RIYADH: The General Directorate of Passports has been warning users of the Absher program against disclosing passwords to anyone, urging them to maintain the privacy of their transactions, yet many seem still unaware of the importance of such electronic services and of their impact on their privacy.
“When performing any service through Absher, all steps must be completed by the beneficiary to ensure that the requested service is provided, and passwords and personal information must not be disclosed to others,” said the directorate’s spokesman, Maj. Talal bin Abdulmohsen Al-Shalhoub.
Failure to protect one’s privacy can cause significant damage and numerous complications, he said, mentioning that many cases were filed with security agencies because of failure to secure account privacy, a responsibility of the account holder him/herself, who should know better than share passwords with others.
The Ministry of Interior’s electronic service portal asks users to be cautious and protect their accounts, especially users of Absher, which is designed to facilitate all government procedures for citizens and residents online.
The system is meant to reduce the need to visit offices in person by allowing users access to all services online and providing linkages with other government agencies electronically.
Access to the service is free of charge and available 24 hours.
In addition to Absher, other electronic services have been developed to facilitate procedures, and they all require secrecy so that accounts cannot be accessed and used by others.
Among the services offered online is issuing travel approvals and other visa services without needing to visit the directorate’s branches, and such a service can be exploited by those working for companies or institutions that wish to leave the country without their sponsors’ knowledge.
Numerous complaints have been filed about employees obtaining visas through the system and departing the country without their employers’ knowledge.
“When performing any service through Absher, all steps must be completed by the beneficiary to ensure that the requested service is provided, and passwords and personal information must not be disclosed to others,” said the directorate’s spokesman, Maj. Talal bin Abdulmohsen Al-Shalhoub.
Failure to protect one’s privacy can cause significant damage and numerous complications, he said, mentioning that many cases were filed with security agencies because of failure to secure account privacy, a responsibility of the account holder him/herself, who should know better than share passwords with others.
The Ministry of Interior’s electronic service portal asks users to be cautious and protect their accounts, especially users of Absher, which is designed to facilitate all government procedures for citizens and residents online.
The system is meant to reduce the need to visit offices in person by allowing users access to all services online and providing linkages with other government agencies electronically.
Access to the service is free of charge and available 24 hours.
In addition to Absher, other electronic services have been developed to facilitate procedures, and they all require secrecy so that accounts cannot be accessed and used by others.
Among the services offered online is issuing travel approvals and other visa services without needing to visit the directorate’s branches, and such a service can be exploited by those working for companies or institutions that wish to leave the country without their sponsors’ knowledge.
Numerous complaints have been filed about employees obtaining visas through the system and departing the country without their employers’ knowledge.
