Privacy advocates, get ready to celebrate! The Tor Project and Tails have just announced their merger, creating a powerful new combination for online anonymity.
For those who might have been living under an internet-free rock in recent years, here’s a quick refresher: Tor (The Onion Router) is the renowned network that allows you to browse anonymously by “bouncing” your connection through multiple servers. Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System), on the other hand, is a portable Linux-based operating system that uses Tor by default and leaves no trace on the computer you’re using.
Needless to say, these two already make a formidable duo!
But why merge, you ask?
Well, it turns out that the folks at Tails were starting to feel a bit constrained in their role as an independent privacy superhero. As Intrigeri, the Team Lead of Tails OS, explains: “Managing an independent organization for 15 years takes its toll, especially when you have to juggle technical development, fundraising, finances, and human resources.”
So, instead of pulling their hair out (or their beards, for the more hipster among them), they had the brilliant idea to join forces with the larger Tor family. In practical terms, this union of privacy powerhouses will lead to several benefits:
- Smoother collaboration
- Greater sustainability
- Expanded training programs
- Faster response to threats
In the short term, not much will change for users of either solution. You can continue using Tor and Tails as before. However, the long-term difference will likely be felt, with tools that are more robust, easier to use, better integrated, and more equipped to handle emerging threats.
If you’ve never tried Tails OS or the Tor Browser, now might be the perfect time to start!
For more technical details about this merger and its implications, I recommend checking out the official announcement on the Tor Project’s blog. There, you’ll find additional information about the behind-the-scenes work of this union and the technical challenges it presents.
