Maybe I’m Not Quite as Paranoid As I Thought

When traveling, I’ve been a bit squeamish about the wifi/broadband connections now usually provided by the hotels I stay at.  The lack of security, not knowing who might be listening in…it just makes me feel a bit squeamish.

Perhaps my paranoia might be a teeny-tiny bit justified, based on recent developments in China, ahead of the Olympics.   Seen at The Hill:

Brownback stated that his office had been contacted by lawyers for international hotel chains who informed him that the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) ordered foreign-owned hotels to install Internet monitoring equipment. Brownback provided documents showing that hotels were asked to cooperate with the Chinese government.

“The Chinese government has demanded that these hotels allow the PSB to install software programs and hardware devices on the hotel networks,” Brownback said. “These measures are designed to assist the PSB to spy on the Internet activities of guests and record websites visited, searches entered and even keystrokes. The text alludes to harsh punishment for failure to comply with the order, including loss of license to operate a hotel in China.”

Note to self – when traveling to China, plan to work offline.