To simplify the process of allowing sources to anonymously leak documents to journalists, the Freedom of the Press Foundation has taken over the late Aaron Swatrz's whistleblower project.
Earlier this year, The New Yorker launched StrongBox, a system based on DeadDrop, which was written by Aaron Swartz, an internet activist who committed suicide while facing a possible prison sentence for downloading academic journals from JSTOR through the computer network at MIT.
The system used Tor anonymizing software to allow journalists to access leaked documents from a hidden, secure server, and even exchange messages without compromising a source's security, or even necessarily learning their identity.
But the system proved too difficult for sources and journalists alike who may not be well versed in online security measures. An audit performed by experts at the University of Washington found the user processes for both StrongBox and DeadDrop too complicated.