And now for some good news... Facebook sets up hidden service in privacy push
(Image: Facebook)
Facebook has made it easier for those using the anonymizing browsing network Tor to access its services.
The world's largest social network by users created a direct link for Tor users, whose browsing activities cannot be traced by others or governments, to its datacenters.
Want some more good news?
Facebook's data centers worldwide, by the numbers and in pictures
Ignore the naysayers, IBM and Apple were made for each other
That direct link offers significantly greater protections to those who use the service, often to avert the prying eyes from hostile or despotic regimes.
That to a degree includes the U.S., which has come under heavy criticism from other states in the wake of the Edward Snowden disclosures for its global surveillance operations.
Tor is an end-to-end anonymizing service for users who want to keep their online and browsing activities hidden, secret, and out of the hands of governments and corporations. Activists and journalists often use the free and open-source service, founded in 2002.
Users of Tor can access Facebook directly through its facebookcorewwwi.onion address, even if facebook.com is blocked in their country or region.
The Tor link also marks the first time a certificate authority has issued an SSL certificate, offering encryption between the user's computer and the website's server, to an .onion address — opening up the space to other sites.
Read more: Facebook sets up hidden service for Tor users
What's the best news you've heard all year? We're counting down our favorite, uplifting, good news stories of 2014. Next one lands tomorrow, 8am ET (1pm GMT).
