BlackBerry services will be suspended in October in the UAE

 

We bring concerning news for travellers that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has officially stated that BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry E-mail and BlackBerry Web-browsing services in the UAE will be suspended as from October 11, 2010.

The TSA claim that the suspension is a result of the failure of ongoing attempts, (which pre-date 2007), to bring BlackBerry services in the UAE in line with UAE telecommunications regulations.

Clearly this suspension is set to have a significant impact on residents and visitors alike, as there are an estimated 500,000 BlackBerry users in the UAE (mostly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Technically speaking the rationale behind the suspension is that the TRA believes certain BlackBerry services enable users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national security concerns for the UAE. In essence BlackBerry data is immediately exported off-shore, where it is managed by a foreign, commercial organization. TRA also claim that it's a final decision, although dialogue with BlackBerry continues.

Both telecommunications operators in the U.A.E. being Etisalat and du were both officially informed of the decision.

Officials at BlackBerry's manufacturer "Research In Motion" in Canada have been cautious not to comment.

Clearly the U.A.E. is tightening security due to recent events and in some respects its understandable, however this will concern many foreign residents and visitors alike, as its another perceived freedom will be taken away, such as the blocking of certain Internet sites. In a country which featured headline news last week like "Tourist arrested for stripping down to bikini" and the ongoing case of a British couple facing a Prison sentence for kissing in public, one wonders what is next?

We can also report that Saudi Arabia has quickly moved to follow suit. Bahrain and Indonesia were quick to state that they will not follow the UAE, so perhaps the Domino effect in the Gulf will not occur after all.

Question is how much will Tourism and Business be impacted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi? PT will keep an eye on this one, because we feel there are more developments to come. One thing is for certain, BlackBerry might be more secure than we thought, which may paradoxically make it even more attractive to Business users.

By: Progress On 12:38

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Essential Tips to maintain your Personal Privacy on the go

The origins of our Perpetual Traveller Overseas Blog derive from the original Perpetual Traveller or PT concept created by W.G. Hill (a pen name) who wrote the infamous "5 Flags Theory" which advocates a system for truly international orientated people to organise different facets of their lives to fall under the jurisdiction of a number of countries otherwise known as flags. The fundamental [urpose of this theory was to minimize governmental interference (either from taxes or otherwise) or to maximize privacy of the individual.More about the "5 Flag Theory" in the future, however this particular article focuses on the aspect of privacy.

Since the birth of the Perpetual Traveller concept we have endured the dark era of Bush and Blair, which brought the "War on Terrorism" that was manipulated as the ultimate excuse to decrease civil liberty and individual privacy in many parts of the western world. Strangely it was the last bastion of freedom itself "The Internet" that has actually eroded ones personal privacy in many respects, more than any other factor, which is due to nothing more than than the Social Media revolution.

At the point of dispair there is suddenly a glimmer of light, following the credit crunch and a change of politics with the recent emergence of Obama, Cameron and Clegg in the Political arena of the US and UK at least. There are encouraging signs of respect of individual privacy coming from the UK in particular, however if you are a decent individual living in the western world at this moment in time and you are concerned about your privacy, here are some essential tips...

1. Do not sign up to Facebook. 

This social media giant simply does not respect individual privacy. They make it by design hard to delete an account and all of your information is left wide open. If you insist on maintaining an account we advise you not to publish your address and personal details. The trouble with the Internet is that when you publish something it stays with you for life, so we suggest caution when signing up to social media accounts and in particular to be careful with Facebook. 

To check what information is currently already published for the world to see on the Internet about you, go to http://www.123people.com/ you may be surprised what information has been accumulated about you online!

2. Be aware of identity freud

This is possibibly the fastest growing crime of all in the western world and you can trust few with your private details, especially documents, bank accounts, credit card details and the like. If you use a credit card to make payments online, dedicate one particular card to this function and use it exclusively for the Internet and check statements and payments carefully. For all other transactions made for physical commercial, we suggest a CHIP and PIN facility and never be tempted to utilise this credit card for the Internet. Some banks offer a service whereby everytime you use your credit card a text message is sent to your mobile phone seconds aftet he purchase is confirmed. This service offers peace of mind, because one knows that no freudulant charges can be made without you instantly receiving a text message. Recently I lost my Credit card somewhere in the house and I simply could not find it for days! Although I started to think the worst as I traced all recent movements, the fact that I received no text messages of purchases was a great source of comfort and I was encouraged to seek a little harder, Eventually I found my credit card in the scanner of all places, but at all times I was safe in the knowledge my credit card has not been used, due to this magnificent text service.

3. Create an alias or maildrop and be careful who you give your information to

When travelling to Hotels, renting cars or in similar circumstances, where you are expected to complete a long form with all your personal details, it may be wise to use a different address (even PO Box or mail drop) and details, in particular information that does not match your credit card or documents, especially if you are in South America or certain parts of Asia. If you would like a worldwide maildrop in Cyprus contact info@progresshq.com

In fact you should be very careful who you give your information to in all circumstances, as very few can be trusted and that includes Governments (UK Government recetly lost thousands of private confidential details), banks (the banking crisis have proved again that baks can be trusted only sparingly) and companies.

4. Surf the Web on the go Safely and Securely
In the age of 2010 everything happens online. In short we bank, shop, date, share information, meet friends, work, read news, books holidays and practically everything has an app or website dedicated to it. Your Privacy is very much insecure and besides the viruses, worms, malware, key loggers and the like you are exposed to all kinds of Privacy risks. It seems that every Company wants you habits and information and through cookies, a history trace etc you are providing them with everything they need to target you in the future. 


Here are some tricks to surf more privately and securely through a browser....


Using Firefox: Go to TOOLS and then click "Start Private Browsing.


Using Chrome: Go to FILE and then click "New Incognito Window".


Using Safari: Go to SAFARI then click "Private Browsing".


At Perpetual Traveller Overseas, we do not recommend using Windows Explorer.

If you want to be more secure still, go to this website: http://proxify.co.uk/.

Essentially Proxify® is a web-based anonymous proxy service which allows anyone to surf the Web privately and securely. Unlike other proxies, there is no software to install or complicated instructions to follow. Just enter a URL (website address) in the form above. Through Proxify, you can use websites but they cannot uniquely identify or track you. Proxify hides your IP address and our encrypted connection prevents monitoring of your network traffic. Once using Proxify, you can surf normally and forget that it is there, protecting you.


5. Use Passwords everywhere
Use a password lock on the phone you travel with. Most Smart Phones possess a Safe feature, whereby you can enter one master password and retrieve all others from this one application. 


Password protect your Laptop and Password protect all of your sensitive files. Consider using Password programs to manage all of your Passwords like "One Password" or "Last Pass". The latter works in the Firefox and Chrome browsers and is free. PHP encryption software could also be useful for sensitive information.


The above is our first overview of Privacy Tips for PT's. More of the same will follow in forthcoming articles, so keep an eye on the PT Privacy label.   

By: Progress On 16:29

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Last hope of travel dignity, privacy and convenience, as EU is not convinced about invasive Airport Body Scanners

In a world whereby our privacy and liberties are being eroded under the threat of "Fear Motivation" for many the last hope of retaining some common sense and balance rests with the EU.                            

The European Commission is to publish an impact evaluation on body scanners in the coming weeks, as requested by Parliament in October 2008. Here below are some of the topics and statements made by EU representatives in recent months, which is a more common sense approach and pleasing to hear that at least there is one entity thinking the matter through.

"The Detroit flight confirms that civil aviation remains a key target for terrorists" claimed the EU Counter-terrorism Co-ordinator Gilles de Kerkhove. "Besides the importance of data sharing, there is a need to improve our ability to digest data coming from different sources" he added, as the Detroit attempt comes "mainly from a failure to connect the dots". "Much more can be done than deploying new devices in airports" to make flying safer, e.g. seeking an agreement with the US on sharing terrorist watch lists, Mr de Kerkhove also previously commented.

The report, requested by the European Parliament in a resolution voted on 23 October 2008, is to evaluate body scanners on the grounds of effectiveness, impact on health and fundamental rights.

Address "legitimate questions"
"We should not start with a no or with a yes" on body scanners, said Simon Busuttil (EPP, MT), but address "legitimate questions" on "quite intrusive instruments". "We would like to know to what extent they would be efficient (...) Will passengers have to be at the airport 3 hours before the flight leaves?" he asked, also voicing concern for the health of passengers and airport workers.

"Technology has become the new religion in counter-terrorism"
"I have the impression that technology has become the new religion in counter-terrorism. That's not the way" said Alexander Alvaro (ALDE, DE). "Connecting the dots is the main problem", he added. "Are bodyscanners useful? Isn't it a rearguard issue? What if a terrorist swallows the explosives?" asked Judith Sargentini (Greens/EFA, NL).

"Great cost implications"
"We have enough data" said Ernst Strasser (EPP, AT). He said that priority should be given to evaluating the existing instruments and making sure that tools such as the Schengen information system and the Visa information system are made fully operational. "It is never possible to predict what a terrorist would do", said Timothy Kirkhope (ECR, UK). He underlined the "great cost implications" of using body scanners, and advised against "putting burdens on airport companies", without the certainty that such scanners would even be useful.

"Violation of dignity"
Stavros Lambrinidis (S&D, EL) asked if the visa waiver agreement with the United States didn't include a transfer of terrorist watch lists to Washington, and if there was reciprocity with Europe. Antigoni Papadopoulou (S&D, CY) asked "how did the US fail to deal with information? We deserve an answer on that". She expressed concerns about the possible impact of body scanners on health, especially for people wearing pacemakers, and on "the violation of  dignity".

Cornelis De Jong (GUE/NGL, NL) said that "there is a great deal to be done in terms of prevention vis-à-vis third countries", and said that terrorism is also generated by "failure to deal with the Middle East problem". Andrew Brons (NI, UK) said that "military actions in Muslim countries" lead to radicalization, and that "we must have a genuinely neutral policy in the Middle East".

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
In the chair : Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES)

Transport Committee - nothing is 100% full-proof
Transport Committee MEPs, who also discussed the issue in the past confirmed that no technology could provide 100% security against terrorism and that airport staff training and better exchange of intelligence between security authorities should remain a priority. They also questioned the efficiency of body scanners in detecting explosives.

The Transport Committee is responsible for reviewing aviation security "implementing measures" put forward by the Commission. It can either approve them - in which case they are adopted - or reject them, in which case the whole Parliament has to confirm the veto within three months, by a vote in plenary.

European Commission Director General for Transport Matthias Ruete told the committee that "second generation" scanning technology had greatly improved since 2008, when Parliament criticised the scanners for being too intrusive and questioned their impact on health.

The Commission should put forward proposals for the introduction of body scanners within the next 6 months, but only if all questions relating to health and privacy are properly addressed and the technology is proved effective, he said, adding that the European Parliament would be consulted beforehand on all these issues.

Mathieu Grosch (EPP, BE) told the Commission Director-General that the Transport Committee would require the technical information about the new scanners in order to assess their utility and potential health hazards.

Saïd El Khadraoui (S&D, BE) underlined that body scanners could only detect objects on someone's body, not inside it. His concerns were echoed by Eva Lichtenberger (Greens, AT), who asked: "if we start using these scanners, terrorists will simply start swallowing the explosives - then what do we do?"

Gesine Meissner (ALDE, DE) agreed that "we cannot have total security, but if we can improve security by using scanners that are not harmful to passengers, we should seriously consider doing so".

Jacqueline Foster (ECR, UK) insisted on the need for better use of passenger profiling and intelligence sharing. "In the past, security authorities have been tipped off but have failed to act", she said. Philip Bradbourn (ECR, UK) agreed: "no matter how much technology you have, terrorists will manage to circumvent it." He quoted recent expert claims that body scanners would not have detected the bomb on the Amsterdam-Detroit terrorist, and said the problem lay in "systemic failure in exchange of information", as the US President had recently concluded.

All MEPs agreed with the Commission on the need for a common EU approach to the use of body scanners, in order to prevent a confused situation where Member States apply differing national rules.

Finally, MEPs asked who should pay for the technology, were it to be introduced. Small airports would find it very difficult to bear the costs, warned Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, AT), who is Parliament's rapporteur on the Commission proposal for a directive on aviation security charges.

The above conversations and statements by EU representatives show a balanced viewpoint of the issue and the legislation, which aims to lay down common principles for levying security charges at EU airports, will be put to a first reading vote in March 2010.  We as the traveling public can only hope that our liberties and privacy will be protected in addition to the convenience of travel restored. We urge the EU to take a stand and at Perpetual Traveller, we will keep you posted on developments, which could have worldwide ramifications.

By: Progress On 07:53

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