in-line :-
On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 21:52, Nagarjuna G. nagarjun@gnowledge.org wrote:
http://dot.gov.in/miscellaneous/publicnotice.pdf
and also see this http://www.medianama.com/2009/10/223-indian-government-wants-telcos-to-regis...
This is definitely bad news for potential users of technology (including me)
From the post one of the comments really puts up the points.
<quote>
@Kaiz: I assume you have been reading too many Tom Clancy novels. I am eager to learn if a single terror incident in India has used 'unsecured' WiFi networks to plan and execute a blast. So far, to the best of my knowledge, such networks have been used only to send self-congratulatory emails, after the event. The rest is highly suspect media hype, fanned by persons who are very likely to have a vested interest in selling 'security' systems, and some policemen who are very eager to face TV news cameras.
Also, you apparently find it difficult to understand the notification. Nobody is interested in users having passwords to log into private networks, the notification asks for all users to be centrally registered with the ISP. This is a backdoor method to empower ISPs to begin identifying subscribers on the basis of numbers of users per subscription ID, and the logical next step will be differential rates. I am rather more interested in a regulatory framework that will govern the leaking of such personal information to third parties (at the moment, there is none, so...).
Such registrations will in no way help security agencies to identify malafide users of home networks, which (ie IEEE 802.11x compliant) are inherently not designed for high-security environments. Have you registered, or been asked to register, all your family members and guests who use the home (cordless) telephone? Would it serve any useful purpose? QED.
</quote=Seykun>
-- Nagarjuna G. http://www.gnowledge.org/
I am surprised that there hasn't been any response to this on the list.
The Indian govt seems to be living in a state of paranoia. When they face something they don't know how to control, they BAN it.
Ban yahoo groups because some activists posted some nonsense which hurt the govt.
Ban orkut, because some dimwits think posting nude pics on their profile is a cool idea.
Ban BlackBerry, because RIM won't provide the encryption key. And all terrorists uses Blackberry anyway.
Ban skype, it uses VoIP to call terrorists all over the world, and is untracable.
Now ban open wifi, because terrorists will access p0rn through your wifi signals.
Why, is it they can't implement preventive measures? Learn technology, come up with a competent measure to REDUCE threats rather than ban everything in sight?
Whenever there's username/password combination, there'd be 1000x times more exploits than there's now. Everyone is so keen in attacking 'protected' systems, rather than unprotected ones.
What now? no MAC id spoofing? You should use your PAN no. as your MAC. You should list all your electronic devices capable of WiFi access to the govt. Everyone should carry an Id card if he plans to use internet? Submit your site access logs along with tax filing to the govt.?
Ban all JPEG/MPEG formats as they carry pornography. Ban computers from 15 mts from children, as computers are full of porn and cyber terrorists.
Ban camera mobiles.
Ban bluetooth...
*BAN PEOPLE*!!!
Pissed, Mahesh Aravind
----- God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Registered Linux user #371671 -- http://maravind.blogspot.com/
--- On Wed, 10/21/09, shirish शिरीष shirishag75@gmail.com wrote:
From: shirish शिरीष shirishag75@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Fsf-friends] [fosscomm] wifi restrictions To: "Indian FOSS Community Network list" network@lists.fosscom.in Cc: fsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.in Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:13 AM
This is definitely bad news for potential users of technology (including me)
From the post one of the comments really puts up the points.
<quote>
Also, you apparently find it difficult to understand the notification. Nobody is interested in users having passwords to log into private networks, the notification asks for all users to be centrally registered with the ISP. This is a backdoor method to empower ISPs to begin identifying subscribers on the basis of numbers of users per subscription ID, and the logical next step will be differential rates. I am rather more interested in a regulatory framework that will govern the leaking of such personal information to third parties (at the moment, there is none, so...).
Such registrations will in no way help security agencies to identify malafide users of home networks, which (ie IEEE 802.11x compliant) are inherently not designed for high-security environments. Have you registered, or been asked to register, all your family members and guests who use the home (cordless) telephone? Would it serve any useful purpose? QED.
</quote=Seykun>
-- Nagarjuna G. http://www.gnowledge.org/
I am surprised that there hasn't been any response to this on the list.