I too got this Tor error after updating Tor browser in Whonix yesterday. Uninstalled/reinstalled Virtualbox, reinstalled Whonix OVA, updated gateway/workstation, Tor fine until it auto-updated, then gives the identity error. But restarting Tor browser still gives different Tor exit nodes; schemeflood dot com gave different “device ID” reading different app APIs on different exit relays.
As strongly recommended in the Security Guide, it is necessary to regularly check for operating system updates on the host operating system, and both the Whonix-Workstation ™ and Whonix-Gateway ™.
To be clear, on both workstation and gateway it’s sudo apt update, right? Or is it sudo apt full-upgrade? Or sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/? Or sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade? Maybe I’m not smart enough for Whonix. If anyone else doesn’t know what rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/ means, you aren’t either. The information in that link is not specific to the issue posted in the OP. I don’t know what specifically to take from it. As far as I understand, going into the gateway and making changes is risky behavior. But it seems that the issue in the OP is in the gateway. If the Whonix developers know how to fix the issue, why not make a minor update and release it in Whonix v16.0.3.8? Seems like a trivial thing for you guys and it would save people like me who are not so smart from damaging the gateway and putting ourselves at risk.
Unfortunately, as worded in the disclaimer - excerpt.
This OS is in English. Do not use This OS without excellent knowledge of the English language. Misunderstandings have consequences.
This OS is based on other software, including GNU/Linux, Debian, and virtualization. Do not rely on This OS without working knowledge of these technologies.
Unfortunately it isn’t as simple to use as desired.
For the record, “SIGNAL newnym” was still effectively being sent to Tor’s ControlPort.
While this error message is confusing, and good that it’s fixed, in this case it didn’t actually break Tor Browser’s communication with Tor’s ControlPort. The message was a false-positive.
This is a small thing. Please don’t attribute all sorts of issues to it.
1 issue = 1 forum thread, please don’t mix all sorts of issues into this forum thread.