The Impact of Internet Bans on Security

Introduction

Internet bans are increasingly being considered and implemented by governments worldwide as a response to control information dissemination, prevent cheating in examinations, or hinder protest communications. While these bans might achieve their immediate goals, they pose significant technical challenges and risks from a cybersecurity perspective.

How Internet Bans Work

An Internet ban typically involves preventing access to the Internet by a specific audience, either through DNS filtering, IP blocking, or disabling network interfaces at a more granular level. Let’s look at some methods often employed to enforce these bans:

DNS Filtering

The DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the Internet, translating domain names to IP addresses. Manipulating DNS records can effectively render websites inaccessible.

Example: Hijacking DNS requests to block Facebook

import dns.resolver

try:
    result = dns.resolver.resolve('facebook.com', 'A')
    print("Facebook's IP Address is")
    for ipval in result:
        print(ipval.to_text())
except dns.exception.DNSException as e:
    print(f"DNS query failed: {e}")

This script attempts a DNS query. During an Internet ban, such queries might not resolve, causing sites to be unreachable.

IP Blocking

Blocking IP addresses at the ISP level is another method. This can be implemented using firewall rules to block outbound or inbound traffic to specific IP ranges.

Example: Using iptables to block IPs

sudo iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp -d 157.240.0.0/16 -j DROP

This command blocks any outgoing connection from a machine to any IP address in the specified range, potentially used by a website like Facebook.

Consequences on Security

`Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks`

When Internet services are disrupted, there's an increased risk of attackers leveraging the confusion to execute DDoS attacks. With an internet ban, mitigations might be slower.

`Security Updates`

Security patches and updates become less accessible during bans, leaving systems vulnerable to exploits and attacks.

# Example of a typical system update
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

In an Internet ban, this basic command could fail, leaving the system unpatched.

`Communication Disruption`

Secure communication channels might be interrupted, leading businesses and individuals to resort to less secure methods, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Alternatives and Mitigation

`Localized Bans and Throttling`

Instead of a blanket ban, localized restrictions or traffic throttling might achieve objectives without widespread disruption.

`VPN and Encryption`

While these can bypass bans, they are essential tools in maintaining confidentiality and integrity. However, they also pose challenges since they can be legally restricted.

Conclusion

While Internet bans might be seen as short-term solutions to immediate problems, the broader implications on security make them far from ideal. Developers and security specialists should consider the potential risks and explore alternatives that mitigate unnecessary exposure while advocating for stable and secure communications infrastructures.