New Delhi: If you are a video game enthusiast affected by the PUBG ban, or a social media enthusiast still reeling from the Modi government on TikTok, you have a lot of questions.
Who makes the decision which apps to block?Is there a way to avoid restrictions? If you have the apps on your phone, can you continue to use them?
You have questions even if you have not yet used one of the 177 Chinese applications blocked by Modi’s government since June amid the border stalemate with China.For example, is there any chance that you still have the ability to verify applications?
ThePrint spoke to experts for answers to questions surrounding India’s ban on Chinese applications, which is a component of New Delhi’s reaction to Beijing’s aggression at the border.
Read also: PUBG, Baidu to WeChat Work: here’s the full list of 118 Chinese apps banned by Modi’s government
On Wednesday, India blocked 118 Chinese applications, adding PUBG, calling them “harmful to India’s sovereignty and integrity, india’s defense, state security, and public order.”
The resolution to block apps comes days after a wave of clashes broke out on the China border.On 29 June, India banned 59 Chinese applications, adding TikTok, which raises similar reasons.
With national security cited as a motive, experts say, the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) was the first to draw up a list of programmes to be banned.
“As a general rule, the Ministry of the Interior would submit a list of programmes that have an effect on India’s national security.This list of programs is then reviewed through the Ministry of Computer Science under section 69A of the Act (“power to factor commands to block public access to any data through any computer resource”), as well as applicable provisions, said Gulshan Rai, former National Cyber Security Coordinator of India.
“The Ministry of Computer Science will notify outlets of apps such as google play store and Apple App Store to block this list of apps.The Ministry of Computer Science will also tell corporations that they have blocked programs that limit implementation,” Rai added..
The Ministry of Computer Science, Rai said, will also write to the telecommunications department, which will then tell the telecommunications and Internet service (ISP) to block IP addresses and connections to domain call servers connected to reported applications.
The Ministry of Computer Science can also write to ISPs, but since the telecommunications service has licensing issues that allow ISPs to operate, it is only appropriate for the telecommunications branch to order the blockade, Rai added.
“If the ISP and TSP (telecommunications service provider) do not comply with the orders of the licensee (the telecommunications department), then their license may be revoked with other sanctions,” he said.
Lol
If the app is removed from app stores, the chances of new users finding it for download are virtually nil.
New users with an Android phone can, however, search for the APK record of the app somewhere online.APK stands for Android Package.An APK record comprises all the code needed to run an app on your phone, but it would possibly not involve the latest or maximum updated edition of the app.
In addition, downloading an APK record of an untrusted device can compromise the security of your phone.
Read also: Can Chinese applications appeal India’s ban?Section 69A of the Information Technology Act has the answer
Once service providers become accounted for by the telecommunications department, they will need to modify their servers to block access to applications.
“Telecommunications and Internet service providers are reconfiguring their Internet servers, which are hardware/computer software systems, by writing new commands that will activate the software on the server or servers to block traffic to and from decided applications,” said a veteran of the telecommunications industry.Amitabh Singhal, founder and former CEO of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), which oversees Internet traffic exchanges.
“This program traffic will be blocked on the port (the component where traffic enters the network), so that application traffic cannot be located anywhere on your network,” he added.
Surprisingly, no.
“It only takes a few hours in an app store, ISP, or TSP to block those 118 apps,” Rai said.
By contrast, telecom corporations would likely face a headache on the growing list of programs they have to block.
«… When the number of blocked programs only accumulates, telecommunications and Internet service providers will want to continue to increase the computing force they wanted to block programs,” he said.
It depends on what type of application it is.
Aseem Jakhar, co-founder of cybersecurity company Payatu, explained the difference in a past verbal exchange with ThePrint.”For an app like TikTok that allows you to post and watch videos, the app on a user’s phone will have to talk to the cloud./the servers of the internet application company, ” he said.
“However, if access to the server or cloud is blocked through the Internet service provider or the application’s own company, even if a user has the application, they will not be able to access their services.On the other hand, applications that carry Our purposes, such as editing selfies or storing areas on your phone, can work normally, as those functions occur on your phone and do not want to talk to an Internet server.”
Read also: Modi surgical coup on PUBG new political line in Indian families
Yes and no.
“Following the government’s resolve to block 118 applications, application outlets and telecommunications service providers will have limited access to those applications.Because of this, new users can’t download apps from app points of sale, and existing users won’t be able to access them.because they are blocked through Internet and telecommunications service providers,” said Jiten Jain, CEO of Indian Infosec, a non-profit organization focused on cybersecurity.Consortium.
But, he added, there is a way if “you are determined to circumvent the ban.”
“One way to block an app is to use a VPN (virtual personal network, which allows privacy and anonymity in Internet activity).If the corporate application has configured a server to get traffic from multiple countries, add India, then a VPN can be used to prevent blocking in India and continue using the app,” he said.
However, even a VPN won’t work in some cases, he added.«… The VPN might not work if the application company had configured a compromised server to obtain and with Internet traffic from India, and if the IP of that server is supported.blocked through the corporate app.”
No, it’s a permanent blockade.
Abhishek Singh, executive director of the MyGov portal of the Ministry of Computer Science, told ThePrint after the June app ban that applications would have the opportunity to present their case.
“According to the procedure laid down in the regulation, programs whose access has been blocked will have the opportunity to explain to the commission constituted in this regard,” he added.
Gulshan Rai proposed a similar assessment: “The regulations under which programs are blocked come with provisions that allow application corporations to explain their operations.These compliance corporations would possibly have the opportunity to participate in a committee formed under the auspices of the IT Ministry before or after a ban.
“However, under emergency conditions like this, the respective law enforcement corporations may report to the committee after the application has been blocked.”
Read also: “We are devastated, I have cried”: stars of TikTok in the village of Maharashtra crushed by the ban on applications
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