“United for Internet Freedom: The Tor Project and Tails Join Forces”. That’s how they title the article on the TOR blog, where they tell us about the merger of the two, on the one hand, a non-profit organization that develops tools for online privacy and anonymityand on the other hand, a Linux-based operating system specialized in the same subject.

Tails will be incorporated into the Tor Project structure, allowing “easier collaboration, better sustainability, lower overall costs and expanded training and awareness programs to combat growing digital threats”says director of public relations and communication Tor Project Pavel Zoneff. in summary “The union will strengthen the ability of both organizations to protect people around the world from surveillance and censorship”,

TOR and Tails project when unity is strength

The TOR Project is well known for being behind TOR, an open source distributed communications service. which strives for anonymity at the network levelit keeps the information that travels through it confidential and allows you to move around the Internet without leaving a trace. In addition to allowing easy access to the deep web (for which it is sometimes criticized), it must be said that the use of TOR has skyrocketed in all networks, especially after learning about the NSA mass surveillance scandals (and others) in the past decade.

And at every level, as some of the world’s biggest tech companies have adopted TOR to support various privacy initiatives. Furthermore, the project is responsible for web browser development for all operating systems. A tweaked “Firefox” that can be installed or used in Live mode from a USB flash drive.

As for Tails, you already know it’s our GNU/Linux distribution when we search a secure, private and portable operating system. Based on the almighty Debian, it includes a basic suite of applications, although its strength lies in the online privacy protection it offers. Its default browser is the Tor Browser and it uses the Tor network by redirecting traffic around a distributed network of relays built by volunteers around the world.

Unification of resources, technology and personnel

Taking into account the above, it must be said that merging the Tor Project and Tails makes a lot of senseas they both focus on online privacy and anonymity, not to mention their long history together.

By pooling its respective resources, including technology and personnel, the Tor Project ensures that it will be better prepared to face the challenge “the threat of mass surveillance and global censorship to the free internet”. This will include expand the scope of the Tor project for “address a wider range of privacy needs and security scenarios”which will include closer technological alignment, in addition to supporting education, training and information programs.

“By bringing these two organizations together, we not only make it easier for our teams, but also ensure the sustainable development and advancement of these vital tools.”Isabela Fernandes, executive director of the Tor Project, said in a statement. “Collaboration enables faster and more efficient collaboration, enabling rapid integration of new features from one tool to another.”.

Tails also welcomes the merger. “Running Tails as an independent project for 15 years was a lot of effort, but not for the reasons one might expect. The most difficult part was not the technology, but the management of critical tasks such as fundraising, finance and human resources. After trying to manage them in various ways, I’m really relieved that Tails is now under the wing of the Tor Project. In a way, it’s like coming home.”commented by the people responsible for the operating system.

Good news for privacy lovers.