The RESTRICT Act

Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act or the RESTRICT Act (S 686) was introduced in the Senate on March 7, 2023. The bill is draconian and will severely limit the rights of  Americans. There are restrictions in the bill regarding FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests by Americans and limits on Judicial Review of government actions. It is an unconstitutional bill, but I wonder if anyone in Washington has read the U.S. Constitution.

The following article is used by permission https://www.cyberteamus.com/

The RESTRICT Act

A castle is a good picture of a cybersecurity strategy.

Layers of barriers were meant to protect the vulnerable.  If an enemy crossed the moat, they’d face towering walls.

Should they breach the walls, they’d encounter another obstacle.  And so on.

Fast forward to modern times.  A recent bill before the U.S. government poses a risk to one of those layers.

Read on for why this matters to you as a freedom-loving individual.

How Does a VPN Work?

A virtual private network (VPN) uses an encrypted connection to the public internet.

Users outside this system are prevented from pulling data. Whether that’s Big Tech, or other sources seeking to use it for personal gain.

The statistics on usage of a secure VPN by Americans have increased since 2020:

  • 39% use them for work or personal use

Awareness and popularity soared during COVID overreach.  Plus concerns about rising identity theft furthered adoption.

But now you could face up to 20 years or $1 million in fines for using one.

RESTRICT Act Goes After More Than TikTok

U.S. lawmakers are currently reviewing the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act.

The main target in the crosshairs is TikTok.  But its fuzzy language opens up others to scrutiny.

That’s a problem.

One article states that downloading an app deemed a “national security risk” using a VPN could place regular users on the federal radar.

People like a solopreneur who loves America.  Or a dad with a family to support.

Basically anyone who wants to maintain digital freedom.

Next, we’ll look at the benefits of VPN’s.

What Is VPN Protection?

Similar to locking your door at night, cybersecurity protection is a first line of defense.  Allowing you and your loved ones to surf the internet in peace.

VPN security is one component that factors into this guardianship.  Our team are advocates for its ability to achieve this goal.

Ways it’s beneficial:

  • Grants access to websites blocked in the United States
  • Prevents hackers from tapping into your connection
  • Strong protocols offer more secure browsing
  • Full disk encryption protects core servers

At every point, your personal information is defended.  From the various methods of attack criminals use in searching for weaknesses.

With recent breaches of major password protection apps like LastPass, interest around VPNs has grown.

After all, individual digital freedoms are worth pursuing.

Please understand that the right to use a VPN is protected under the 4th Amendment.  Unless it’s repealed, you have every claim to this personal and professional privacy.

At least, that’s what we believe!

Finally, let’s look at a viable option for guarding your online activity.

Cyber Team U.S. Protecting Families and Individuals

Online safety doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult to manage.  And if it comes with industry-leading security, even better.

We proudly serve our customers as a U.S. cyber team.

Veteran-owned, our services are performed by various vendors.  Add to that multiple suppliers.

And the result you get is a decreased risk of prying eyes on your internet usage!

We offer a cybersecurity protection plan for freelancers, families, and others seeking a better choice than big-box companies.

  • Antivirus protection
  • Malware protection
  • Ransomware protection

Take the first step and utilize a VPN for year-round protection on your devices!

Stay safe with our cyber team!

Why Tik-Tok Will Not Be Banned

On Tuesday, The Washington Free Beacon posted an article about the banning of Tik-Tok. It is generally acknowledged that Tik-Tok is a Chinese Communist Party vehicle for gathering information on Americans, it is doubtful that it will be banned in America. Recently, the RESTRICT Act was introduced in Congress.

The article notes:

But the RESTRICT Act never names TikTok, which has signaled its support for the law, and instead empowers the Commerce Department to prohibit any technology that “poses undue or unacceptable risk to national security.” The bill prompted criticism from Republicans for failing to ban TikTok immediately. RESTRICT Act critics such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), who has his own bill to outlaw TikTok, argue that the act could delay action against the tech company for years and relies on Biden administration officials who have voiced apprehensions about a ban, such as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, to pull the trigger.

“There is no time for half-measures,” Rubio told the Washington Free Beacon.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio), who supports a ban on TikTok, said last month that language in the RESTRICT Act is too broad. “You’re creating, effectively, a PATRIOT Act for the digital age,” Vance said.

The RESTRICT Act’s supporters have also botched its rollout, with cosponsor Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) showing in a late March interview with Fox News that he was unfamiliar with the bill’s provisions. According to a senior Senate Republican staffer, the botched rollout means that “anti-TikTok legislation is currently dead.” Another senior Senate aide, who worked on the RESTRICT Act, pushed back against that characterization, saying that no other bill “has this broad base of bipartisan support.”

The article notes one major reason Tik-Tok may not be banned:

Meanwhile, the White House is leaning into using TikTok and similar apps as it gears up for 2024, raising questions about whether it sincerely views the company as a national security threat. Biden’s campaign plans to “lean on hundreds of social media ‘influencers’ who will tout Biden’s record,” according to a recent report. As Chew (TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew) was testifying to Congress in March, the White House used an app owned by TikTok’s parent company to make an Instagram video.

The Biden administration is not going to ban one of the Democrat’s major weapons in the 2024 presidential campaign.