[ad_1] As Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis, spiraled into chaos final month over rising vitality prices and anger on the authorities, the nation’s leaders took a drastic step to quell protests: They blocked the web.First, they tried to ban entry to some information websites, social networks and messaging companies. Then, as activists bypassed these curbs with software program that masked their places, the authorities shut down nearly all connectivity within the nation.The strikes added uncertainty to an already dire scenario. After fee apps and point-of-sale machines used to swipe debit playing cards went down, prolonged strains shaped at A.T.M.s as Kazakhs…