Google users in Iran targeted

Attempt to "snoop" on mail

AFP: A false Internet security certificate has been used in an apparent attempt to snoop on Google users in Iran, according to the Internet search giant and computer security firms. A Dutch company, DigiNotar, which issues the Internet security credentials known as SSL certificates, said on Tuesday that it had revoked the "fraudulent certificate" in question. Computer security firm F-Secure said there was a similar incident in May that was "tied to Iran" and "it's likely the Government of Iran is using these techniques to monitor local dissidents." >>>


from Ghormeh Sabzi
01-Sep-2011
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choghok

Google mail not less secure than others, how to protect

by choghok on Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:59 PM PDT

Google mail is not that widespread in Iran, and this made it to the news since till recently web emails were not protected (with SSL), so it meant that it was very easy to eavesdrop mails without no one understanding this.

Since Gmail started with SSL and now all major mail providers and also facebook provides SSL it makes it impossible to eavesdrop without the keys that now was stold from the certification company in Holland. So actually it is not that Gmail is not safe, it is because Gmail is safer than many others that this has happened, other mails have been read before without people noticing it.

 To protect yourself from eavesdropping there are several things one can do:

1. Not to use Internet Explorer but use Opera, Firefox or Chrome and update them often. I recommend Opera since it has a turbo functionality that makes slow connections fast by compressing data that is being sent. It makes it also cheaper for those who pay for each MB they receive.

2.  Use VPN connectio, this makes the surfing slower but that is because your connection is always encrypted.

3. In case of e-mails you can encrypt them as well, read online on how to encrypt your mails.

4. Change your passwords often (every 2 months maybe) and use a nontrivial one, not your babys name or wife or husband, but something like your favorite cars name and model or similar.


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