ars - EFF announces Web encryption add-on for Firefox
ars technica reports: "Although many Web sites support SSL, it isn't always used by default, which means that users are sometimes exposed to the risk of snooping and data interception by unauthorized third parties. The add-on aims to mitigate that risk by directing users to HTTPS URLs whenever it is possible."
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Web tools help protect human rights activists - Reuters
Reuters reports: "Now, human rights activists are looking to a new generation of Internet privacy tools to keep companies from gathering such data, hoping that it will protect dissidents like Shi. One, called Tor, scrambles information, then sends it over the Web. It hides the user's location and gets past firewalls. Those features make it popular with activists in countries like China and Iran."
Comment: This Reuters report highlights internet technology that is useful for human rights activists and missionaries operating in repressive countries.
Reuters reports: "Now, human rights activists are looking to a new generation of Internet privacy tools to keep companies from gathering such data, hoping that it will protect dissidents like Shi. One, called Tor, scrambles information, then sends it over the Web. It hides the user's location and gets past firewalls. Those features make it popular with activists in countries like China and Iran."
Comment: This Reuters report highlights internet technology that is useful for human rights activists and missionaries operating in repressive countries.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
My Way News - Web site tracks world online censorship reports
AP reports: "Herdict users report their Web site problems anonymously - numeric Internet addresses are recorded but only general location is displayed - so people can post more freely, encouraging reports about sensitive topics [...] The site doesn't investigate reports, though, so there's no way to know for sure that an outage is related to government meddling rather than a cut cable or other problem unrelated to censorship. Although surges in reports do suggest a government role, a widespread technical glitch can also produce a similar spike."
Comment: The Herdict site is located here and looks to be a valuable tool for keeping tabs on censorship worldwide.
AP reports: "Herdict users report their Web site problems anonymously - numeric Internet addresses are recorded but only general location is displayed - so people can post more freely, encouraging reports about sensitive topics [...] The site doesn't investigate reports, though, so there's no way to know for sure that an outage is related to government meddling rather than a cut cable or other problem unrelated to censorship. Although surges in reports do suggest a government role, a widespread technical glitch can also produce a similar spike."
Comment: The Herdict site is located here and looks to be a valuable tool for keeping tabs on censorship worldwide.
Friday, June 26, 2009
My Way News - Iran: new audience for US scholar's protest guide
AP reports: "Iranian protesters wondering what to do next are being encouraged to consult a source that helped drive a decade of nonviolent revolutions in Eastern Europe: a how-to guide to toppling dictatorships written by a retired American scholar who is little known outside of activist circles. But the Iranian regime definitely knows about 81-year-old Gene Sharp. His name and references to his 1993 book have buzzed around opposition Web sites and social networks."
Comment: His book From Dictatorship to Democracy can be downloaded here in PDF form.
AP reports: "Iranian protesters wondering what to do next are being encouraged to consult a source that helped drive a decade of nonviolent revolutions in Eastern Europe: a how-to guide to toppling dictatorships written by a retired American scholar who is little known outside of activist circles. But the Iranian regime definitely knows about 81-year-old Gene Sharp. His name and references to his 1993 book have buzzed around opposition Web sites and social networks."
Comment: His book From Dictatorship to Democracy can be downloaded here in PDF form.
Friday, June 19, 2009
My Way News - Web support pours out for Iran protesters
AP reports: "Google and Facebook have rushed out services in Farsi. Twitter users have changed their home cities to Tehran to provide cover for Internet users there. Others have configured their computers to serve as relay points to bypass Iranian censorship. [...] He and other U.S. Web users set up ways for Iranians to access the Internet using Tor, a service that allows people use the Internet anonymously. Even the file-sharing site Pirate Bay, best known for its run-ins with the law over copyright infringement, has jumped in with the launch of a network that helps Iranians surf anonymously."
AP reports: "Google and Facebook have rushed out services in Farsi. Twitter users have changed their home cities to Tehran to provide cover for Internet users there. Others have configured their computers to serve as relay points to bypass Iranian censorship. [...] He and other U.S. Web users set up ways for Iranians to access the Internet using Tor, a service that allows people use the Internet anonymously. Even the file-sharing site Pirate Bay, best known for its run-ins with the law over copyright infringement, has jumped in with the launch of a network that helps Iranians surf anonymously."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
My Way News - The Pirate Bay helps Iran critics dodge censorship
AP reports: "Popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay said Wednesday it has helped launch an Internet network in support of Iranian election critics allowing users to dodge the regime's censorship rules by surfing anonymously [...] The Web site, iran.whyweprotest.net, says it allows 'a secure and reliable way of communication for Iranians and friends' and also directs users to an anonymity system, which can be used to hide their Internet locations."
Comment: This kind of site can also be useful for persecuted minorities in any repressive country.
AP reports: "Popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay said Wednesday it has helped launch an Internet network in support of Iranian election critics allowing users to dodge the regime's censorship rules by surfing anonymously [...] The Web site, iran.whyweprotest.net, says it allows 'a secure and reliable way of communication for Iranians and friends' and also directs users to an anonymity system, which can be used to hide their Internet locations."
Comment: This kind of site can also be useful for persecuted minorities in any repressive country.
Monday, June 15, 2009
My Way News - Tweeting Iran: Elex news in 140 characters or less
AP reports: "Iranians must outsmart government blocking to use Twitter, on which users post messages limited to 140 characters called 'tweets.' Twitter and other social-networking sites remained blocked Monday in Iran. [...] Facebook was used to organize people before the election, but it was also blocked after the vote. On Monday, the site was replaced with a message that said the page was blocked under a filtering policy."
Comment: It is very important for Christians to make use of all of the new social networking technology to share the gospel and to familiarize missionaries with the tools of dissent that may be needed in repressive societies.
AP reports: "Iranians must outsmart government blocking to use Twitter, on which users post messages limited to 140 characters called 'tweets.' Twitter and other social-networking sites remained blocked Monday in Iran. [...] Facebook was used to organize people before the election, but it was also blocked after the vote. On Monday, the site was replaced with a message that said the page was blocked under a filtering policy."
Comment: It is very important for Christians to make use of all of the new social networking technology to share the gospel and to familiarize missionaries with the tools of dissent that may be needed in repressive societies.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
My Way News - China requires PCs to come with anti-porn software
AP reports: "China is requiring personal computers sold in the country to carry software that blocks online pornography and other Web sites, potentially giving one of the world's most sophisticated censorship regimes even more control over the Internet."
AP reports: "China is requiring personal computers sold in the country to carry software that blocks online pornography and other Web sites, potentially giving one of the world's most sophisticated censorship regimes even more control over the Internet."
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Tech Clampdown On Tiananmen Anniversary - CBS News
CBS News reports: "Chinese authorities blocked popular Web sites like Twitter and Flickr on Tuesday after forcing dissidents from Beijing in a clampdown ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests."
CBS News reports: "Chinese authorities blocked popular Web sites like Twitter and Flickr on Tuesday after forcing dissidents from Beijing in a clampdown ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests."
Friday, May 01, 2009
Cyberwar - Iranians and Others Outwit Net Censors - Series - NYTimes.com
The New York Times reports: "The Internet is no longer just an essential channel for commerce, entertainment and information. It has also become a stage for state control — and rebellion against it. Computers are becoming more crucial in global conflicts, not only in spying and military action, but also in determining what information reaches people around the globe."
Comment: This report describes both the methods used by governments to control access to information and the software tools used by activists to circumvent them. Missionaries operating in repressive countries would do well to look into the following:
The New York Times reports: "The Internet is no longer just an essential channel for commerce, entertainment and information. It has also become a stage for state control — and rebellion against it. Computers are becoming more crucial in global conflicts, not only in spying and military action, but also in determining what information reaches people around the globe."
Comment: This report describes both the methods used by governments to control access to information and the software tools used by activists to circumvent them. Missionaries operating in repressive countries would do well to look into the following:
Monday, December 08, 2008
My Way News - Laptop searches at border might get restricted
AP reports: "Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, asserts that it has constitutional authority to conduct routine searches at the border - without suspicion of wrongdoing - to prevent dangerous people and property from entering the country. This authority, the government maintains, applies not only to suitcases and bags, but also to books, documents and other printed materials - as well as to electronic devices."
AP reports: "Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, asserts that it has constitutional authority to conduct routine searches at the border - without suspicion of wrongdoing - to prevent dangerous people and property from entering the country. This authority, the government maintains, applies not only to suitcases and bags, but also to books, documents and other printed materials - as well as to electronic devices."
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
My Way News - Internet companies embrace human rights guidelines
AP reports: "Leading Internet companies, long criticized by human-rights groups for their business dealings in China, agreed Tuesday to new guidelines that seek to limit what data they should share with authorities worldwide and when they should do so."
Comment: It's nice to see that these companies recognize that they have a responsibility when dealing with repressive countries, but I'd like to see how these new polices fare when tested by real events. Is this just PR?
AP reports: "Leading Internet companies, long criticized by human-rights groups for their business dealings in China, agreed Tuesday to new guidelines that seek to limit what data they should share with authorities worldwide and when they should do so."
Comment: It's nice to see that these companies recognize that they have a responsibility when dealing with repressive countries, but I'd like to see how these new polices fare when tested by real events. Is this just PR?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
My Way News - Review: Tiny flash drives improve their security
AP reports: "My favorite IronKey feature was the built-in Firefox browser. It let me take my favorite Web bookmarks and login information with me, along with my Web surfing cookies and site history. This means I left no trace of my Web browsing on the computers I plugged the IronKey into."
Comment: Here is a great tool to allow you to take your net with you, your browser, your settings, along with you, user any computer you like, and leave no trace of your activity. Let's buy a bunch of these and send them to the underground church in China, that should poke some holes in the Great Firewall.
AP reports: "My favorite IronKey feature was the built-in Firefox browser. It let me take my favorite Web bookmarks and login information with me, along with my Web surfing cookies and site history. This means I left no trace of my Web browsing on the computers I plugged the IronKey into."
Comment: Here is a great tool to allow you to take your net with you, your browser, your settings, along with you, user any computer you like, and leave no trace of your activity. Let's buy a bunch of these and send them to the underground church in China, that should poke some holes in the Great Firewall.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
My Way News - Microsoft's newest browser may block ads
AP reports: "Users surfing with InPrivateBlocking turned on can review a list of which companies are trying to display or collect data. Users also can click a link to read more and decide case by case whether to permit certain ones to go ahead."
Comment: This promises to be a great feature of the next version of IE, let's hope it survives their beta test and their internal debate with their marketing types.
AP reports: "Users surfing with InPrivateBlocking turned on can review a list of which companies are trying to display or collect data. Users also can click a link to read more and decide case by case whether to permit certain ones to go ahead."
Comment: This promises to be a great feature of the next version of IE, let's hope it survives their beta test and their internal debate with their marketing types.
Friday, August 01, 2008
My Way News - Some Web sites unblocked for Olympics, but not all
AP reports: "Olympic organizers unblocked some Internet sites at the main press center and media venues Friday while others remained off limits for journalists covering the Beijing games."
AP reports: "Olympic organizers unblocked some Internet sites at the main press center and media venues Friday while others remained off limits for journalists covering the Beijing games."
Off The Field - smh.com.au
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting on censorship in China and I'm noting this even though Chinese attitudes towards Christianity have become much more relaxed of late, they still censor other religions and spiritual movements. Mindful of Pastor Martin Niemöller's warning, we stand with them. According to the report:
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting on censorship in China and I'm noting this even though Chinese attitudes towards Christianity have become much more relaxed of late, they still censor other religions and spiritual movements. Mindful of Pastor Martin Niemöller's warning, we stand with them. According to the report:
The Great Firewall of China - or the Golden Shield Project, to give it its official name - is intended to prevent, deter and detect anyone who reads, downloads or publishing reports deemed to challenge the government's hold on power.I find it particularly shameful that American companies are doing this.
In addition to the hardware and software - some of it supplied by US companies like Cisco - China also employs tens of thousands of human censors to trawl through popular forums and blogs, spotting and then erasing references to banned or sensitive topics.
Olympic organisers agree to China blocking 'sensitive' internet sites - Times Online
The Times Online reports: "Kevan Gosper, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) press commission, confirmed that some of its officials had agreed to Chinese demands that some sensitive sites be blocked on the ground that they were not related to the Olympics."
Comment: It is again demonstrated how easy it is for a government to control internet access. We can only assume that in the future such government control over the internet will only increase, and the capability for such control will always exist, even in countries which prize free speech. There are ways around such control, of course, but the original dream of the internet as a global information commons has been dashed.
The Times Online reports: "Kevan Gosper, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) press commission, confirmed that some of its officials had agreed to Chinese demands that some sensitive sites be blocked on the ground that they were not related to the Olympics."
Comment: It is again demonstrated how easy it is for a government to control internet access. We can only assume that in the future such government control over the internet will only increase, and the capability for such control will always exist, even in countries which prize free speech. There are ways around such control, of course, but the original dream of the internet as a global information commons has been dashed.
Friday, July 25, 2008
My Way News - Pope Benedict urges help for Iraqi Christians
AP reports: "Pope Benedict XVI urged the world to help Iraqis who have fled their country and called for better protection for Christians inside Iraq during talks Friday with Iraq's prime minister, the Vatican said."
AP reports: "Pope Benedict XVI urged the world to help Iraqis who have fled their country and called for better protection for Christians inside Iraq during talks Friday with Iraq's prime minister, the Vatican said."
My Way News - China paper censored for Tiananmen photo
AP reports: "Within hours of Thursday's publication, the photos and article were removed from the newspaper's Web site. Authorities also ordered issues of Thursday's newspaper recalled from newsstands, Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper reported Friday."
AP reports: "Within hours of Thursday's publication, the photos and article were removed from the newspaper's Web site. Authorities also ordered issues of Thursday's newspaper recalled from newsstands, Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper reported Friday."
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Ahead of Olympics, Congressman Pushes 'Global Online Freedom Act' - Wired.com
Threat Level reports: "Republican congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey used a meeting with international human rights group Reporters Without Borders last week to lobby for passage of a bill aimed at curtailing U.S. tech companies' participation in foreign countries' internet censorship schemes. Smith is hoping that the bill reaches the floor of the house and passes before the Olympics begin in August."
Comment: I've always felt it was indefensible for American companies birthed in freedom and liberty to sell technology to be used for oppression.
Threat Level reports: "Republican congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey used a meeting with international human rights group Reporters Without Borders last week to lobby for passage of a bill aimed at curtailing U.S. tech companies' participation in foreign countries' internet censorship schemes. Smith is hoping that the bill reaches the floor of the house and passes before the Olympics begin in August."
Comment: I've always felt it was indefensible for American companies birthed in freedom and liberty to sell technology to be used for oppression.
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