November 2007 - Opinion Poll

[Raaabo]

The Full Question: What do you think of government imposed security measures in cybercafés, such as key loggers, ID checks and security cameras?


Please answer the poll AND post your opinion as well.


Example Answers:

I vote b), because it's OK to ensure that nothing shady happens in cybercafes, but keyloggers will give people access to my e-mail, bank account details and other such private data.

I vote d), with all the stamp paper scams and fodder scams, aren't we just begging for a keylogger scam now?

[utsav]

i am voting for B .Because keyloggers log down our every keystroke which will include all our e-mail id passwords and bank account passwords and make our private information more vulnerable to the hacking attempts of hackers.Passwords and security codes will lose their value then.But security cams and ID checks will be a good move to prevent terrorist activities in our country

[ratedrsuperstar]

what if i want to use it for an emergency where the hell would i get an id.it's not like teenagers carry college id's or pan cards.

also keyloggers can be misused even by the cyberwalla's for confidential info of some client specially the female ones

i don't think anyone can commit a cyber crime in 1hr or less so user access behaviour should be noted

i'll go with (c)

[Raaabo]

Err... nice ratedsuperstar, except, you forgot to actually VOTE in the poll... Please remember to vote AND post your opinion/explanation. Either that or you didn't vote C)

[shantanu]

i go for
B> as Security Measures are good to go.. but keyloggers will surely hamper with our privacy. Any person can be tracked by the ID used at the particular system and we have cameras.. So Security measures are good , but NO Keyloggers..

[ray|raven]

I Believe that the government is taking correct steps by imposing security checks,but keyloggers are a big No-No as per me.

But,i dont know how much this could help on the other hand,
as i dont think the net center walla's will enforce it properly.

Regards,
ray

[The_Devil_Himself]

My vote goes for (a.).
We certainly don't want a 9\11 in our country.Ids can be faked very easily so I think what is left is the use of keylogger(I agree extracting relavent info. out of keystrokes is near to impossible task but something is better than nothing).And besides we need not worry about them if we are doing nothing illegal.
If you are concerned about your privacy than you will be amazed by how much Google knows about you and your online habits.

And I think our government officials are too incompetent to even misuse our data.lols.

[skghosh44]

I will go for a). But these measures should be install/implementd in the cyber cafe such a way that other than the competant authority others cannot access the data captured by key logger even the cyber cafe owner.

[Sourabh]

I've voted for C. Simply because, I don't like the idea of passing on my contact details and telephone nos. to a stranger. Who knows what the cyber cafe guy has on his wicked mind? May be he will pass on the details to some LIC agents, Telemarketers,.. to make some quick money.

As for keyloggers, I personally don't care. I won't be doing anything more than editing a few documents from Pen drives or taking some print outs. I make it a point to not login to any sites. Even if that means I can't check my emails.

The idea of keyloggers and CCTV cameras is just plain retarded. No key loggers would help track a 'terrorist'.

[blackpearl]

It's neither fair nor foul, it's useless. What is the govt trying to achieve by imposing the so called security measure? To prevent cyber crimes? to monitor terrorist activities? Give me a break! If this is implemented, it will be as effective as highway police checks. The criminals always manage to get through and only the innocent suffers.

How many cyber cafes do you think will actually conform to the security measures? How many will install expensive CCTV circuits? Maybe the bigger cafes, but the smaller ones which is more common, won't. And how many will actually check IDs? None. How many kids have shown age proof before entering into a movie theatre showing an adult movie? No cafe owner will turn away a customer just because he doesn't have an ID.

The only potential problem that could arise is by the use of keyloggers. But then, how do you know some cafewallas aren't already using it to keep track of their female customers?

I don't know which one to vote. Ok, I chose (c), though I know nothing much gonna happen. Cafes can now install keyloggers officially but like I said there is no way of knowing they aren't doing it already. And if you think govt can misuse the data, the chances are remote because half of the keylogger log files will be deleted by the cafe owner themselves becoz it's taking too much space on their hard disk or they will forget to take backup before formatting. The remaining log files will contain orkut scrap messages.

So just relax, nothing works in India.

[sidewinder]

I am going for "B"
Cams are good as terrorists are using public cafes to communicate with their heads..
But keyloggers ???????????? A big NO.............

[karnivore]

B). Reason ?? U hav already answered it Mr Raaabo.

[kumarmohit]

I go with B, ID checks are nice.

Keyloggers!

OMG, no accounting for Privacy or Civil rights. Leave the criminals or corrupt govt officers aside, wat if the 'media' gets hold of this data. There would be a total commotion!

[alsiladka]

I voted for B.
Since i am a Cyber Law Student, i understand how difficult it is to track down the culprit if a public computer is used. ID Proof is extremely important. Tracking down the exact time the crime or fraud was committed is easy, and having a ID Proof of the person who used that computer at that time means you have your man.

Having everything recored via a camera is a bit complex process, as it would require every day's video to be saved if it has to be of any use. But then, once you know the time of the fraud or crime and have the ID of that person, i am not sure how the camera would help more.

And since we are talking about a single bad egg in crores of other, keyloggers are more harm than help. A definite no no for a keylogger.

[narangz]

Originally Posted by Sourabh

I've voted for C. Simply because, I don't like the idea of passing on my contact details and telephone nos. to a stranger. Who knows what the cyber cafe guy has on his wicked mind? May be he will pass on the details to some LIC agents, Telemarketers,.. to make some quick money.

As for keyloggers, I personally don't care. I won't be doing anything more than editing a few documents from Pen drives or taking some print outs. I make it a point to not login to any sites. Even if that means I can't check my emails.

The idea of keyloggers and CCTV cameras is just plain retarded. No key loggers would help track a 'terrorist'.

Agree... I do not think these measures help tracking down a criminal. These are simply a pain for 'normal' users. These can simply be used to mis-use personal information, harass or even blackmail a person. Thumbs down!!!

Voted for C

[Abhishek Dwivedi]

My Answer is c) these things effect our privacy.I think we should first make the cyber law a must and strong in India and then think of such things.

[alsiladka]

Originally Posted by Abhishek Dwivedi

My Answer is c) these things effect our privacy.I think we should first make the cyber law a must and strong in India and then think of such things.

Cyber Law are not loose today.
Without these implementation, i can anytime go to a cyber cafe, hack into your email ids, your bank accounts, hack into government sites and whisk off.

You will never be able to track me down or get me as you have no idea who did it.

What is wrong in providing a ID Proof before getting onto the internet? Are you gonna do something wrong?

[Garbage]

Voted for B !!

Reason... hmmm.... many people given !!!

[alsiladka]

Originally Posted by narangz

Agree... I do not think these measures help tracking down a criminal. These are simply a pain for 'normal' users. These can simply be used to mis-use personal information, harass or even blackmail a person. Thumbs down!!!

Voted for C

After reading my first post, how can you still say these measures wont help track down the criminal?

[Cool G5]

I voted for B.I feel it is good to check id & install cam in cyber to keep a tab on people activities.But keyloggers are dangerous as it will also log passwds.They shouldn't be installed.This should prevent cyber crimes.

[Sykora]

ID authentication is reasonable, but it would be good if they can implement a net-ID type thing, where you log on with a username/password (maybe a government operated service), and your photo, and such immediately pops up. It may help with people who are using the facility in an emergency. I don't know about cameras, I'd really prefer not to have them, but I can live with them. I certainly don't want Keyloggers. Even if I am using a public service, I still have the right to privacy over my own data that I use, and the right to remove all traces of my presence from that system when I leave.

[Gigacore]

MY VOTE

B. ID cards provides a vital information about the member and cameras are good source of surveilence. Key loggers is not a good idea.

[anand1]

Yes ID check and Cameras are good but Keyloggers cannot be thaught as well. Because the log of a Keylogger is definately going to be missused how much measure the government is going to take the missuse will not stop. But also we must appreciate for the government that they have at least thaought for a short of Security kind of thing in the Cybercafes , these are good signs of the future and definately something short of this will be implemented in near future.

[narangz]

Originally Posted by alsiladka

After reading my first post, how can you still say these measures wont help track down the criminal?

Do you think your views will change my views? These are my views. And you are not the only one to have all the security knowledge. I shall never go to a cafe if these are implemented where I live. There is something called privacy & i do not allow anyone to intrude into my privacy.

[alsiladka]

Originally Posted by narangz

Do you think your views will change my views? These are my views. And you are not the only one to have all the security knowledge. I shall never go to a cafe if these are implemented where I live. There is something called privacy & i do not allow anyone to intrude into my privacy.

How is letting people know you used a computer at a particular time invasion into your privacy?
All BSNL, hathway connections are port bound. Hathway gives an individual static IP. The IP can be easily tracked down to you.

Your home computers are trackable, but the cafe's are sort of anonymous.

And i am not here to force my views on you, i had given a reasoning. If you still stand on your views, then give a reasoning for it, prove that my reasoning wont work!

[max_demon]

i voted for c)They intrude on our privacy because they can really see that i am hacking their sites and he he , porn also

[azzu]

i voted for C
MAx tooo bad

[Sourabh]

Originally Posted by alsiladka

How is letting people know you used a computer at a particular time invasion into your privacy?

All BSNL, hathway connections are port bound. Hathway gives an individual static IP. The IP can be easily tracked down to you.

Your home computers are trackable, but the cafe's are sort of anonymous.

And i am not here to force my views on you, i had given a reasoning. If you still stand on your views, then give a reasoning for it, prove that my reasoning wont work!

Before someone else votes, here's a something on how cyber cafes in Mumbai operate:

If you want to surf internet in a public cyber cafe, the dude asks you for an ID Card. If you are a student or look like one, they will insist on a college ID card complete with address and phone nos. Rules are rules, Sir.

He will manually collect all my personal details comprising of Name, Address, Telephone No., College Name & Roll No., Nature of Visit and Websites visited. Normal right? All this information is handwritten into a register (notebook). After you leave the cafe, how can you be sure that those details won't be misused? (by the cyber cafe guy himself).

If you be a cyber cafe owner for 2 mins and consider this. You have a record who sits on which system at what time. You also have key loggers installed on the PC. You can very well figure out who does what on the internet by just a glance. A decent section of the cyber cafe visitors, use it for online stock trading/bank transactions and stuff. Every cyber cafe staff will have access to all your passwords. Everything gets so convenient. And legal too.

You are helping everyone on your way (in more ways than one) to a safe city/state/country. What's the interesting part? those who make these rules think it will actually help and there is no other way to trick them. All cyber crimes can now be tracked. Well, atleast the script kiddies one would. But hey, that's fine coz they have caught a few guys doing this and they will continue to do their best.

[PikachuTrAiNeR]

I'm all in for 'c'.

The "Google knows everything I'm doing" concept comes to mind. Just imagine this... "all that I do is now on something way less secure than Google's servers". It's sure to get your heart racing in no time, and will inevitably be accessible by others (excluding the government) in time to come. (Read: Insecurely-stored logs)

[narangz]

Originally Posted by alsiladka

How is letting people know you used a computer at a particular time invasion into your privacy?
All BSNL, hathway connections are port bound. Hathway gives an individual static IP. The IP can be easily tracked down to you.

Your home computers are trackable, but the cafe's are sort of anonymous.

And i am not here to force my views on you, i had given a reasoning. If you still stand on your views, then give a reasoning for it, prove that my reasoning wont work!

1. If I give my ID details, then how can I be sure that they are not going to be mis-used? Employees(at various levels) of say telephone companies leak out your personal information like name, address, phone number etc to marketing guys to make quick money. Then how in the hell can I trust a cafe owner/employees? I do NOT want to receive spam emails, mails, phone calls, sms. I know now National Do Not Call Registry has been started by Govt. It is a good initiative but we haven't seen how successful it'll be. But hell even if i do not receive any spam/marketing calls etc even then my personal information can be mis-used!

2. Okay i am not talking about keyloggers here. But hey those cameras can be used to steal my information from screen itself(go ahead and call me a security paranoid). What if I have some confidential info on the screen? For eg- A company's new invention? Boom!!! There goes the confidential material. This is just an example.

3. I know there should be some methods to check crime. But you cannot harrass genuine persons! Take an example- Do you think a hacker will only hack a website in a cafe? Hey there are many methods out there where a person can do that while sitting in home. What about a hacker using your Wi-Fi connection to hack something? Now will those cameras, ID checking at cafes help? Is our police equipped with cyber crime knowledge? No they are not in most parts of the country. All they know is make a scapegoat and get a promotion or applauds from seniors for finding out the 'criminal'

I shall never login to my accounts in a cafe, but hey then why in the hell I need to go to a cafe? For printouts? Maybe.