Social networking site Facebook intends to purchase PrivateCore to prevent its users' private data from being accessed by hackers and other unauthorized parties.

Online privacy is a hot topic given the Heartbleed vulnerability in April that led website administrators to scramble to plug it, and a Russian crime gang that stole more than 1.2 billion online credentials across 420,000 various websites ranging from small firms to Forbes 500 companies. 

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In the wake of all these cyber threats, Facebook aims to protect its users with its purchase of PrivateCore.

Based in Palo Alto, California, PrivateCore consists of online security experts from Google and VMware that have developed programs to secure and validate server data.

"We have worked tirelessly on our technology to protect servers from malware threats, unauthorized physical access, and malicious hardware devices," said Oded Horovitz, chief executive officer of PrivateCore.

Facebook intends to use PrivateCore's technology on its servers to protect users from online threats, Horovitz added.

The exact value of Facebook's bid for PrivateCore is currently unknown but it's unlikely the cost will be close to the price tags of Instagram, WhatsApp and Occulus, all of which Facebook acquired .

"I believe that PrivateCore's technology and expertise will help support Facebook's mission to help make the world more open and connected, in a secure and trusted way," said Joe Sullivan, Facebook's chief security officer.

"Over time, we plan to deploy PrivateCore's technology directly into the Facebook server stack. I can't wait to have them join Facebook."

The social network site plans to put PrivateCore's vCage technology on its servers to defend virtual machines and their servers. vCage is also expected to dismiss threats such as bootkits and rootkits that evade the usual anti-virus programs.

The technology will also help Facebook by increasing its jurisdiction over the infrastructure on its servers. 

TagsOnline privacy, Privacy, hackers, Cybercriminals, cybersecurity, cybercrime