Inviting Security Risk!
Jammu Tawi, Feb 27: Given to understand that the J&K Administration has not been taking any chance in the matter of internet and Cyber security, the ground zero reports in J&K suggests the situation otherwise.
Despite efforts and claims by the government to block the use of social networking apps and websites besides other websites not falling in the list of whitelisted sites over mobile internet, people still have access to facebook, whatsapp and other similar apps and sites over the mobile data.
While on the government direction, the users of BSNL, Idea-Vodafone and Airtel are unable to access the disallowed apps and sites, those hooked up over Jio network are able to activate a good number of the VPNs and thus also able to access the social networking.
One of the cellular operators had not blocked the use of VPN (Virtual Private Network) over its platform and thus the users of this particular phone company continue to have access to the otherwise ‘banned' (over mobile data) apps and sites.
After the abrogation of Article 370, the people of UT of JK have been having limited access to white listed sites and that too at 2G speed. Recently, all 3 telecom operators – BSNL, Airtel and Reliance Jio had confirmed of no leakage and complete blockage of VPNs, however, in the last one week the security firewalls of Reliance Jio seem to have given up.
In an Investigation by our team, almost half a dozen VPNs have surfaced which can only be accessed on Jio's network.
As this can be extremely serious for the safety and security of people of Jammu & Kashmir and security forces at large, we are seeking your support to kindly take cognizance and let the authorities and General public know of this.
Following the restoration of mobile internet on 2G speed and blacklisting almost all the social networking sites and apps, a good number of people were found having started the use of VPNs to mask their IPs and use the banned services. However, when it came into the notice of the authorities and following their tightening the noose over the use of VPNs, the cellular operators confirmed to ensure no leakage and agreed to block the use of VPNs over their networks.
While this publication has access to some videos to establish that Reliance Jio is allowing the use of VPNs, a visit to the link https://virusforevervf.wordpress.com/, will also further establish the point.
Virtual Private Network enables internet users to stay untracked by use of the proxy server, which allows them to change their location.
The J&K administration has described this use of restricted websites as “data leakage” and the authorities say that that after 2G services were restored in J&K, they have been monitoring social media. Reliance Jio fails to stop VPNs in JK despite Govt. orders
In the back drop reported crack down of VPN usage in Kashmir and of few reported cases wherein the Police have registered FIRs against social media users who defied the government orders, J&K Administration reiterated social media and VPN ban: The J&K government had on February 15 reiterated the ban on social media applications and VPN applications, and said that reports had been received from intelligence and law enforcement agencies that social media sites are being accessed through VPN applications “for coordinating terror activities” and “to upload provocative material aimed at disturbing public order”.
The Jammu & Kashmir government restored limited access — it restored 2G internet to only 301 whitelisted websites on January 27. The government whitelisted another 180 websites to the white list on February 7, and another 1,000 websites to the list on February 15.
