There is a strong reason to believe now that the traffic for our gateways is being managed by Netsweeper.
The research revolves around one of the key gateways that handles network traffic for Karachi, namely the following server:
khi77.pie.net.pk (202.125.134.154)
From within Pakistan, any attempt to access this server results in an access block.
However, when accessing this very same server from _outside_ of Pakistan such as the US, results in the following screen being rendered in browser (with a self signed certificate). Click on image below:
If noted in the annotation, there is a clear graphic at the bottom indicating “Powered by Netsweeper”
If nothing else, this is clear evidence of Netsweeper’s software being installed on critical national network infrastructure. We anticipate that system administrators at PIE (Pakistan Internet Exchange) will be quick to block access to HTTPS on the gateway in question from the outside as well once access to it is publicized.
Imran Moinuddin is the Founder & CEO of NexDegree
Read More on Netsweeper:
June 20: Netsweeper in Pakistan?
Citizen Lab’s report on Netsweeper’s Presence in Pakistan
July 23: Letter to Canadian High Commission Seeking Disclosure on Netsweeper
September 9: Canadian Government Responds to Netsweeper’s Presence in Pakistan
About The Author
Farieha Aziz
Farieha Aziz is a Karachi-based, APNS-awardwinning journalist. She is a co-founder and Director at Bolo Bhi. She has a masters in English literature. She worked with Newsline from July 2007-January 2012 and taught literature to grades 9-12. She served as an amicus curiae in a case filed in the Lahore High Court in 2013, challenging the ban on YouTube, and is currently a petitioner on behalf of Bolo Bhi in a case filed in the Islamabad High Court challenging government's censorship on the Internet and the powers of the regulator. She can be found on Twitter: @FariehaAziz and reached via email: farieha@bolobhi.org