VPN, the UAE-way
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GulfNews
So the way I read it:
OK to use VPN to access this site, since it is not blocked (as long as you don't commit something considered a crime in the UAE on here)
OK, to use VPN to access your local home TV, as that is actually a restriction of the broadcasting company back home, not the UAE.
NOT OK, to browse your favourite honey website.
Comments?
So the way I read it:
OK to use VPN to access this site, since it is not blocked (as long as you don't commit something considered a crime in the UAE on here)
OK, to use VPN to access your local home TV, as that is actually a restriction of the broadcasting company back home, not the UAE.
NOT OK, to browse your favourite honey website.
Comments?
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Again, you need to prove that you haven't been using the VPN for illegal acts. They can't see what's been tunnelled but they can certainly see the tunnel. Sure, you can clear your history but the most diligent forensic IT investigator can dig out what you've been looking at once they seize your device on suspicion of doing something naughty with a VPN.
As mentioned it would rely on semantics, which in this part of the world, isn't exactly considered .
Fuel-Off
As mentioned it would rely on semantics, which in this part of the world, isn't exactly considered .
Fuel-Off
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http://m.gulfnews.com/news/uae/crime...know-1.1872123
Another gulf news article
It's not as bad as originally reported
Another gulf news article
It's not as bad as originally reported
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I don't wish this to devolve into a geekfest mud-slinging, but...
Deep Packet Inspection does not enable decryption of data being carried over a VPN. Some sort of decryption is still required and requires pretty heavy artillery, cryptographically speaking. Think NSA, not UAE.
Encrypted connections are used all the time. All online banking uses some form of it, as well as many commercial sites such as Gmail and so on. Heck even EK's portal uses encryption. (The "S" in https is for "secure".) Not much reason in having passwords and so on if everyone can see them.
The point is, your data can't be read, but the encrypted data stream can be seen. In other words they may not be able to see inside the tunnel, but the existence of the tunnel itself may now get people in trouble. My guess is the UAE gatekeepers will start cracking down on users connecting to known VPN servers. But they can't just block all encrypted connections or most of the Internet would grind to a halt, given how much traffic travels encrypted. Then again they do seem to want to revert to some sort of Dark Ages so who knows.
China expends an enormous of money and resources attempting to block VPN's and still is unable to do more than make it mildly difficult to circumvent. I seriously doubt the UAE will do better.
Deep Packet Inspection does not enable decryption of data being carried over a VPN. Some sort of decryption is still required and requires pretty heavy artillery, cryptographically speaking. Think NSA, not UAE.
Encrypted connections are used all the time. All online banking uses some form of it, as well as many commercial sites such as Gmail and so on. Heck even EK's portal uses encryption. (The "S" in https is for "secure".) Not much reason in having passwords and so on if everyone can see them.
The point is, your data can't be read, but the encrypted data stream can be seen. In other words they may not be able to see inside the tunnel, but the existence of the tunnel itself may now get people in trouble. My guess is the UAE gatekeepers will start cracking down on users connecting to known VPN servers. But they can't just block all encrypted connections or most of the Internet would grind to a halt, given how much traffic travels encrypted. Then again they do seem to want to revert to some sort of Dark Ages so who knows.
China expends an enormous of money and resources attempting to block VPN's and still is unable to do more than make it mildly difficult to circumvent. I seriously doubt the UAE will do better.
