Ahead of the deadline to comply with the Indian government’s new data collection rules, VPN companies from around the world have pulled their servers out of the country to protect their users’ privacy.
Starting today, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, or CERT — a body appointed by the Indian government to deal with cybersecurity and threats — is requiring VPN operators to provide customer details such as names, email addresses, and IP addresses for at least five people to collect and maintain years after they have canceled their subscription or account.
In April, CERT said it had to implement those rules because “the required information is not available from the security provider in investigations into cybersecurity threats,” thereby thwarting investigations. The new rules, according to CERT, will “bolster cybersecurity in India” and are “in the interest of India’s sovereignty or integrity”.
VPN companies and privacy experts believe that this move compromises users’ privacy and freedom of expression and defeats the sole purpose of using VPNs, which encrypt users’ internet activities and disguise their locations and identities.
“As advocates of digital privacy and security, we are concerned about the potential impact this regulation could have not only on our users but on people’s data in general,” said Laura Tyrylyte, spokeswoman for NordVPN. “It appears that the amount of private information held by hundreds or maybe thousands of different companies will increase dramatically.” She adds that similar regulations “have typically been put in place by authoritarian governments to gain more control over their citizens.”
Last year, India became the country with the highest growth rate in VPN service usage in the world. In the first half of 2021, 348.7 million VPNs were installed, a 671 percent jump in growth compared to the same period in 2020, according to an analysis by Atlas VPN in 2021. This massive growth is due to continuous internet shutdowns, a rise in digital scams and the need for Indians to protect themselves online.
“VPNs can be inherently a privacy-enhancing tool and able to protect information security in a variety of ways, being used by individuals and businesses to protect sensitive information,” says Tejasi Panjiar, Associate Policy Counsel at the Internet Freedom Foundation. “They also help secure digital rights under the Constitution, especially for journalists and whistleblowers, as the nature of information transmitted over VPNs is primarily encrypted, allowing them to secure not only sensitive information but their own as well Protect identity surveillance and censorship.”
The government defended its rules, saying it would not violate users’ privacy as information is only collected on a case-by-case basis. This claim ignores the Indian government’s track record of policing critics, politicians and activists. In August, an official investigation into whether Indians were being spied on by the government using Israeli spyware Pegasus found that at least five victims’ phones contained malware, but refused to disclose the report. Instead, the country’s top court recommended that existing surveillance laws incorporate privacy rights and establish mechanisms for citizens to lodge complaints about illegal surveillance.
CERT did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.
It may surprise some, but Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are actually banned in some countries. Although the list of countries that ban the use of VPNs entirely is short, there are others that strictly regulate the industry.
Who owns NordVPN?
NordVPN is developed by Nord Security, a company that develops cybersecurity software and was initially backed by Lithuanian startup accelerator and incubator Tesonet.
Is NordVPN privately owned?
Does China own NordVPN?
NordVPN is owned by the Nord Security brand, which in turn is part of Nordsec Ltd. heard. The company also has NordLayer, Atlas VPN, and Surfshark VPN among its products.
Who owns NordVPN?
The short version states that NordVPN is owned by Lithuania-based Tesonet. The official brand name is “NordVPN”, but the difference in names is a common business practice (just as few people know the company “Procter & Gamble”, but many people know “Pampers”, “Oral-B” and “Gillette”) ).
Is NordVPN Trustworthy?
Is NordVPN legit? NordVPN is a reliable and secure choice to boost your online security. Our robust encryption, fast connection speeds, user-friendly design and a variety of additional security features ensure that you can surf the Internet with peace of mind.
Is Nord illegal?
Yes, using VPNs is legal in both countries. However, anything illegal remains illegal when using a VPN, so you should refrain from using VPN services for illegitimate purposes. We urge all users not to break any laws, whether they use a VPN or not.
Can you get caught using a VPN? The penalty for using a VPN depends on the country, but countries that restrict or ban VPN use will penalize you if you’re caught using it. Depending on what you have done or what you are suspected of doing, the penalty may be more severe. You can face a fine for using a VPN.
Is NordVPN Illegal to Use?
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN in the United States. NordVPN offers top-notch security services for everyone, including those living in countries with heavy censorship. You can enjoy its large fleet of servers, high speeds, unbreakable encryption, and a strict no-logs policy.
Is NordVPN unsafe?
The free NordVPN is just as secure as the regular version. It also uses solid encryption with top-notch tunneling protocols. Also, you can connect to any server just like when using the paid edition.
Is a VPN illegal?
In the United States it is legal to use a VPN. Every country has different regulations regarding the legality of VPNs. Your VPN is a privacy tool and you are completely free to use it as such. While using a VPN is perfectly legal, you should never engage in any illegal activity while using a VPN.
Does VPN sell your data?
Both some of the paid and free VPN service providers are known to sell user data. VPNs can track your internet activity, they can log your internet activity, and they can sell your privacy to third-party websites that want to advertise you and sell you more products.
Does VPN expose your data? While using a VPN service, your ISP can only see encrypted data being transmitted to a server. They can’t see the content of your traffic or where it’s going and where it’s going. Your ISP cannot see what websites you visit when using a VPN, or anything you do online while using a VPN.
Do All Free VPNs Sell Your Data?
Many free VPN services are not transparent about how they make money from their services; In most cases, if you are not being sold a product, you are most likely the product. 2. Most free VPNs simply sell your data to affiliated/affiliate companies or to whichever third party is willing to pay the most.
Do VPN Companies Store Your Data?
Yes and no. While some VPNs are known for storing data, at least temporarily, most VPN clients have a “no-logs” policy. This usually means that the VPN company keeps no logs or records of any data.
What are the risks of using a VPN?
Here are some of the most common dangers of using a free VPN:
- False claims and compromised security. According to a CSIRO study, despite their claims, about 18% of free VPNs don’t encrypt your traffic. …
- Get infected with malware. …
- Data Collection and Disclosure to Third Parties.
Can you get hacked with a VPN? If a cybercriminal targets you, a hacked VPN can allow them to access and take over your devices using spyware or ransomware. Leaked Credentials. If your VPN security is compromised, anyone eavesdropping on your connection can see your traffic and personal information.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a VPN?
We’ve summarized the main disadvantages of using a VPN below: Some VPNs can slow down your connection speeds. You could be blocked from using certain services or websites like Netflix. VPNs are illegal or tightly controlled in certain countries like China.
Is Using VPN Risky?
How secure is a VPN? Using a reliable virtual private network (VPN) can be a safe and secure way to browse the internet. VPN security can protect against IP and encrypt internet history and is increasingly used to prevent spying by government agencies. However, VPNs cannot protect you in all scenarios.
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