I think that setting is non-persistent, i.e. lost after reboot. Affects current session only.
Disabling swap permanently may involve changing some config file, perhaps /etc/fstab, might require a systemd unit file drop-in.
In case of grub-live on the host: Host operating system specific.
Also sudo apt-get purge swap-file-creator (if someone installed it or still having it installed after [multiple] release upgrade).
Don’t know yet.
grub-live on host: When we use grub-live currently - is swap even in use or not?
Whonix with grub-live: Is there even a swap partition or swap file by default in Non-Qubes-Whonix 15?
Possible internet service provider fingerprinting risk for such users:
Depends on how Tor guard changing process works. Tor might connect with old entry guard (supposed to be changed) since its previous change was not stored on the disk. Depends how that is implemented and if there are any bugs.
- Tor starts → notices any entry guard change is due → changes entry guard → connects: great
- Tor starts → connects with old entry guard (bug) → notices any entry guard change is due → changes entry guard → connects: fingerprintable
Internet service provider fingerprinting for such users:
Tor consensus (since non-persistent) gets downloaded different (more often on reboot) compared to users who use persistence.
Related:
^ in our case it wouldn’t be “completely non-persistent” but still different (caching an old version and then redownloading each time booted in live mode).
Related:
Anonymity Operating System Comparison - Whonix vs Tails vs Tor Browser Bundle