Pakistan Officially Bans All Encryption Online

[Benighted]

This was rumored about a month ago, but now reports are coming out that the Pakistani government has issued orders to all ISPs in the country, telling them to block any user from using any "technology that would allow them to privately browse the internet." The notice to ISPs specifically calls out VPNs, saying that they are illegal because they make it impossible to monitor. The Pakistani government insists that they really only mean that militants should be blocked, but that does not appear to be clear at all in the statement to ISPs. The report also notes that the Pakistani government has become more aggressive at blocking websites, including blocking all of Rolling Stone, because someone in Pakistan didn't like a Matt Taibii article, and they're so clueless they can't figure out how to just block a URL.

In the meantime, we're wondering how various companies that rely on encrypted information, such as banks, will deal with the order, which pretty clearly says that the government has "prohibited usage of all such mechanisms including encrypted virtual private networks (EVPNs) which conceal communication to the extent that prohibits monitoring." Do they just ignore it? And will users give up their VPNs just because the government hates such security?

Source: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20...n-officially-bans-all-encryption-online.shtml
Eeeek!

 

[Major Aly]

So now I can't watch porn using private browsing without off the radar?

 

[Conscript]

Once upon a time the government asked people to get licenses for their television sets. The public at large told the government to go fuck itself.

 

[Roark]

meh, shit like this exactly the reason i deleted my facebook, i was sick and tired of this shadow monitoring and checks.

Might as well have to give up on internet altogether.

 

[Benighted]

^ That's just what they want you to do. I'll post so much anti-government stuff, they'll regret ever monitoring me. :ninja:

 

[Faddi]

I cant watch porn anymore.Sigh! Should carry on the activities in Realtime using 3D

 

[shahoo]

what u mean,they are having an eye on what we do online

 

[Faddi]

Yes thats what they are doing.Btw google is doing that for years now.Storing everyone's data on a chip.

 

[GrunT]

great comments on the article.

 

[cobby]

B.s not private browsing. The vpn they gonna end vpn servers what will happen govt can hack our bank accounts now cause no vpn it will worse the security

sent via cellphone

 

[Pseudonym]

I'll post so much anti-government stuff, they'll regret ever monitoring me. :ninja:

Nah, better yet lets all start writing and posting government slash-fiction

 

[HAMMER of THOR]

it won't effect big level institutions which can easily afford satellite equipment for internet usage... no need to go to ptcl's bandwidth really... it is just for terrorists who mostly reside on pg

 

[Oak R]

i didn't get it????
how they monitor us and if they do so its mean we are insecure of using personal data on net like credit card no....etc.

 

[Gizmo]

Who says you can't watch porn lol, If the Government wants to monitor my Internet searches then they're welcome to Jack off with me for all I care.

But this is kinda effed, I hope the order gets revoked.

 

[Conscript]

I blame the Illuminati within the government cough*rehmanmalik*cough

 

[TehPirate]

Actually PTA has always been able to monitor our activities and they've been doing it for a couple of years now. The only problem for them was encrypted VPNs which are impossible/extremely hard to monitor. Anyone could rent a private encrypted VPN before and they would be completely hidden from the eye of PTA. This new rule now bans any such activity and so PTA can track everyone. So this doesn't affect 99% of the people who browse online because nothing changes for them.

 

[EvilGenius]

No one used this when it was available.

Now everyone will Abuses will lead to ban about it because its taken away...

 

[TehPirate]

No one used this when it was available.

Now everyone will Abuses will lead to ban about it because its taken away...

Quite a few people did actually, that is the reason they had to take this measure. A private VPN is an excellent way to do any terrorist activity, i dont mind PTA doing this because it is infact for our own security.

 

[cobby]

I guess many Banks and software houses uses vpn will be effected badly.
Its like baning bikes and cars cause terrorist uses them

sent via cellphone

 

[TehPirate]

I'm sure some institutions will be allowed to use encrypted VPNs, but in a regulated manner.