Installation of Kicksecure on a USB

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Kicksecure can be used as a plug-and-play operating system on a USB data stick. It comes in two flavors: a non-persistent Live USB system, and a persistent USB booted operating system.

Introduction[edit]

Kicksecure can be easily and comfortably booted and used from a USB data stick. No need to install it on your hard drive. Once Kicksecure has been flashed on a USB data stick, simply plug in the stick, boot Kicksecure, and you're ready to work with Kicksecure, managing tasks requiring robust security. There are two options available.

  • A non-persistent (live) USB operating system that forgets all user-created data after shutdown
  • A persistent USB operating system which saves your data on the USB drive itself.

Installation / Use[edit]

These options are available for Kicksecure on USB.

Note:

  • ISO LIVE mode: This is a non-persistent mode where changes are never saved. Every time you boot, it starts fresh, and any data or changes made during the session are lost when you shut down.
  • PERSISTENT mode: Saves and retains user data created during a session of Kicksecure, ensuring that all changes and files, updates, software installations remain available in future sessions. Persistent Mode functions like a standard operating system installation, where any modifications made will persist across reboots.
  • OPT-IN LIVE mode: Even though the system is installed in persistent mode (meaning changes would normally be saved), this option allows you to temporarily boot in a non-persistent mode (Live Mode) where changes are not saved for that session. After restarting, you can choose to boot back into the normal persistent mode, where changes are saved again.

Choose an option below to see the matching instructions:

ISO LIVE Mode

To set up an ISO Live Mode on USB, follow these instructions.

1 On the ISO page, read the Download, Create Live USB chapter.

2 Follow the instructions to flash the ISO to a USB stick.

3 Boot.

4 Done.

PERSISTENT Mode

To set up a USB installed Kicksecure (PERSISTENT Mode), follow these instructions.

Note:

  • The user will need two different USB devices. The following names are arbitrary and just for your understanding.
  • A LIVE-USB: A USB drive to install the LIVE Mode on.
  • B PERSISTENT-USB: A USB drive where persistent Kicksecure should be installed.

1 On the ISO page, read the Download, Create Live USB chapter.

2 Follow the instructions to flash it to a USB stick ("LIVE-USB").

3 Boot.

4 On the desktop, click "Install to Hard Drive," and select the second USB device ("PERSISTENT-USB") as the installation target.

5 Power off. (Shutdown the live session.)

6 Remove the USB stick that contains the Kicksecure installer ISO ("LIVE-USB").

7 Keep the USB with the installed Kicksecure ("PERSISTENT-USB") connected.

8 Boot from the installed Kicksecure USB stick ("PERSISTENT-USB").

9 Done.

Why not just flash a persistent Kicksecure image to USB? - Such an image has not been developed yet due to complex technical challenges. Note that due to these complex challenges, almost no other Linux distributions offer such functionality either. To circumvent this, a "detour" through flashing a Kicksecure ISO is required to run the Kicksecure installer.

Advanced users: There is also a different option for advanced users. Click "Learn More" to open.

Advanced users could also create a Kicksecure USB stick by following these instructions:

  1. Take a USB data stick with at least 16 GB of space.
  2. Install Debian on USB. Instructions are available on the Debian Wikiarchive.org. Additional online guides explain how to install Debian on a USB.
  3. Morph the Debian installation into Kicksecure. Instructions for this can be found in our Kicksecure for Debian installation guide.
  4. Done.

OPT-IN LIVE Mode

Live Mode boot option selectable in the boot menu.

This mode boots a Kicksecure USB installed in Live Mode. This option can be practical in certain situations.

1 Follow all the steps listed in #PERSISTENT_Mode.

2 During the booting process in the GRUB boot menu, choose "Live Mode USER".

3 Done.

Info:

Live mode is facilitated by the pre-installed grub-live software package. grub-live allows the host operating system - in this case, Kicksecure on a USB data stick - to boot into live mode. See Live Mode for further information.

Advantages of Kicksecure on USB[edit]

Simple to Try-Out: An easy way to try out Kicksecure without needing to install Kicksecure on your computer.

Way easier than Dual Boot: It is much easier to install an operating system on a separate USB drive than attempting to set up dual boot on the same hard drive.

Better Security: A higher level of security is achieved by installing the host operating system(s) on a dedicated, (encrypted), external disk(s) such as a USB flash drive or others. [1] In the case of using Dual Boot, using physical external media reduces the risk of malware running on other operating system(s) infecting the Kicksecure host operating system.

Can be unplugged and securely stored: When Kicksecure disk(s) are not in use, they can either be removed or hidden.

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ↑ e.g., eSATA or FireWire. FireWire should generally be avoided:
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