IPS-English COMMUNICATIONS-UAE: World Wide Web and the pitfalls
 
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:14:24 -0800

 

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Emirates News Agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, Feb. 9 (WAM) - Cases of cloning of websites are increasing. The
United Arab Emirates (UAE) government issued a warning to the public to
ensure the websites they visit are genuine. Analysing the issue ‘Gulf
News’ wrote in its editorial: “Despite the World Wide Web being well over
20 years old -- or 30, depending on which system of management you deem as
being the initiator of the format -- and despite frequent reminders from
reputable sources for caution when viewing a website, there are still
people who get caught out by spurious sites and claims.

“When the Internet became available to a wider audience, it was predicted
it would spell the death of newspapers as the public would use the web to
get news through interaction with other members of society. 

   “Although newspapers, particularly in the U.S., have found the going
tougher, with circulation and advertising rates falling, it has not spelt
the death-knell predicted. 

   “It is probably because for genuine news and information, most people
still prefer to access sites of reputable news gathering organisations in
the knowledge the traditional ways of gathering information -- at least
three independent sources -- still exist. 

   “The alternative is to rely on ‘news’ or ‘gossip’ from any source on
the Internet, without questioning its accuracy or credibility. This not
only applies to websites, but also unsolicited emails which, for some
reason, have a tendency to be believed just because they are addressed to
the recipient.

   “With the technology now available, it is comparatively easy to create
a false website that looks identical to the original. For example, some
countries have specialised in making copies of international banks'
websites to fool the viewer into disclosing confidential information. 

   “Knowing this, it is timely and appropriate that the UAE government has
issued a warning to the public to be careful and ensure any information
sought or given on a website is a genuine website of the government
department or company they believe they are connected to. It is too late
to be wise after the event,” concluded the paper. (WAM)
                    (WAM)