WATERLOO - University of Waterloo researchers are developing a tool that will allow people living in countries where the Internet is censored to access restricted websites without being detected.

"We think these kinds of technologies are extremely important to make available for free for people around the world," said Ian Goldberg, a professor of computer science at the university. "In many cases, these technologies are literally life-saving."

That's especially true for journalists and activists working in countries where the government restricts Internet access, and also looks for people who are attempting to evade censorship.

The technology being developed at UW would not only allow a person to access restricted websites or content, but also disguise that connection.

"Most importantly, it hides the fact a user is evading censorship in the first place," said Cecylia Bocovich, PhD student in Goldberg's lab and leader of the research project.

They've called the technology Slitheen after alien characters on the TV show "Doctor Who," who disguise themselves as humans to avoid being noticed.

Escaping detection is a crucial component that much of the existing technologies can't ensure.

"Many of them leave telltale traces," Goldberg said. "It's important for tools to hide the fact that users are engaging in censorship resistance at all."

The program the researchers are developing would be free to download, and it would hook into a computer's web browser. People can then visit blocked sites, but to anyone checking it would appear to be one that is permitted.

Goldberg called it a "big step forward in the censorship resistance race," but acknowledged the work is never done.

"We make something and we have active adversaries who are trying to stop us," he said. "You have to think like an attacker to predict what their response would be."

Goldberg is a founding member of the Cryptography, Security, and Privacy (CrySP) research group at Waterloo, which works to help people maintain their security, privacy, freedom and autonomy when they go online.

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The researchers hope to have a version available for public use within a year, to allow more people freedom on the Internet.

"This is an increasing concern all around the world," Bocovich said.