VPN Ban in Dubai

If you get caught using a VPN in the UAE, you will face fines of up to $545,000

So let me get this straight, if one is using a VPN, how can they catch him? Let's say he is using an L2TP connection, isn't the moment he is connected to the VPN server the moment the ISP doesn't know anything about his device's internet usage anymore? So how can one be caught? or is this the kind of law where it means "if you are caught" but until proven otherwise, nothing can be done?

Can someone provide some technical insight on this?

 

I'm pretty sure your ISP can tell that you're connected to a VPN - but as you say, what actually passes between you is encrypted.

All this, apparently, to stop people using VoIP such as Skype and Whatsapp... Well, that and perhaps getting access to material banned by the state.

 

It's relatively easy to detect a VPN more or less in the same way it is relatively easy to detect other type of traffic.
ISPs do that if they want to throttle i.e. torrents even though technically you are just using TCP or UDP to connect to random people.
But still you are having hundreds open connections and transmitting and receiving small chunks of data.

VPN is the exact opposite - you are always having one connection and all the data comes between your house and one server presumably using one port. That does not sound like typical Internet usage, does it?

It's not a proof but it's very easy to single out someone like that and when you try to look into this traffic it turns out you can't, because it's encrypted...

 

so based on this, do you advice me stop using a VPN? All I use it for was VOIP apps like Vyber or Skype

 

I can't advise you on that. I have no knowledge of how laws in UAE are enforced to begin with. Will they really attempt to do that, or is this just a scarecrow?
Also I would have to read the piece of legislation in question - an article on the internet is not exactly legal analysis.

But most importantly - I'm not the one taking the risk, so making a recommendation that might mean you end up half a million short or in prison (according to the article) would be dumb on my part.

 

If I have this right, connecting to a VPN server will give a specific entry-point IP address for that server, as packets go backwards and forwards between you. Netflix and other web services have already started blacklisting a large number of VPN server IP addresses - so I'd be surprised if the UAE is unable to work out the IP addresses for the largest VPN providers' servers. This will make it fairly obvious that you are using a VPN service, unless I've misunderstood.

Apparently they're only interested in 'fraudulant' (LOL, frankly) use of VPN servers to circumvent VoIP services... As downloads says, it depends on whether this will actually be enforced - I'd be very cautious to be honest, especially if you're using it for precisely the sort of activity that is being condemned.

 

No wonder people do hagwalah in UAE. When any enterntaiment is prohibited, people die of boredom - literally.

 

I doubt this could really be enforced. But just an FYI, L2TP is insanely easy to crack. Use OpenVPN ECC or XOR.

You could theoretically set up a second system as a proxy server doing normal internet activity and route your VPN traffic through that same system. Much harder to flag that but of course you would increase bandwidth consumption. A great way to do that thought would be to set up the proxy box with a number of Linux ISOs set to seed, limit the upstream so as not to interfere with the VPN traffic, and then voila, you have hundreds of connections to various IP addresses and if you force encryption in your bittorrent app, all of the traffic has encryption tied to it.

This is all theoretical of course and I am not familiar with how your side of the world is in enforcing the laws so I'd probably stop using it.

 

There are tons of Multi National Corps in Dubai (and Dubai wants to be known as a Business Centre, now that RE & Oil have tumbled) who use VPN all the time, so I am wondering how they will react if this is for real.

 

http://m.gulfnews.com/opinion/editorials/tra-policy-is-crystal-clear-on-the-use-of-vpns-1.1872483


You can use for Skype and viber no problem.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

From the article it says if used for illegal and bad activities then its illegal. Am I correct?

 

Yes don't download illegal stuff


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'Bad and illegal' uses of the internet include those terrible and evil services: Skype and Viber. I'd also wager a tidy sum of money that it also applies to sites regarding the LGBTQ community, as well.

"These restrictions are not unreasonable, and are generally aligned with the principles of cyber laws enacted by governments the world over. By clearly outlining the boundaries, everyone can act in a manner that prevents illegal or subversive activities."

This could honestly be a satirial quote, written by The Onion.

 

@downloads @Ethrem

I asked LiquidVPN's support how can the government find out if one uses a VPN since LiquidVPN published a tweet today regarding the VPN ban in the UAE and here is their reply:

Can someone read this and tell me what they get out of it? If I use a VPN for personal use not to commit a crime or anything bad, is that still punishable

 

Doesn't sound good man. Probably not worth it to use a VPN anymore.

 

did you read that article I linked? your analysis?

 

VPN traffic is encrypted so how are they supposed to know what you're using it for? They're contradictory statements. The only way to ban VPNs for nefarious uses is to ban them period. Of course most use L2TP which has been broken for a long time so snooping on that traffic would be easier but OpenVPN with 256-bit? Nuh uh.

 

They can only see that your connection is encrypted from A to B. That you are using a VPN, that's all.

That's why I'm thinking it would probably go the other way round: first they suspect you of something (hopefully) and do whatever they do, like kick the door down and search computers? I don't know. If they then find out that in addition to watching kitten videos, you have done it over the VPN they would slap those extra fines on you. Something like that.