Electronic Warfare in Iran
A very common military tactic is to damage the communication ability of an enemy before the bullets and bombs start to fly. Here in the US we couldn’t imagine the government blocking all SSL encrypted traffic on the Internet, or disabling the ability to send SMS on our phones. In Iran it is a reality. But it goes much further than that. Roving groups of militia the “Basij” are raiding dorm rooms and college computer labs to physically destroy computers. People are being tracked down and detained for using Twitter. Today the Khameini warned citizens that he is watching their twitter accounts, and they will be held accountable. The government is even using ECM jamming to prevent reception of foreign television. The people in power in Iran obviously see the free flow of information as a serious threat to their being able to continue to hold power, why else use military grade tactics on your population? I fear the worst is yet to come in Iran.
Chilling.
But despite fearing for their lives, people in Iran haven’t stopped sending pictures and video of what is happening in the country. Video of protesters being shot, students beaten, and smashed computers haunts the Iranian regime. How is it happening?
One way is the use of “Open” protocols. Why is it that Twitter, which previously had been most famous for allowing a person to program an arduino processor to automatically post when he used the restroom, become such a great tool of dissent in a place like Iran? The same thing allowing the preposterous use of the bathroom technology is what makes Twitter hard to stop. Twitter publishes their API (application programming interface) which allows third parties to plug in directly to their website. Nothing ground breaking really, but there are so many ways to post, and read tweets that it is difficult to stop.
The next is more intentional and potentially dangerous for the Iranians who use the technology–if they are caught they are certainly in peril, perhaps grave based on the news reports seen to date. There are groups of people all over the world working to create networks of proxies, onion routing and other tunnels that allow people in Iran to get past the government’s efforts to block communication. The effort is being coordinated via email, IRC, web forums, and just about any technology you can imagine. There have been reports of harassment of some people in the USA helping with this effort, but this is unsubstantiated, though certainly plausible.
One problem with this approach is that it is difficult to gauge how effective it works. And because of the mutually anonymous nature of the endeavor, it would be quite easy for Iranian government agents to infiltrate the network and actually turn the information against the people using it. If they have a list of the proxies being used, then all they need to do is watch for connections to those proxies, and you know who is bypassing their censorship. I hope for the sake of the dissidents in Iran, that the people coordinating these and similar efforts implement containment procedures, so that it would be difficult to compromise the entire list of proxies by any one person. The only comfort is that there are many groups in many countries speaking many languages working on this in an collaborative, yet uncoordinated method–the chaos is perhaps the most valuable aspect.
Which of course leads to the next question, how long before Iran just shuts off their Internet connection?
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I appreciate your comment. I really do, I have spoken with several people inside of Iran that agree with your opinion and assessment of the election. And I recognize that it is a possibility that there was no fraud. But that isn’t what people in the west are worried about. Censorship, repression, arresting people for using the internet, smashing computers to silence students–this is what we find repulsive. Not to mention many of the evil things the Basij has done. Like shooting into crowds to disperse them, waiting at hospitals so the injured can be arrested–these are not the reactions of a healthy government to dissent, no, these are the desperate actions of tyranny and repression–the tools of fear and hatred normally reserved for one’s enemies being unleashed on their own brothers and sisters. These are the things that we find repulsive.
You see, the entire point is that in a democracy the people should be feared by the government. This whole time, The Ayatollah has had the appearance of partial democratic reform, but never had to really deal with the implications of a democratic change in opinion with a large population (you have to admit it is large, otherwise why is it a problem for the government–calling it a small minority is propaganda.) Now that democracy is working, he is showing the entire world his true colors–that of a tyrant and oppressor, the type of leader that uses bullets to silence voices. I wish everyone in your country the best of luck, I don’t want to see anyone hurt regardless of their opinion–even if it is different than mine.
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Thanks for posting a clarification. Having grown up with very different values, and in a very different society I have a very hard time understanding. Perhaps reading some of Ali Shariati’s lectures will help me understand. I think you would agree, in a situation like this it is difficult to view the situation in a morally relativistic manner and to easily accept the views from a culture vastly different.
I always have a healthy distrust of the media, and so should you. The media here may not be trustworthy, but it is for different reasons than why I also don’t trust the news sources in Iran. I could talk for hours about how deceptive and the negative effects the media brings about in our country.
I will try to be respectful and not be offensive, but the idea of a religious state is quite frightening to me. I can’t imagine how horrible a fundamentalist-christian regime would be.
I suspect you are not typical of Iranians that support the Islamic Nationalist government that is in place. I know many easily dismiss Americans as evil, and don’t believe it is worth the time to try and communicate. Thank you for being willing to talk in a public forum about your beliefs, and if you can suggest other writers that have been translated (such as Ali Shariati) I would like to hear about them too.
It is also one of my beliefs that all people deserve to be heard, even if their views are illegal. It doesn’t matter to me if they are in Iran, China, Chiapas, or Tibet. Anytime I see someone’s voice silenced I feel obligated to reach out and help them. Perhaps this view seems misguided, or even blasphemous to you, and if that is the case I apologize.
Thanks again! And feel free to post back any video links that you are able to get published, or if you have a torrent that needs seeded let me know.
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First about ECM jamming:
some years ago when I was in 2nd grade of high school My friends and I were talking about satelites and I said that I didn’t have a satelite at home, One of my friends said “I got so happy to hear that,really I’m so happy that you don’t have a satelite” I asked why, then he said “You have no idea what they are saying, they are saying really bad things” They are bad since they are a punch of lies.
I call Persian channels in America a means of cold war and American government never benefited Iran Iran and now do you expect their channels to benefit Iran? Just imagine a child younger than 13 whose belife system has not formed yet they by showing the right thing wrong and showing the wrong thing right, change that child’s values.
but this is not only about children, the whole society was suffering by those channels. That ECM jamming was a wise movement and now I think everyone feels better. I in that video gonna ask different people if they agree with it or not and why?
“It is also one of my beliefs that all people deserve to be heard, even if their views are illegal.” Just being heard is not a problem but I don’t think illeagal actions deserve the same.
And I say that you have no idea what is Islam.
I in the first place suggest you read Islamic books as much as you can. It gives a life to you, you’ll enjoy the pure logic. How wise they are and you learn things that is useful in your entire life.
“I will try to be respectful and not be offensive, but the idea of a religious state is quite frightening to me. I can’t imagine how horrible a fundamentalist-christian regime would be.” because Christian is changed it’s not the same christian that Christ brought.
Logical thinking started in Islam. At that time in Europe the “dictator” Christian was in place. Then they by translating Islamic books found about Logical thinking, People’s rights to the government and government’s rights to the people.
If you read the history you’ll find the pure justice in Emam Ali’s goverment and even one of the letters that he sent to the governer of one of the states which was about rights and how he should act as a governer is still followed even in Eroupe and call on of the most “”.
Our rules in Iran is written based on Islam but if you see some problems in Iran it is not about our rules.
Ali Shariati(PHD) has good books like “The features of the new century” and other books you can find
Morteza Moteharri has good books also like:
“Islam and requirments of the time”
and these writers:
Jalal Al Ahmad
Morteza Avini
Abdol Hossein Zarring koob
I hope you don’t say since my religion is Christian I can’t accept what Islam says. Or because of your media you think Islam is a freaking thing. I assure you since you start reading Islamic books you will gain expriences you never had and if you read the right books some day you thank me for entering to this deep world.
Islam is like a heaven for me. Islam is justice.
Islam is not just a religion it’s a goal of life, it’s the best way of living, thinking.
Since now I talked about Islam I put a piece of Quran as an iranian culture as the ending:
God. There is no god but He,–the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things.
God is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever).
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I suspect you are not typical of Iranians that support the Islamic Nationalist government that is in place. I know many easily dismiss Americans as evil, and don’t believe it is worth the time to try and communicate.
I’ve here never heard anyone saying Americans are evils. I’ve seen people who do no like English people, but nothing about America. Haven’t you heard about iranian people moving to America? All students here like to come to American universities. We in our English classes learn American accent. We watch Hollywood movies. And I’ve seen here lots of people who like Americans but never someone who hates Americans. If you search on the net you find more information about iranians who want to move to America. Even I want to come to America while I’m a real nationalist who respects Islam a lot. I completely agree with Islamic Republic and it’s politics and I’m happy to live in Iran and how Iran’s environment is.
I don’t know where does the idea that Iranians hate Americans come from but that’s a lie. Maybe that’s because they keep saying ‘death to America’ (as you probably saw it on Friday’s praying) but that is not Americans but American’s politicians. We have problems with America’s politics not its people. We love Americans!
the book “westernstruck” by Jalal Al Ahmad says why iranians like Americans a lot.
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Because I am at work, I have to keep my response brief. I do want to say thanks for the list of authors–I have a stack of books on the way to me, hopefully it will help me to better understand.
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I think we have have gotten off topic here, it wasn’t my intention to make this a debate about religion. I assure you that I don’t feel any ill-will towards Islam, and I admit I have much to learn about it. I would be happy to discuss religion with you more in a less public forum, my email address is tag at frameloss.org if you would like to discuss more.
I believe that you aren’t seeing a lot of protest activity outside of Tehran. But, what you are likely not seeing is what is really happening inside of Tehran. I have been watching the videos that people, who at great risk to their freedom, have been able to get out of the country through the use of the Internet. The videos speak for themselves, I can’t say much more than they do. The problem is that these people are protesting, and being beaten and shot in response.
The use of force in this case seems unjust, and it looks like an attempt to silence people’s voices. Even if they are a minority, and even if they are trouble makers–as long as they aren’t hurting someone, how is it justifiable to beat and shoot them? The second part that I find disturbing is the censorship, it makes the government look very suspicious: as though the actions they are taking would not hold up to scrutiny. The act of trying to cover up what appears to be a crime, serves to reinforce that a crime was committed–it serves as a confirmation of guilt.
The truth is, that just as in America, in Iran the media is not unbiased. Is it possible that this view is not being represented on television there? Even Al Jazeera is reporting the attacks, and they are, as am I to understand, viewed as neutral and unbiased amongst Muslims.
I won’t argue whether or not Mousavi won, it is possible he did, and it is possible he did not.
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“The people in power in Iran obviously see the free flow of information as a serious threat to their being able to continue to hold power, why else use military grade tactics on your population?”
I believe that you aren’t seeing a lot of protest activity outside of Tehran. But, what you are likely not seeing is what is really happening inside of Tehran. I have been watching the videos that people, who at great risk to their freedom, have been able to get out of the country through the use of the Internet. The videos speak for themselves, I can’t say much more than they do. The problem is that these people are protesting, and being beaten and shot in response.
The use of force in this case seems unjust, and it looks like an attempt to silence people’s voices. Even if they are a minority, and even if they are trouble makers–as long as they aren’t hurting someone, how is it justifiable to beat and shoot them? The second part that I find disturbing is the censorship, it makes the government look very suspicious: as though the actions they are taking would not hold up to scrutiny. The act of trying to cover up what appears to be a crime, serves to reinforce that a crime was committed–it serves as a confirmation of guilt.
I’m a little busy today and I gotta think on it and find the videos you are talking about.
But right now my general view is this:
in Iran with wrong information both from inside and outside they are trying to make chaos.
For example, the day before election Mousavi sent an SMS to everyone in Iran that 5 million pens of a new kind is imported for the election and everything written by this pen will be erased after 8 hours. it was a lie since I tried it on a piece of paper and still I have it nothig changed.
So what do you expect? don’t you think wrong information needs to be filtered?
after the election he again tried to send a message to say that the papersheets were had 2 dimentions and after hours what written on it changed and this is even confirmed by science and Israel also confirmed that such thing could happen. Don’t you think this kind of information needs to be censored?
And then he in his website asked people to go at night on the roofs and say “AllahoAkbar”
if they didn’t stop the SMSs, BBC and CNN would found interesting news to show.
Do you still say that they shouldn’t have done it?
And Tehran is calm I’m sure. Everything is finished.
I still need to think more about what you said about suppressing but I get things like this:
You said the problem here is that protesters shouldn’t be beaten, till they hurt someone.
First I say that we have different rules here.
Second they made big troubles, They made chaos, They hit people, They did rallies and sellers in their shops say because of the chaos they couldn’t sell anything, there were huge traffic, no one could go outside because of fears
I said 60% in Tehran were Mousavi’s fans and a lot of terrorists by other countries started their work,
So the situation in Tehran was so bad, but until Police came to streets from some days ago now I hear Tehran is calm.
You are questioning our ‘judiciary’ that is what your whole article beside censorship is about
You want our laws and the way our ‘judiciary’ acts change.
I don’t know how you want them to calm Tehran, and stop protesters from damaging people and making chaos.
(There is a famous saying from Emam Khomeini the leader of our revolution about the independence of the judicairy and also another about not arguing the laws but I find them hard to translate and I don’t remember the exact sentences.)
I think now we (or atleast I) know what is the thing we gotta discuss.
I will bring some reasons and excuses about it later.
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Here are some of the videos I am talking about: http://giagro.wordpress.com/torrents/
But still everyone in Iran is doing their job. Internet speed is getting better and SMS is working again. If you come to a city other than Tehran you won’t feel anything. Although there has been problems in universities, iranian goverment says they deserve it since they were making chaos by illegal ways. Terroristic actions is forced by Isreal and England. Some terrorists trained and guided by England were arrested and they confessed that they had a call 2 times a day from England asking them to burn buses and make a video from chaoses they make. In other sites in blogs and Twittiesfake news is published like : Today In Mashhad People saying “Allaho Akbar” (a religious statement) were stopped by bullets which is totally a lie since there has been no reaction at all in Mashhad. And I from another city say that I just see news from TV saying there are problems in Tehran while I see no problems here. “Nothing at all”. The leader talked after praying on Friday, He said what was being done was illegal that’s why they opposed them and “there are legal ways” and that legal way was the guarding concil which has now decided to count again 10 percent of the boxes in front of Mousavi and his selected group. He said that America who talked about diplomacy referring when Obama said he respected their Islamic Republic now has took off his mask and is showing his real face by saying that he was waiting for such rallies against Islamic Republic regim. While He stated that this is not a problem between fans of Islam Republic and who oppose it but a problem inside the Islamic Republic since all of the four candidates have been working long in the Islamic Republic and done greats things for the Islamic Republic. And I(the commenter) say it is really obvious that they are ready to even be killed in the way of Islamic Republic but not to oppose it for one second. Anyway the leader threatened “if they do not stop ilegal ways he talks again for the people more obviously and makes everything clear”. I agree since I talked to people, Mousavi wanted power and he couldn’t believe he lost he asked his fans for rallies. America and Israel and England and others try to make chaos. That’s the situation. Everyone here is sure that there has been no cheating except a little group who are Mousavi fans.