Examination of ministry websites: unsafe, confusing and artificial

The 22 ministries of the Sánchez-Iglesias Government have saturated the official portals with pages without security certificates, shared between sites or without content to offer. The portfolios of Yolanda Díaz and Irene Montero put the user at risk.

If we audit the websites and the headquarters of the 22 ministries of the Government of Pedro Sánchez we find major security flaws that put users' browsing and personal data at risk. A scandal that goes beyond the security problem. It is proof of the ineffectiveness of most of the new ministries and of taxpayer fraud.

The SSL certificate corresponds to the initials of Secure Sockets Layer. The standard technology for keeping an Internet connection secure. It encrypts data exchange and prevents criminals from modifying or reading the data being transferred. Its price varies and depends on the purpose of the website. On internal networks it can cost up to 1 euro a day, on public websites it ranges from 900 euros to 1 800 a year, i.e. between 2.5 and 5 euro a day.

The user does not perceive that the protocol is activated. At most, you will see a lock on the url. If they do not have the certificate, the browser will sound an alarm with a message warning that the site is not secure. The SSL certificate is something basic to start up any website.

The Spanish Administration has taken its physical bureaucratic framework to the Internet as well. Dozens of portals with passwords, protocols, physical and virtual security systems that disrupt the lives of citizens. Tax deadlines that expire, subsidies that are not renewed, fines with a surcharge... All because the digital signature of companies and the self-employed is not properly developed.

In this chaos come the new ministries that Pedro Sánchez has handed over to Podemos in exchange for arriving at Moncloa. Prebends with more form than substance so that the chosen ones of Pablo Iglesias have a task. Behind these ministries there is a colossal work to make known to the taxpayer what his taxes are spent on.

The websites are one of the most important channels of entry to the ministries. Technically, they are divided into an information portal and a headquarters, which is where formalities are carried out. Since the arrival of Sánchez in the Government in 2018, 10 new ministries have been set up, six of which are for leisure and enjoyment of Podemos and its affiliates. The process of setting up a website requires designers, technicians and staff to update and manage the procedures that are carried out. Many ministries do not even have their own website and share a portal with other ministries.

The examination of the official websites certifies that the Administration has given priority to some ministries over others and that some are nothing more than showcases. There are two ministries with serious problems. Another three have websites without SSL. Six ministries share websites with each other, because they do not generate enough content. The ministry of Irene Montero stands out. The vehement Minister for Equality supports her work on a website without security measures. The ministries of Alberto Garzón, Salvador Illa and Pedro Duque do not have their own space either. At least the most important ministries, such as Agriculture, Finance and the Interior, have been able to adapt and protect users.

Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (owner: José Luis Escrivá. Created in 2020): neither the website nor the headquarters have the SSL security certificate.

Ministry of Labour and Social Economy (owner: Yolanda Díaz): neither the website nor the headquarters are secure.

Ministry of Equality (owner: Irene Montero): a ministry created in 2020 that only has a website that is not secure.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (holder: Arancha González Laya): the website is not secure, but the links to the registers do have SSL protocol. The website of its headquarters is reliable.

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation (owner: Nadia María Calviño): the link to the website is broken, but they have SSL on their portal. The headquarters is also secure.

Ministry of Defence (Owner: Margarita Robles): although the website is secure, it is surprising that its headquarters does not support the Chrome browser and forces the user to use Firefox or Safari.

Ministry of Education and Professional Training (owner: Isabel Celaá): the website does not have the security protocol. The site is secure.

Ministry of Justice (Owner: Carlos Campo): the website has an SSL certificate but the link from the Government Administration has been broken.

Ministry of Science and Innovation (Owner: Pedro Duque): a ministry created in 2018. It does not have its own website, but shares it with the Ministry of Universities.

Ministry of Consumer Affairs (owner: Alberto Garzón): ministry of 2020. It shares a portal with the Ministry of Health, Second Vice-presidency, Social Rights and Agenda 2030.

Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 (owner: Pablo Iglesias): has neither a website nor headquarters since it was set up in 2020. It shares a portal with the Ministry of Health, Second Vice-presidency and Consumer Affairs.

Ministry of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory (holder: Carmen Calvo): ministry extended in 2020. Web site with SSL, shared with the First Vice-presidency. The site also has security protocols.

Ministry of Universities (titleholder: Manuel Castells): another ministry newly created in 2020. It has a portal that it shares with the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Ministry of Health (titleholder: Salvador Illa): It does not have its own portal. It shares with the Second Vice-presidency, Social Rights and Agenda 2030 and Consumption.

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (holder: Luis Planas).

Ministry of Culture and Sport (holder: José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes).

Ministry of Finance (holder: María Jesús Montero).

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (holder: Reyes Maroto).

Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Function (holder: Carolina Darias).

Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (holder: José Luis Ábalos).

Ministry of the Interior (holder: Fernando Grande-Marlaska).

Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (holder: Teresa Ribera).