What VPN services may be blocked soon in India
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What is the controversy surrounding VPN services as a Virtual Private Network? VPN has always been a popular tool used by millions of users all over the world. VPNs are seen as powerful tools to communicate and transfer files securely on the Internet. Most companies in India use VPN services to secure their networks and digital assets from hackers.
But while VPNs remain effective enterprise tools to enable remote collaboration on sensitive files, the public use of VPNs has often faced controversial scrutiny. Ultimately, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs wants the Indian government to ban VPN services in the country according to a report by MediaNama.
The commission reportedly stated that Virtual Private Network (VPN) services pose a threat to counter cyber threats and other nefarious activities. According to the commission, VPN apps and tools are readily available online and allow criminals to remain anonymous online.
The MediaNama report notes that the commission recommended a permanent ban on VPN services in the country with the help of ISPs across India. The report also stated that the committee wants the ministry to take initiatives to strengthen tracking and monitoring mechanisms.
But before we try to understand why the Parliamentary Standing Committee would want to take such a tough stance against a VPN, let’s dive into the advantages of VPN services.
What are the advantages of a VPN service?
VPNs are very useful and reliable tools, with 30% of all internet users using a VPN at least once a month, Forbes reports.
Most companies in India use VPN services to secure their networks and digital assets from hackers.
VPN tools become even more important during lockdown when employees are doing their work from home using an unsecured home internet connection.
VPN services allow internet users to access content that is prohibited in the country and also remains somewhat “anonymous” online.
VPN tools mask your traffic to make it look like your IP address, or that your location is located somewhere else.
Amidst the rise in cybercrime, the biggest advantage a VPN service offers is keeping you safe while you browse online.
Most VPNs offer industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption to protect you from anyone tracking your online activity.
This can be critical in helping you protect your data, especially during financial transactions so that sensitive items are not stolen.
Using a VPN allows you to access region-specific websites which may be legal, but not accessible in your country.
Why demand to block VPN services
Parliament’s permanent committee has proposed censorship of VPN and dark web use.
It is often misunderstood that the use of a VPN tool is directly related to illegal activities.
VPN can be downloaded easily, many sites provide such facility and advertise it.
VPN and Dark Web services can bypass cybersecurity walls and allow criminals to remain anonymous online.
A large number of free or cheap VPNs may do the exact opposite of what we expect of them, collecting and exposing our data rather than hiding it.
Even when we use a reputable and advanced VPN, we are still completely safe from intrusions into our virtual privacy.
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