meta packages install? Which packages should never be removed? How to safely run autoremove?

Upstream

This page will focus exclusively on aspects related to Whonix/Anonymity. For security hardening and additional insights, users should refer to the Kicksecure page.

Kicksecure Hardened

Redirection to Kicksecure Documentation

Incomplete: This wiki page is incomplete by design. It only includes details specific to Whonix. For full understanding, please follow the link below to the Kicksecure wiki, which provides more complete background and instructions.

• Introduction: Whonix Documentation Introduction, User Expectations, Footnotes and References, User Expectations - What Documentation Is and What It Is Not
• Whonix is based on Kicksecure^™: Whonix is built on top of Kicksecure. This means it uses many of the same security tools, design concepts, and configurations.
• Kicksecure is based on Debian: Kicksecure is developed using Debian as its base. Debian is a widely used, stable, and free Linux operating system.
• Inheritance: As a result, Whonix is also based on Debian.
• Debian is GNU/Linux-based: Debian is built using the GNU/Linux operating system. GNU provides essential tools and Linux is the system’s kernel (core).
• Shared documentation benefits: Since each system is based on the one below it, a lot of documentation and guides are shared. This reduces the need to duplicate information.
• Inherited documentation: Most instructions and explanations are inherited from Kicksecure or Debian, unless otherwise specified.
• Shared principles: The systems share similar security goals and setup instructions. In most cases, users can follow Kicksecure documentation when using Whonix.
• Keep using Whonix: This does not mean users should switch to Kicksecure. This page only points to related, helpful information.
• Where to apply the instructions: Follow the instructions inside Whonix unless specifically stated otherwise.
• Wiki editors notice: This information is pulled from a reusable wiki template: upstream_wiki. (See which pages use this.)
• Comparison: Whonix versus Kicksecure
• Documentation compatibility: Because Whonix is based on Kicksecure, you can often follow Kicksecure’s instructions as long as you apply them in the right place.
• Summary: Whonix is built on top of Kicksecure, which itself is based on Debian. Debian is a GNU/Linux operating system. This layered design means Whonix inherits many features, tools, and documentation from both Kicksecure and Debian.
• Click here: Visit the related page in the Kicksecure wiki for full documentation and background:

Debian Packages

• Note: Re-interpretation...

Apply the instructions inside Whonix, not inside Kicksecure.

Kicksecure: Perform these steps inside Kicksecure.

Instead, apply the steps inside Whonix-Workstation.

Kicksecure for Qubes: Perform these steps inside Qubes kicksecure-17 Template.

Instead, use the whonix-workstation-17 Template for these steps.

Introduction

It is safe to run sudo apt autoremove so long as the specific Whonix machine meta package is kept for the Non-Qubes-Whonix or Qubes-Whonix platform. In other words, these packages should not be in the list of autoremoved packages.

Non-Qubes-Whonix Xfce:

• Whonix-Gateway^™: non-qubes-whonix-gateway-xfce
• Whonix-Workstation^™: non-qubes-whonix-workstation-xfce

Qubes-Whonix^™:

• Whonix-Gateway: qubes-whonix-gateway
• Whonix-Workstation: qubes-whonix-workstation

It is actually a good idea to safely run sudo apt autoremove according to the following instructions on this wiki page to make sure extraneous packages which might no longer be recommended for default installation are removed.

Re-install Meta Packages and Safely Run Autoremove

1. Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

2. Ensure a proper meta package is installed.

Platform specific. Select your platform.

Non-Qubes-Whonix Xfce:

• Whonix-Gateway: sudo apt install non-qubes-whonix-gateway-xfce
• Whonix-Workstation: sudo apt install non-qubes-whonix-workstation-xfce

Qubes-Whonix:

• Whonix-Gateway: sudo apt install qubes-whonix-gateway
• Whonix-Workstation: sudo apt install qubes-whonix-workstation

3. Auto remove packages.

sudo apt autoremove

4. Reconfirm a proper meta package is still installed.

Repeat step two.

5. Done.

The procedure of safely running sudo apt autoremove is complete.

Related: Whonix Factory Reset

See Also

• Configuration Drop-In Folders
• Reset Configuration Files to Vendor Default
• Whonix Factory Reset
• Packages for Debian Hosts
• Whonix APT Repository
• Building and Update Whonix from Source Code
• Installing Whonix from Repository

Footnotes

Whonix The most watertight privacy operating system in the world.

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