The perils of loaning out the country

[CriticalThought]

In the last few decades, we have seen a systematic privatization of national assets. It is a formula that has been followed throughout the world based on the correct understanding that a government is poorly placed for running a profit making organization. Unfortunately, in the name of privatization, we have given control to foreign investors. As has come to the forefront recently, these investors have no sympathies with the common man. In this article we look at the perils to national security that result from this action.

With advances in digital signal processing and machine learning, it is now possible to detect the number and types of appliances in a home simply by measuring minute changes to the current. Such a device is even available commercially

https://sense.com/product.html

Imagine what happens when a foreign company systematically installs such devices throughout the country as part of intelligent meter readers that are wifi enabled so a person doesn't have to visit each house. This company can now monitor the entire country in real time. This means, they know how many computers are being used in a sensitive organization. Since the motherboard and processor of modern computers are made by a handful of Western companies, they can actually design their products to have identifiable electrical signatures. Such knowledge can then be used for a Stuxnet like attack.

Let us think about the implications. Air defence command and control needs electricity supply. Centrifuges need electricity supply. All such installations leak information that can be monitored.

Take the example of mobile coverage. The government has no control or monitoring of what mobile towers really transmit and receive. Tiny sensors can use the mobile network to transmit data. And if a geo-mapping is performed, areas of no coverage naturally show up. Such geo-mapping can be performed by the likes of Google Earth. It would be extremely naiive to assume that the Street View vans of Google Earth only collect visual information.

Banks have a real time measure of financial transactions. Now imagine how this data can be put together. A secret agency orders equipment through a front company. If someone finds a correlation between a financial transaction for equipment and subsequent electrical signatures of the equipment from a given geographical location, the secret agency has been effectively exposed.

In order to tackle such modern threats, we need a governmental machinery of people who are intelligent, educated, knowledgeable and patriotic. What is regretful is that Pakistanis do not realize how deeply our vested interests have been compromised by the corrupt ruling elite. Destroying state institutions doesn't only have financial implications. Pakistan doesn't just face a financial crisis. We face an existential crisis because we are dependent on foreign expertise and technology to accomplish the basic tasks of governance.

Our current situation cannot be improved only by the government. Each one of us needs to improve. We all need to acquire more knowledge about our respective fields. Delve deeper into the work we do. And always keep a look out for the best interests of the country.

 

[Mahmood-ur-Rehman]

Jab tak Bhatoo Zinda hay and Akk wary fir Sheer No hope LOT of people like these corrupt rulers because majority of us is corrupt

 

[CriticalThought]

Jab tak Bhatoo Zinda hay and Akk wary fir Sheer No hope LOT of people like these corrupt rulers because majority of us is corrupt

Which is why primary education is so important. Democracy amongst illiterates is the rule of largest group of idiots.

 

[Hassan Guy]

Basically everyone that has held some level of power in Pakistan's economic sphere:

 

[The Accountant]

In the last few decades, we have seen a systematic privatization of national assets. It is a formula that has been followed throughout the world based on the correct understanding that a government is poorly placed for running a profit making organization. Unfortunately, in the name of privatization, we have given control to foreign investors. As has come to the forefront recently, these investors have no sympathies with the common man. In this article we look at the perils to national security that result from this action.

With advances in digital signal processing and machine learning, it is now possible to detect the number and types of appliances in a home simply by measuring minute changes to the current. Such a device is even available commercially

https://sense.com/product.html

Imagine what happens when a foreign company systematically installs such devices throughout the country as part of intelligent meter readers that are wifi enabled so a person doesn't have to visit each house. This company can now monitor the entire country in real time. This means, they know how many computers are being used in a sensitive organization. Since the motherboard and processor of modern computers are made by a handful of Western companies, they can actually design their products to have identifiable electrical signatures. Such knowledge can then be used for a Stuxnet like attack.

Let us think about the implications. Air defence command and control needs electricity supply. Centrifuges need electricity supply. All such installations leak information that can be monitored.

Take the example of mobile coverage. The government has no control or monitoring of what mobile towers really transmit and receive. Tiny sensors can use the mobile network to transmit data. And if a geo-mapping is performed, areas of no coverage naturally show up. Such geo-mapping can be performed by the likes of Google Earth. It would be extremely naiive to assume that the Street View vans of Google Earth only collect visual information.

Banks have a real time measure of financial transactions. Now imagine how this data can be put together. A secret agency orders equipment through a front company. If someone finds a correlation between a financial transaction for equipment and subsequent electrical signatures of the equipment from a given geographical location, the secret agency has been effectively exposed.

In order to tackle such modern threats, we need a governmental machinery of people who are intelligent, educated, knowledgeable and patriotic. What is regretful is that Pakistanis do not realize how deeply our vested interests have been compromised by the corrupt ruling elite. Destroying state institutions doesn't only have financial implications. Pakistan doesn't just face a financial crisis. We face an existential crisis because we are dependent on foreign expertise and technology to accomplish the basic tasks of governance.

Our current situation cannot be improved only by the government. Each one of us needs to improve. We all need to acquire more knowledge about our respective fields. Delve deeper into the work we do. And always keep a look out for the best interests of the country.

Actually here is the role of regulators ... Look at SBP, an excellent regulator .. Pakistan banking sector is way much risk free than other banks in the world just due to cautious approach of SBP ... We need to strengthen our other regulators as well

 

[CriticalThought]

Actually here is the role of regulators ... Look at SBP, an excellent regulator .. Pakistan banking sector is way much risk free than other banks in the world just due to cautious approach of SBP ... We need to strengthen our other regulators as well

Financial risk, yes. But what about the transactions going through payment networks? What about hacks into the networks and IT infrastructure of banks?

 

[The Accountant]

To save ourselves we need our own clearing account which we are in process of developing ... Once our own online settlement hub becomes operational all the local internet payment will be routed internally without any information being transmitted to outsiders ...

However, risk of hacking will always remain on as it is basis ...