The new Tor mode allows for use of transparent proxy

May 19, 2015 01:01 GMT  ·  By

While not a Linux distribution, PC-BSD is a noteworthy open-source computer operating system that offers a modern and unique desktop environment based on FreeBSD.

On May 18, Ken Moore from the PC-BSD team had the great pleasure of announcing the immediate availability for download of the second point release of PC-BSD 10.1, the current stable branch of the software. "The PC-BSD team is pleased to announce the availability of the next PC-BSD / TrueOS quarterly release, 10.1.2," reads today's announcement.

Probably the most important feature of PC-BSD 10.1.2 is the addition of the new PersonaCrypt utility, which allows users to move entire Home directories to an encrypted USB flash drive. It comes with a Stealth Mode that offers support for login into an empty Home directory that is encrypted with a one-time GELI key, which will be discarded at logout.

Also, a new TOR mode in PC-BSD 10.1.2 enables users to force the built-in firewall to run a transparent proxy, which will block all traffic with the exception of the one that is routed through the Tor anonymous network. Also, the distro migrated to IPFW firewall, which will help with the enablement of VIMAGE in PC-BSD 10.2.

There are numerous other features in PC-BSD 10.1.2

Furthermore, a sound configuration script will now be presented to users during the first boot, a new HTML handbook was added, the Lumina desktop was updated to version 0.8.4, NTPD is now used instead of OpenNTPD, and all ports were migrated to use LibreSSL instead of OpenSSL.

PC-BSD 10.1.2 also adds support for encrypted iSCSI backups through Life-Preserver, which also includes support for bare-metal restores via the installation media. Media Center support was added as well, allowing users to login to the Plex Home Theater or Kodi media player software.

The new version of PC-BSD switches to the new AppCafe interface, which offers remote support via a web browser software, improves the Online Updater utility and the GRUB nested menus, and adds new software packages, such as Mozilla Firefox 38.0 and Chromium 42.0.2311.135 web browsers, as well as Nvidia video driver 346.47 and Pkg 1.5.2. Download PC-BSD 10.1.2 right now from Softpedia.