Mass Surveillance: Cuba Filters Text Messages

Cuba's Communist government is filtering mobile phone text messages for key words such as "democracy" and "human rights" and then blocking them, dissidents said recently.

An investigative report by blogger Yoani Sanchez and journalist Reinaldo Escobar concluded that text messages failed to reach their destinations if they contained Spanish words for democracy, human rights or hunger strike, among others, as well as the names of some dissidents.

Eliecer Avila, head of opposition youth group Somos Mas, which participated in the investigation, said 30 key words that triggered the blocking had been identified but there could be more.

"We always thought texts were vanishing because the provider is so incompetent, then we decided to check using words that bothered the government," he said.

"We discovered not just us but the entire country is being censored," he said. "It just shows how insecure and paranoid the government is."

It was not clear for how long the filter had been in place. Cuba has repeatedly charged that the United States wants to use telecommunications to subvert the government and brands Sanchez and other opponents as mercenaries working with Washington.

News agency Reuters recently unsuccessfully tried to send messages containing the words "democracy," "human rights," "Somos Mas" and Yoani Sanchez. Other messages containing the Spanish word for "protest" went through. The messages that did not reach their destinations appeared as "sent" on the users' telephone.

Cuba arrived late to modern telecommunications, authorizing mobile phones in 2008 and Wi-Fi internet access only last year. Online, it blocks dissident websites and media it believes to be funded by the United States, but permits the websites of critical newspapers such as El Nuevo Herald and El Pais.

There currently are about 3 million mobile telephone accounts with local provider CubaCell, which is part of ETECSA.

Despite efforts by the Obama administration to link US internet providers with the country as part of a detente begun in December 2014, Cuban authorities appear more interested in working with Russia on cyber-security, while China provides most of the Caribbean island’s communications technology.

Experts estimate that between 25 percent and 30 percent of Cuba’s 11.2 million residents has some Internet access, mainly through Wi-Fi, though it is sparsely used because of high rates. Some 5 percent of the population enjoys home-based Internet, which requires special government permission.

Reuters:

 

« US Spy Agencies Will Analyse Insider-Threats
How Hackers Infiltrate Systems »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

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.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)

WSGR is the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide. Practice areas include cybersecurity and data protection.

FIRST Conference

FIRST Conference

Annual conference organised by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), a recognized global leader in computer incident response.

I-Tracing

I-Tracing

I-TRACING are experts in IT security, specialized in legal compliance of information systems, security of information systems, and the collection of digital evidence and traces.

European Business Reliance Centre (EBRC)

European Business Reliance Centre (EBRC)

EBRC is a leader in integrated Data Center, Cloud and Managed Services and a Centre of Excellence in Europe in the Management of Sensitive Information.

e-Governance Academy (eGA)

e-Governance Academy (eGA)

eGA is a think tank and consultancy founded for the transfer of knowledge and best practice in e-governance, e-democracy and national cyber security.

SafeBreach

SafeBreach

SafeBreach's platform simulates hacker breach methods across the entire kill chain to identify breach scenarios in your environment before an attacker does.

SIGA

SIGA

SIGA provides cyber security solutions for Industrial Control Systems SCADA systems used in critical infrastructures and industrial processes.

Platin Bilişim

Platin Bilişim

Platin Bilisim is an IT Security company providing consultancy, solutions and operational support services.

TypingDNA

TypingDNA

TypingDNA uses AI to recognise people by the way they type on desktop keyboards and mobile devices.

Morphus Information Security

Morphus Information Security

Morphus is an information security company providing Red Team, Blue Team and GRC services as well as conducting research in cybersecurity and threat analysis.

Slovak National Accreditation Service (SNAS)

Slovak National Accreditation Service (SNAS)

SNAS is the national accreditation body for Slovakia. The directory of members provides details of organisations offering certification services for ISO 27001.

Hex-Rays

Hex-Rays

Founded in 2005, privately held, Belgium based, Hex-Rays SA focuses on the development of fast, stable, and robust binary analysis tools for the IT security market.

Automation Workz

Automation Workz

Automation Workz has been ranked as a top 10 Cybersecurity Bootcamp in the US by Career Karma.

Raman Power Technologies

Raman Power Technologies

Raman Power Technologies focus on bringing value and solving business challenges through the delivery of modern IT services and solutions including cybersecurity.

FourNet

FourNet

FourNet is an award-winning provider of cloud and managed services; we work closely with our clients to enable digital transformation across their organisation.

NetSfere

NetSfere

NetSfere provides next-generation messaging and mobility solutions to carriers and enterprises globally including its enterprise-grade, secure mobile messaging platform NetSfere Enterprise.