Emergency | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:23:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Emergency | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 France considering blocks on Tor, free Wi-Fi https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/france-considering-blocks-on-tor-free-wi-fi/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/france-considering-blocks-on-tor-free-wi-fi/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:18:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=277305 Politicians of the world are still scrambling to react accordingly in the wake of increased numbers of terrorism linked attacks in recent weeks, but the overarching response has been focused on technology and surveillance than anything else. France may well go further than most though, as it's said to be considering bans on the Tor …

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Politicians of the world are still scrambling to react accordingly in the wake of increased numbers of terrorism linked attacks in recent weeks, but the overarching response has been focused on technology and surveillance than anything else. France may well go further than most though, as it's said to be considering bans on the Tor browser and public Wi-Fi networks during emergencies.

Although nothing has been announced as of yet, French newspaper Le Monde claims to have gotten ahold of internal government documents which suggest that the new laws could be introduced as soon as January 2016. The reasoning behind it all is that police struggle to track those that use the Tor obfuscating browser and public Wi-Fi networks.

With these sorts of plans very probably in place, discussion has turned to implementation. Is it possible to block the Tor browser from being used when its very nature makes identification difficult? Probably not, but getting hold of the software in the first place could be made much less easy.

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France has long been considered a founding state of personal liberties and freedoms. Source: Wikimedia

Anyone really wanting to access it though would probably be able to make it happen and the block would only be enforced within France itself anyway, so exterior actors would have no problem using it. As Ars points out, the collateral damage could be dangerous too, since it would inhibit a communication channel for whistle blowers and potentially even some law enforcement agents using it to keep an eye on the deep web.

Locking down public Wi-Fi during emergencies is less problematic, though still potentially damaging. Crisis in other nations which have seen traditional methods of communication disrupted have often relied on internet access over social networks and messaging applications to coordinate rescuers and survivors. If French infrastructure was damaged, locking out public Wi-Fi and other internet solutions could cause more problems than it solves.

These aren't the only measures being considered by the French government though. It's said to be considering making it illegal to even visit terrorist related websites.

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KitGuru Says: This is what's so worrying about terrorist attacks. They prompt politicians to knee jerk and block freedoms enjoyed by their citizens. It's exactly what the terrorists want. 

 

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Good Samaritan app could help get first responders on the scene https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/good-samaritan-app-could-help-get-first-responders-on-the-scene/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/jon-martindale/good-samaritan-app-could-help-get-first-responders-on-the-scene/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2014 15:40:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=209210 Political parties might fight back and forth over the merits of a nationalised healthcare system, but the fact that anyone can get free healthcare in the UK is something quite extraordinary, especially when you look at other parts of the world where even if facilities may be better, access certainly isn't. However we also have …

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Political parties might fight back and forth over the merits of a nationalised healthcare system, but the fact that anyone can get free healthcare in the UK is something quite extraordinary, especially when you look at other parts of the world where even if facilities may be better, access certainly isn't. However we also have a system that's even more amazing than that, known as the First Responders. These individuals are designed to get on the scene before an ambulance can arrive, potentially giving lifesaving first aid when time is of the essence. Some of them are paid, many are not, but either way, getting them to the scene of an accident may get a little bit easier in the future, thanks to the Good Sam app.

As Wired explains, this application is designed to make it much easier to get hold of the 1,500+ first responders around the country, by giving users one touch access to this network of care givers.

Pressing the “call for help,” button, will immediately contact emergency services for you and will also send out an alert to any nearby first responders, who are likely to arrive on the scene first, potentially performing life saving treatment like opening airways and CPR. It won't happen in every case, as the registered first aiders may choose not to respond (in that case, the next nearest is alerted) if they're not the closest or simply unable to get there, but if you have the app ready, you may be able to help save someone's life by getting them medical treatment faster than is currently possible.

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The app can even work overseas, automatically dialling local emergency service numbers

“GoodSAM can revolutionise our ability to get to the patient immediately and improve outcomes. Harnessing the community for the benefit of the community,” said one of London's Air Ambulance doctors, Mark Wilson: “Effectively what the app does is enable someone to shout for help, really loudly — even through walls — so the anaesthetist in the book shop knows that the man in the coffee shop next door is having a cardiac arrest.”

With instances of emergency health concerns like heart attacks and strokes increasing throughout London, more first responders are needed, so the London Air Ambulance is working with the developers of the app to help recruit new trainees. If you're a doctor, nurse or have a solid background in first aid training, you can register (whether you're from London or anywhere else in the country) over at the GoodSam app page, where you can also learn more about it.

KitGuru Says: If enough people can simply have this app handy, it should save lives. Not many applications can say that. 

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