Technology Taliban leader restricts internet access in an Afghan province to 'prevent immorality'

[Parkinsond]

Content source

https://www.euronews.com/2025/09/16/taliban-leader-restricts-internet-access-in-an-afghan-province-to-prevent-immorality

When someone asks for a fool-proof method to secure PC

Taliban cuts internet access in Afghan province to stop 'immorality'

Fibre optic internet has been banned in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, although mobile data is still available.

www.euronews.com

 

[Bot]

When someone asks for a fool-proof method to secure PC

Taliban cuts internet access in Afghan province to stop 'immorality'

Fibre optic internet has been banned in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, although mobile data is still available.

www.euronews.com

Haha, Parkinsond, that's one way to go full "air-gapped" mode! If we're taking cues from that article, the ultimate fool-proof method is to unplug the Ethernet cable, smash the Wi-Fi router, and live in a Faraday cage. No internet, no threats!

But seriously, while there's no 100% fool-proof way to secure a PC (hackers are crafty), here's a solid layered approach to minimize risks:

• Keep everything updated: OS, apps, and antivirus. Patch those vulnerabilities!
• Use strong antivirus: Something like Malwarebytes or Bitdefender for real-time protection.
• Enable firewall and use a VPN: Especially on public networks.
• Practice safe browsing: Avoid shady sites, use ad-blockers, and think before clicking.
• Backup regularly: Ransomware-proof your data with offline backups.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Everywhere possible.
• Educate yourself: Stay informed on forums like this one!

If you meant a specific threat or setup, spill the details for tailored advice. What's your current security stack?

 

[Sorrento]

Slightly more aggressive than the recent UK's protection system though there are slight similarities - Although was thinking a full mobile outage of IT (a month or so) would be helpful to some people to live on planet earth again (some of my teenage or younger grandchildren) who spend 24/7 when awake scrolling & flipping & gawping at endless unrelented garbage videos, & when I enquire what actually are you looking at they absolutely don't know! Almost beyond understanding?

 

[ForgottenSeer 114717]

Now this a nation or region where online porn habits can have dire consequences.

 

[Parkinsond]

Now this a nation or region where online porn habits can have dire consequences.

Taliban: You are protected.

 

[Sorrento]

looks like its shut down totally now
.BBC News Site

 

[oldschool]

I in no way endorse the Taliban, but they are far and away not the only government that restricts information, freedom of speech or movement, or not provide basic services, etc. There are many that do not care at all for their people, e.g. the Republic of Gilead.

 

[Marko :)]

looks like its shut down totally now
.BBC News Site

They will bring internet access back after some time. There isn't a country in the world that would survive without internet as pretty much all the technology relies on it. TOLOnews (Afghan media) reports that entire country is disrupted, ATMs and banks don't work, as well as flights are delayed.

You can censor internet, but you can't shut it down completely. Even North Korea has unrestricted internet access though for high ranking officials only.

 

[Parkinsond]

They will bring internet access back after some time. There isn't a country in the world that would survive without internet as pretty much all the technology relies on it. TOLOnews (Afghan media) reports that entire country is disrupted, ATMs and banks don't work, as well as flights are delayed.

You can censor internet, but you can't shut it down completely. Even North Korea has unrestricted internet access though for high ranking officials only.

Phone exchange fire in the capital, not long time ago, kept almost all ATMs out of service; no country can survive offline.

 

[Marko :)]

Phone exchange fire in the capital, not long time ago, kept almost all ATMs out of service; no country can survive offline.

Hrvatski Telekom's data center in Zagreb got seriously damaged in fire during first Zagreb earthquake in 2020. All of their services (both fixed and mobile), along of other networks they own (Iskon and Bonbon) didn't work for quite a some time. And this affected entire Croatia because pretty much all network traffic goes through Zagreb and then out of the country.

Fortunately for me, I'm not their user. Dunno what I would do without the services for days.

 

[Sorrento]

We seem fortunate as regards some issues but upcoming storm will likely cause some outages? Sorry off topic.

 

[lokamoka820]

I in no way endorse the Taliban, but they are far and away not the only government that restricts information, freedom of speech or movement, or not provide basic services, etc. There are many that do not care at all for their people, e.g. the Republic of Gilead.

The Republic of Gilead have weapons to destroy the whole world for unlimited times, but it doesn't have bread to feed its own people alone.

 

[stonjean633]

How to survive if this is nationwide.
Even Antartica has SatCom for Internet Access.

 

[Marko :)]

Just as I was saying, Afghanistan is back online. Taliban officials said the cause for entire country going offline was "the deterioration of infrastructure" (i.e. worn-out fiber optic cables) and that they are in the process of replacing them.

If a country could survive without internet, China, Russia and North Korea would be the first ones to disconnect themselves.

 

[Divergent]

September 29, 2025

Nationwide blackout: A full internet blackout was initiated across Afghanistan, disrupting telephone services, banking, transportation, and aid work. Mobile internet was also reportedly impacted.


Partial restoration
On October 1, 2025, internet and mobile services were restored in many areas, including Kandahar.

Connectivity issues persist
Despite the restoration, many users report that mobile internet is slow, expensive, and unreliable.