What it does
Whonix is a privacy-focused operating environment offered for virtualized and other supported deployment arrangements, with Tor-oriented networking documented by the project.
Whonix separates the desktop application's environment from its Tor-routing environment. Its official overview describes a Gateway virtual machine running Tor and a Workstation virtual machine running user applications. Choose a supported host and hypervisor, such as the documented KVM, VirtualBox or Qubes arrangement, before planning the workflow. Both the host and the virtual machines need maintenance and recovery. Use separate identities and activities deliberately; a routing architecture does not remove account, content or behavior that can identify a person.
Strengths
- Several documented host and virtualization arrangements
Best for
- Experienced users evaluating a dedicated privacy environment
Sources
- Whonix - Superior Internet Privacy (Oct 26, 2026)
- Whonix - Overview (Oct 26, 2026)