Twitter Unveils Tor Version of Site That Can Bypass Russia Block

Twitter has launched a privacy-protected model of its website to bypass surveillance and censorship after Russia restricted entry to its service within the nation.

Russia has blocked entry to Facebook and has restricted Twitter in an try and attempt to limit the move of details about its struggle in Ukraine. Both firms have mentioned they’re engaged on restoring entry to folks inside Russia whilst they limit the nation’s state media from their providers.

Known as an “onion” service, customers can entry this model of Twitter in the event that they obtain the Tor browser, which permits folks to entry websites on what can also be known as the “dark Web.” Instead of .com, onion websites have a .onion suffix. Regular web sites, together with Twitter.com, are additionally accessible on Tor, however the .onion variations are made particularly for Tor and stop the location from being spoofed by malicious actors.

While the time period “dark Web” connotes unlawful websites such because the now-defunct Silk Road drug market, it’s also typically utilized by folks in search of to stay nameless for his or her security and likewise to entry websites censored by repressive governments.

Facebook and different websites such because the BBC even have variations accessible on Tor. Twitter’s model has been within the works for a while, since earlier than the Russian invasion, the corporate confirmed Wednesday.

Software engineer and Internet safety skilled Alec Muffett, who has labored with different firms to arrange onion websites, introduced Twitter’s new service on his personal Twitter account.

“This is possibly the most important and long-awaited tweet that I’ve ever composed,” he wrote.