Advancement of technology has made internet the most powerful medium of communication. One can communicate as well as straightly access the electronic network by the help of different applications and software. Our laptops which were big and bulky are now readily available in the form of tablets and smart phones where everything is possible from checking emails to doing programming or designing. To be precise, we have the accessibility to the latest where as at policy level we are still stuck with the issues of using blocking software, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP). Our geographical location in between China and India makes us more prune to externalities of cyber terrorism and cyber warfare where we lack to even think but yet its reality and anything can happen. China being best in hardware and India in software can be a question of security for us questions the fact of our standing, where are we? We are in the middle with no counter mechanism to fight back where the question of uncertainty haunts us in case of a CYBER ATTACK.
According to a World Bank report , the Internet users in Nepal was last reported at 2031244.88 in 2010, where as it was 579825.04 in 2009. The use, reach and adaptability of internet users have increased phenomenally where at the policy and work mechanism level we are the same. Likewise, the number of cyber crime and cyber related frauds have also gone up significantly.
To say technology has made communication way low cost would not be wrong but on the same this technology also risks our ways of life is also another reality. How about receiving an unknown SMS from an unknown sender with a number like this +1 615-243-1712 that highlights a threat or vulgar words. Shocking, but its true and its possible.
What would you do? Do you have any solution for it?
These days there are number of websites that allow you to send web base SMS all over the world at the easy of your internet service. Just do a Google search with the key words, “web SMS internationally free” you will have a number of websites and pages to look in to. People can play prank or use this service of internet in an unsecured way where manipulation and exploitation can happen at any point of time. It’s a useful way of technology but at what cost is the question.
Currently, there are more than 100 websites that provide such services. The facility is available in more than 200 countries where an unknown user can send a SMS to any part of the world just with the touch of a button that too with the adaptability of easily hiding his name or identity. Such kind of websites rarely asks for any sort of login or details about the user which makes it worst.
As said, Technology of today is the word of tomorrow, it’s the way you make it work. Today when we are talking about Voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) as wrong in safeguarding the business of telecommunication industry what about the security of people?
Free ONLINE WEB SMS is more risky and threatening in every possibility of safe guarding the rights and security issues. What if these online services take the form of online bullying, extortion, terrorism etc? Moreover, it will be nearly impossible for the regulatory body to track down the culprits as most of these websites are foreign based and it will be hard to track their IP and location.
I believe the regulatory body like Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) should seriously look into this matter.
