Did you know ? – UK Government Collecting Browsing Data Puts IT at Risk
Recently, the Investigatory Powers Bill was probably revealed by Theresa (United Kingdom Home Secretary). The Bill, which is part of draft legislation, consists of masses of online data collected by spy agencies. This Bill forces internet service providers to maintain records of browsing data of all UK citizens for a period of not less than twelve months.
Table of Content
1 . Neither the Government nor Corporate Data is Safe
2. The Record Is Too Personal Regardless of What It Contains
3. The EU Crashed a Similar Legislation for Violating Human Rights
4. How to browse the Internet privately with no logs
What is clear about online security is that it has been deteriorating in the last decade. There is no doubt that computer systems have been ruthlessly hacked and extremely sensitive data has been stolen. Therefore, any efforts by the UK government to force internet service providers to hold on to browsing data for a year may result into the data going public in matter of time.
Neither the Government nor Corporate Data is Safe
You should know that the threat is very eminent and neither the government nor corporate data is safe as well. The United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service has recently been fined for mislaying laptops holding video interviews/ talks with criminal suspects. Furthermore, the government has experienced huge losses of data, including nuclear power plant safety assessment information, information about patients and information about prison staff. Some of you may think that the corporate society is well-equipped and secured.
However, that is not the case, because in the recent past the corporate society has experienced three data breaches. These breeches did hit the following corporations: the ISP Talk Talk, British Gas, and the retailer Marks & Spencer. About 4 million clients’ credit card details were stolen when the breach occurred. A given number of entities have been arrested in connection with the incident, including a 20-year old man and a Russian Islamist cyber jihad set. The ironic thing is that the government expects the same companies that have been easily hacked to safeguard UK citizens’ browsing data.
The Record Is Too Personal Regardless of What It Contains
The most controversial thing about the bill is that the records will not be maintained in the GCHQ servers, but in the ISPs servers. The truth is that the ISPs are too vulnerable to attacks from 20-year old man; therefore, foreign powers can easily steal the data for their own subjective gain. Those in favor of the bill claim that whatever is being recorded is too shallow to put internet users browsing data at risk. Regardless of what they say; the fact is you are still under surveillance and the pieces of information they keep still puts you in grave danger.
The EU Crashed a Similar Legislation for Violating Human Rights
In the wake of terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and in Madrid in 2004, the Data Retention Directive was introduced. However, the European Court of Justice ruled out the bill as invalid because it desecrated human rights to privacy. Currently, politicians have nothing to pin their good intentions on as far as passing the bill is concerned. The nature of the bill gives secret service and police free pass to hacking internet users’ devices. Apart from being intrusive, the bill is a reminder that the digital systems, desktops, laptops, and mobile devices are all compromised. It is heartbreaking to see that politicians do not acknowledge the dangers, but only the benefits of the bill.
How to browse the Internet privately with no logs
In order to browse the internet privately just like in good old days with to logs on your activity and protect your personal data from stealing we suggest using a VPN encrypted connection. One simple thing which can be configured within 10 minutes can make your internet experience secure, safe and truly private once again. Use your starter special with UK VPN offer to sign up for VPN for a low price.
Rachael Chapman
A Complete gamer and a Tech Geek. Brings out all her thoughts and love in writing blogs on IOT, software, technology etc
