## Requirements

- Computer [compatible](https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop) with Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS with 1080p camera
- USB flash drive (used to run Superbacked OS, 16GB min, faster is better)

## Recommendations (optional)

Physically removing internal disk(s) and wireless interface(s) if not soldered to motherboard or disabling interface(s) using BIOS if soldered is recommended to strengthen data persistence and air gap hardening.

Running Superbacked OS on flash drive with signed firmware and write protection enabled such as [Kanguru FlashTrust™ Secure Firmware USB 3.0 Flash Drive (WP-KFT3-16G)](https://www.kanguru.com/products/kanguru-flashtrust-secure-firmware-usb-3-0-flash-drive) is recommended.

## Superbacked OS USB flash drive guide

### Step 1: install [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)

#### macOS

Go to https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/, download and install Raspberry Pi Imager.

#### Ubuntu (or other Debian-based OS)

> Heads-up: depends on [Qt](https://www.qt.io/).

```shell-session
$ sudo add-apt-repository -y universe

$ sudo apt install -y rpi-imager
```

### Step 2 (optional): disable Raspberry Pi Imager [telemetry](https://github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-imager#telemetry)

#### macOS

```shell-session
$ defaults write org.raspberrypi.Imager.plist telemetry -bool NO
```

#### Ubuntu (or other Debian-based OS)

```shell-session
$ mkdir -p ~/.config/Raspberry\ Pi

$ cat << "EOF" > ~/.config/Raspberry\ Pi/Imager.conf
[General]
telemetry=false
EOF
```

### Step 3: download Superbacked OS

> Heads-up: for additional security, [verify](https://github.com/superbacked/superbacked?tab=readme-ov-file#how-to-verify-integrity-of-release) Superbacked OS release.

```shell-session
$ cd ~/Downloads

$ for number in $(seq 1 2); do curl --fail --location "https://github.com/superbacked/superbacked/releases/download/v${latestRelease}/superbacked-os-amd64-${latestRelease}.img.xz.part$number" || break; done | cat > superbacked-os-amd64-${latestRelease}.img.xz
```

### Step 4: copy Superbacked OS to USB flash drive

Open “Raspberry Pi Imager”, click “CHOOSE OS”, then “Use custom”, select `superbacked-os-amd64-${latestRelease}.img.xz`, click “CHOOSE STORAGE”, select USB flash drive, click “NEXT”, then “NO” and, finally, click “YES”.

![Raspberry Pi Imager, release semver may differ](./assets/rpi-imager.png)

### Step 5 (optional): enable write protection

If using Kanguru FlashTrust™ Secure Firmware USB 3.0 Flash Drive or equivalent, enable write protection.

## Computer hardening guide

### Step 1 (optional): physically remove internal disk(s) and wireless interface(s) if not soldered to motherboard or disable interface(s) using BIOS if soldered

![I/O Port Access, BIOS menu may differ](./assets/turn-off-i-o-port-access.jpg)

### Step 2 (if applicable): enable “Secure Boot” and disable “Boot Order Lock”

![Secure Boot, BIOS menu may differ](./assets/enable-secure-boot.jpg)

![Boot Order Lock, BIOS menu may differ](./assets/disable-boot-order-lock.jpg)

### Step 3: boot Superbacked OS

### Step 4: reboot

### Step 5 (if applicable): enable “Boot Order Lock”

![Boot Order Lock, BIOS menu may differ](./assets/enable-boot-order-lock.jpg)

## Usage guide

### Step 1 (if applicable): unplug Ethernet cable

### Step 2: boot Superbacked OS

> Heads-up: password is “superbacked”.

Boot Superbacked OS using “Advanced options for Ubuntu” and “Ubuntu, with Linux 6.8.0-49-generic” (required when using write-protected hardware).

If scanning blocks does not work, please try using a higher quality 1080p webcam such as the [Razer Kiyo X](https://www.razer.com/streaming-cameras/razer-kiyo-x).


## Requirements

- Raspberry Pi [4](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/) or [5](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-5/) (2GB min, 4GB or more recommended)
- Raspberry Pi [15W USB-C Power Supply](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/type-c-power-supply/)
- Raspberry Pi [keyboard](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-keyboard-and-hub/) and [mouse](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-mouse/) (or equivalent)
- Raspberry Pi [Micro HDMI to Standard HDMI (A/M) Cable](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/micro-hdmi-to-standard-hdmi-a-cable/) (or equivalent)
- microSD card or USB flash drive (used to run Superbacked OS, 16GB min, faster is better)
- Plug and play webcam with USB-A connector (1080p min)
- HDMI display (1080p min)

## Recommendations (optional)

Running Superbacked OS on flash drive with signed firmware and write protection enabled such as [Kanguru FlashTrust™ Secure Firmware USB 3.0 Flash Drive (WP-KFT3-16G)](https://www.kanguru.com/products/kanguru-flashtrust-secure-firmware-usb-3-0-flash-drive) is recommended.

## Superbacked OS microSD or USB flash drive guide

### Step 1: install [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)

#### macOS

Go to https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/, download and install Raspberry Pi Imager.

#### Ubuntu (or other Debian-based OS)

> Heads-up: depends on [Qt](https://www.qt.io/).

```shell-session
$ sudo add-apt-repository -y universe

$ sudo apt install -y rpi-imager
```

### Step 2 (optional): disable Raspberry Pi Imager [telemetry](https://github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-imager#telemetry)

#### macOS

```shell-session
$ defaults write org.raspberrypi.Imager.plist telemetry -bool NO
```

#### Ubuntu (or other Debian-based OS)

```shell-session
$ mkdir -p ~/.config/Raspberry\ Pi

$ cat << "EOF" > ~/.config/Raspberry\ Pi/Imager.conf
[General]
telemetry=false
EOF
```

### Step 3: download Superbacked OS

> Heads-up: for additional security, [verify](https://github.com/superbacked/superbacked?tab=readme-ov-file#how-to-verify-integrity-of-release) Superbacked OS release.

```shell-session
$ cd ~/Downloads

$ for number in $(seq 1 2); do curl --fail --location "https://github.com/superbacked/superbacked/releases/download/v${latestRelease}/superbacked-os-arm64-raspi-${latestRelease}.img.xz.part$number" || break; done | cat > superbacked-os-arm64-raspi-${latestRelease}.img.xz
```

### Step 4: copy Superbacked OS to USB flash drive

Open “Raspberry Pi Imager”, click “CHOOSE OS”, then “Use custom”, select `superbacked-os-arm64-raspi-${latestRelease}.img.xz`, click “CHOOSE STORAGE”, select USB flash drive, click “NEXT”, then “NO” and, finally, click “YES”.

![Raspberry Pi Imager, release semver may differ](./assets/rpi-imager.png)

### Step 5 (optional): enable write protection

If using Kanguru FlashTrust™ Secure Firmware USB 3.0 Flash Drive or equivalent, enable write protection.

## Usage guide

### Step 1 (if applicable): unplug Ethernet cable

### Step 2: boot Superbacked OS

> Heads-up: password is “superbacked”.

If scanning blocks does not work, please try using a higher quality 1080p webcam such as the [Razer Kiyo X](https://www.razer.com/streaming-cameras/razer-kiyo-x).


## How to verify that data persistence is disabled

Superbacked OS disables data persistence by default to make sure secrets are not written to disk… this is how one can verify claim.

Using terminal, compute disk checksum before and after using Superbacked OS and make sure checksums match.

### macOS

#### Step 1 (if computing checksum of Superbacked OS for Raspberry Pi): disable automatic mounting of `/Volumes/system-boot`

> Heads-up: when mounting filesystems, macOS may write hidden files altering computed disk checksum (completing step 1 is only required once).

```shell-session
$ volume_path="/Volumes/system-boot"

$ volume_uuid=$(diskutil info "$volume_path" | awk '/Volume UUID:/ { print $3 }')

$ echo "UUID=$volume_uuid none auto ro,noauto" | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
UUID=C6651C15-1754-301D-B9DB-76371B6FE869 none auto ro,noauto
```

#### Step 2: compute disk checksum

> Heads-up: replace `rdisk4` with disk found using `diskutil list`.

```shell-session
$ diskutil list
…

/dev/disk4 (external, physical):
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:     FDisk_partition_scheme                        *15.5 GB    disk4
   1:                       0xEF                         536.9 MB   disk4s1
   2:                      Linux                         10.7 GB    disk4s2
                    (free space)                         4.2 GB     -

$ sudo diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskn
Password:
Unmount of all volumes on disk4 was successful

$ sudo openssl dgst -sha256 /dev/rdisk4
SHA256(/dev/rdisk4)= bf786d69790b84d88a2c47d656807e166c5a224ea32e8e4520ac4daf41db78be
```

### Ubuntu

> Heads-up: replace `sdb` with disk found using `sudo fdisk --list`.

```shell-session
$ sudo fdisk --list
…
Disk /dev/sdb: 14.44 GiB, 15502147584 bytes, 30277632 sectors
Disk model: FlashTrust
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xc5c84eac

Device     Boot   Start      End  Sectors  Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1  *       2048  1050623  1048576  512M ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
/dev/sdb2       1050624 22022143 20971520   10G 83 Linux

$ sudo umount /dev/sdb*
umount: /dev/sdb: not mounted.
umount: /dev/sdb1: not mounted.
umount: /dev/sdb2: not mounted.

$ sudo openssl dgst -sha256 /dev/sdb
SHA2-256(/dev/sdb)= bf786d69790b84d88a2c47d656807e166c5a224ea32e8e4520ac4daf41db78be
```


Explore docs

Learn how to privately and securely use Superbacked