Where did Iran get its Net censoring technology?

Jake Widman
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 01:46

Business IT - Security

So if Iran is monitoring the content of Internet traffic, what technology is it using?

Since association with Iranian censorship would be embarrassing for any Western company, other firms named would likely be as quick as Nokia Siemens to disavow any knowledge.

For example, Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society reported in 2005 that Iran was using Secure Computing's SmartFilter (now MacAfee SmartFilter).

After the WSJ story came out, McAfee told CNet that "we have never seen any direct evidence or hard proof that Iran has ever used any McAfee or Secure Computing product....Rigorous due diligence was conducted prior to the acquisition of Secure Computing and there was no indication of any contract in Iran or support being provided in Iran."

Since Iran has few ISPs, which are required to restrict Internet connections speeds and funnel traffic through proxy servers, the task of monitoring activity is not as difficult as it would be with a more widespread, open network.

Tony Barbagallo, vice president of marketing at Internet analysis vendor WildPackets, told CNet that "it's pretty easy to conceive that they could be using homegrown technology."

And according to a recent report from the OpenNet Initiative ("Internet Filtering in Iran" -- PDF download), "Iran now employs domestically produced technology for identifying and blocking objectionable Web sites, reducing its reliance on Western filtering technologies."