India Wakes Up To Securing the Wifi connections. Thank You, Mr. Terrorist ?
So, all the recent terrorists have been tracked to Mumbai. Also, it was made clear than the terrorists were smarter than the average Indians. The terrorists used others Wi-Fi networks to carry out their communication. The terrorists were smart enough. The Indians were not.
I cannot help but remember the tag line of the recent Hind film, “Phoonk”. It said – it’s superstition until it happens to you. Translated to this episode, it becomes “security is just a technical buzzword, unless you become the victim‘.
Ok, now the news, ET reports that TRAI has taken it upon itself to make it mandatory for the ISPs to make sure that the customers secure their Wifi networks with passwords. The news says TRAI started studying Wi-Fi network after the Ahmedabad blasts and will soon come p with the guidelines for the ISPs. TRAI will be consulting with DoT and DIT for this.
TRAI told DoT ,
“All ISPs may be instructed to ensure that their subscribers using wireless devices must use effective authentication mechanisms and permit access to internet to only authorized persons using wireless devices,”
Interesting (and expectedly) ISPs say that it’s the customers who is to be blamed. Have a look at what Rajesh Chharia Internet Service Providers Association of India president have to say -
“Internet service providers are taking steps on their own to secure WiFi connections. All ISPs are installing AAA servers and firewalls. But, if you look at the terror mails, they were sent from hacked or open WiFi accounts – there is nothing we can do about this. When people take a broadband connection and routers to make their homes and offices WiFi enabled and then leave it open when they are not in use, there is nothing ISPs can do about it”
Wonderful, isn’t it ?
Actually, why put the onus on anyone. We should be putting passwords to a Wifi network. The way we are afraid of people reading our emails and using the information to hurt our personal/professional interest, we should be afraid of our Wi-Fi being misused. And its much more than just our privacy that’s at stake this time.
Any thoughts ?
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What’s the whole point of this issue ?… Networks were hacked just to sent a warning/threat/information about the blasts. Okay, as a wishful scenario imagine that each and every single wi-fi connection in india is secure due to all this….will that stop terrorists from communicating to media or public before blasts ?..its jus a communication medium…none is gonna trace anyone through all this..
The real problem is something else…that too at large…
Let govt. focus on those, than SHOWING the public that WE are CONCERNED.
@Ankit: “The terrorists were smart enough. The Indians were not.”
)
Yup They are. But , It is not ‘hacking’ the unsecure network which shows their smartness…But conducting 3 major blasts in 4 months in 3 major cities.. (they are indians too
@Startonomics
Thanks for the comment.
Let me put across my points. Well, yes, the emails were just a communication medium, but you wrongly put it when you said “none is gonna trace anyone through all this”. Emails are traceable. That’s the reason why Cyber cafes have to keep a record. Earlier these threats used to be sent through Cyber Cafes. Since the time government made it mandatory for the Cyber Cafes to maintain record of the visitors, they have successfully cracked a few Cyber crime cases. (Though none of terrorism ones, I admit).
“The real problem is something else”. Agreed. But I cannot write about that on WATBlog.
I am sure a lot is going on to find out the terrorists and the activities. I am sure we are not aware of the complete process. I am sure even you are not. However, I refuse to believe that government is just showing that they are concerned. If that is true, we are living in terrible times.
Well, the terrorists were smarter than us in many areas. NOT using the Cyber cafes and hacking into the unsecured networks, is just one of them. But DEFINITELY one of them.
Thanks once again for your opinion.
Well, nice to see that India is taking steps towards securing WiFi. Great going!
I would like to see India take more steps towards improving its security systems.
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