I have attempted to download the Mullvad browser onto my Whonix-Workstation several times. However, I encountered an issue as the downloaded file came in a .xz format, which means that the browser is pre-installed within the file. I am unsure where to place the downloaded file containing the browser and have tried to put it in both the /user and /root directories. Additionally, I attempted to create a disposableVM with an app shortcut, but the browser did not open. As a result, I suspect that the Mullvad browser is not functioning correctly because it is not in the good directory. Could you provide me with guidance on how to properly install and use the Mullvad browser on my Whonix-Workstation?
Also, I’m curious about the persistence of the /home/user directory in Whonix. Normally, templates /home directories are volatile, but I’ve noticed that my mullvad file in /home/user remains after a system reboot. Can you explain this behavior?
No, they’re not. Templates home folder is persistent. But not inherited by App Qube based on that Template.
The complication is coming from the combination of two non-standard behaviors by two different projects:
A) how Qubes implements (non-)persistence, and
B) that Mullvad Browser (MB) is a binary installed in the home folder
Therefore it’s probably easiest to install MB in the home folder of an App Qube (or Standalone but that’s fully optional).
Installation of MB in Template will be difficult for most users until MB gets available as a .deb package, flatpak or similar. I wouldn’t hold my breath since this hasn’t happened for TB (Tor Browser) for approximately a decade already.
tb-updater (by Kicksecure / Whonix developers) might get support for downloading Mullvad Browser, tracked here: