SRINAGAR: Authorities in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir have suspended all kinds of VPNs until the culmination of elections in the district.
“Whereas a communication has been received from the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri vide No. CS/DPO/PE/2024/6687-91 dated 23.04.2024 regarding unprecedented high usage of virtual private networks (VPNs) during the past few days in different parts of this district by a score of suspicious internet users; and Whereas, VPN transmits get encrypted and creates point-to-point tunnels, masks IP addresses, and lets sidestep website blocks and firewall on the internet, thus making data related to forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections & other sensitive data vulnerable to cyber attacks;” reads the order issued by District Magistrate Rajouri.
“Whereas, as it has become imperative to take immediate preventive measures to protect/save all data/information related to the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections and other sensitive vulnerable data from cyber attacks,” it reads.
Rajeev Kumar Khajuria, JKAS, Additional District Magistrate, Rajouri, said, “Therefore, considering the aforementioned circumstances, I, exercising the powers vested in me under Section 144 Cr. PC, hereby order the suspension of all types of virtual Private Networks (VPNs) on mobile phones in Rajouri district until the conclusion of the election process in this district.”
