Britain To Initiate Online “Porn Ban’

The UK government will implement a “Porn Ban” nationwide on July 15, restricting access to online pornography for under 18s and those without age verification.

The announcement was made after being consistently mooted for the last four years.

Despite insisting that the new checks will be “rigorous”, no mention was made of how the system will be managed.

The UK regulator responsible for issuing age classification certificates and in some cases censoring film and video content, is the  British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) which has admitted that it is “not a silver bullet” as even the most mildly tech-savvy teenager can circumvent it using a virtual private network (VPN) which create ghost accounts on networks overseas.

VPN software made by Mindware, the firm behind some of world’s biggest porn sites, is now free and can be downloade from most smartphones and tablets.

In China. widely-known for its censoring of internet user access, VPNs that shield the online users real IP address, are widely used to access banneed sites like Facebook or Google. 

What this does do is pose a problem about security and the lack of detail in the UK announcement suggests  that British authorities have probably not completely thought through  the practical techical issues. Or they have thought them through and found them insuperable.

What is known is that the BBFC will manage an age verification system whereby users can enter their bank details or passport information which be scanned and sent to any company hosting adult material. The problems with this should be obvious. The pornography industry is not known for carefully protecing user data, and especially how it manifests itself online. Dark Web operators could see this as an attractive opportunity to try and steal bank details of porn users in a country like the UK where privacy is king and usage is high? 

Many in the UK press have claimed this a free speech issue, but authorities are right to protect underage and vulnerable minors.

Currently adult sites are encouraged, but not required, to ask if a user is over 18. This obviously does not work effectively at present althought  the alcohol industry, which has been required to get age verification for liquor consumption for may years, has seen evidence of teen drinking rates have falling for the first time in decades. 

A spokesman from BBFC said “determined teenagers will find ways to access pornography. However, it will mean young children can no longer stumble across porn on commercial pornographic websites.’  That is an admirable goal, but if a secure messaging platform like WhatsApp can be hacked, then an organisation like the BBFC most likely can be hacked too

The intention of putting people’s private ID and financial information on a single BBFC platform, which will attract the interest of predatory hackers and be harmful or potentially disastrous to millions of people is certainly disconcerting.

By Jackson Mardon-Heath

You Might Also Read: 

Hackers Steal Sexual Proclivity Data:

 

 

 

« WhatsApp Penetrated By Spyware
Cyber-Attacks On Maritime Oil Tankers »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

Feitian Technologies

Feitian Technologies

Feitian Technologies provides authentication and transaction security products for financial institutions, telecoms, government and leading business enterprises.

Quttera

Quttera

Quttera provides Website Security Solutions for Small & Medium Businesses, Enterprises and Organizations.

SOTI

SOTI

SOTI is an industry leader in Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM).

Vera Security

Vera Security

Vera is a data security platform that provides 360-degree visibility and control over critical business data, anywhere it's shared or stored.

Duo Security

Duo Security

Duo combines security expertise with a user-centered philosophy to provide two-factor authentication, endpoint remediation and secure single sign-on tools.

Quadrant Information Security

Quadrant Information Security

Quadrant Information Security is a consulting firm committed to supporting organizations in all vertical markets and protecting their sensitive data.

ShadowDragon

ShadowDragon

ShadowDragon develops digital tools that simplify the complexities of modern investigations that involve multiple online environments and technologies.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a Virtual Private Network services provider offering secure encrypted access to the internet.

Touchstone Security

Touchstone Security

Touchstone Security is a company with a passion for technology, a hyper-focus on cybersecurity, and a special affinity for cloud technology.

Panorays

Panorays

Panorays automates third-party security lifecycle management. It is a SaaS-based platform, with no installation needed.

Cybil

Cybil

Cybil is a publicly-available portal where members of the international cyber capacity building community can find and share information to support the design and delivery of programs and projects.

Echosec Systems

Echosec Systems

Echosec Systems is a data discovery company delivering social media and dark web threat intelligence. Our web based security software delivers critical information for situational awareness.

TalaTek

TalaTek

TalaTek is a full-service risk management firm providing expert services in risk management, cybersecurity, and compliance.

Intechtel

Intechtel

Intechtel is a cyber security company, in addition to providing other internet, technology and telephone services.

FPT Software

FPT Software

As a leading technology service provider, FPT assists customers of all sizes and from any industries in implementing and adapting digital technologies including cybersecurity.

NANDoff Data Recovery

NANDoff Data Recovery

NANDoff is a flat rate data recovery service. We serve the electronics industry around the globe 24/7.