Tails clock synchronization

I have just started using Tails 0.20.1 with Debian Linux and for some reason the clock synchronization does not work on public wifi. It works fine on my home wifi, but when I use public wifi, the synchronization message box appears as if it is working, but it never completes.

I am new to tails/linux and online security in general, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi Benjamind1624,

Welcome to Wilders Security Forums.

When I use Tails 20.1, I boot it from a USB flash drive without networking enabled in order to make some local changes one of which is to run the macchanger. Part of my local setup without networking enabled includes a step to set the UTC time on my computer. I just so happen to have an atomic watch that syncs to the Colorado Time Standard Clock every night, and then I use the following command (as root):

# date -u MMDDhhmm (where MM is month, DD is day, hh is 24 hour, mm is minute)

So, when I do turn my router on after my setup is competed, the Synchronization step usually occurs after not much time (about a minute) depending on network traffic - you have to wait for the Vidalia process to indicate green for everything to be ready to use in Tor. That means that the Time Synchronization will be done, Tor will be running, and the Vidalia Connections Map subwindow will be filled in with websites. If you try and use Tor - even with an indication that Tor is running - without the Vidalia Connections Map subwindow and the Vidalia Graphical traffic monitoring window showing in near real-time a graph of traffic moving across the window, then whatever website you try and visit will likely NOT use Tor, but Clearnet (i.e. without Tor) - such as trying to access check.torproject.org or the default Tails Home webpage. Once the above preconditions are met - then it should be safe to use Tor. In Other Words, wait to be safe!

-- Tom

 

Many public wifi spots are restricted by captive portals. Tails has an unsafe web browser option to deal with this problem. it can be found in:

Applications --internet connections -- unsafe browser.

Keep in mind the unsafe web browser is NOT ANONYMOUS and should only be used when you need to connect through a captive portal. Also, do not use iceweasel at the same time you use the unsafe browser.

https://tails.boum.org/contribute/design/Unsafe_Browser/