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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:09 am

With any of them ? It might be time to jump ship as it looks like three of the biggest ISPs in the UK are going to start selling private data.
AIUI, any http GET request sent on port 80 will be sent to a third party (phorm), ostensibly for targetted advertising/security etc but who knows where it might lead ?

It's certainly an issue as far as data protection goes and especially so for people who value thier privacy.

There's a few bits about in on the register and also at badphorm:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/29/phorm_documents/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/29/phorm_roundup/
http://www.badphorm.co.uk/page.php?2

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:17 am

Verizon FiOs!!!!

Seriously, I would figure that UK would have laws about privacy of consumers and what not.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:14 am

Eamonn

Thanks for the heads up.

Zen might see an upsurge in business.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:22 am

For once I'm glad to be with Tiscali Shocked

(and I don't often say that)

Bulldog and Zen should do well from this.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:25 pm

I rang BT and spoke to some poor chap who knew nothing about this, but once he found out seemed as unimpressed as I am. Laughing

His supervisor had heard about Phorm, and I gather they are trialling it just in Kingston atm. The opt-out info is here. It does not mention, of course, the vast amounts of money BT hope to make off the back of invading your privacy, or that it is a separate commercial organisation that will get your browsing info. Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:34 pm

This could be the excuse I need to finally ditch Virgin. I've been trying to get through to their call centre for a whole week now. I want to top up an account, yes! I want to give you some money Sir Richard!!!!! Hello?????

Elite Baiter Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 1043

I had a similar problem as you Gnasher.

I just rang up their collection department instead. That one gets picked up pretty soon and getting transferred only took a few minutes instead of hours.

I'll probably ring up and as for the opt out details soon then.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:25 pm

I think it's nothing new, they only bring it in the open now.
Just get a script blocker for your FireFox and see how many scripts are running on every page you visit. doubleclick and google are standard blocked and every new one is added to the list. No more Google adds, no more cookies.
Yes sometimes you can't see an item or a page doesn't show up as the designer intended.
Good, I'm looking for info, not art or relevant commercial offers. If they want to make money with their website while I'm visiting, their problem.
And they are using my already slow connection to send that info to their website/collector. I don't think so.
I have blocked Ebay, enhance.com, local.com, upspriral.us, dealtime, findstuff and all their friends and now my search engine actually can find the things I'm looking for. And of course removed (never downloaded) the Google bar as doing that will give Google all rights to keep track of everything you do.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:13 pm

@8 - the opt out is simply that you opt out of the targetted adverts. They will still collect all the data relating to your browsing.

@bill2 - you can't (easily) block the collection as it's the http GET request that is sent to Phorm. You can block the incoming ads easilt enough.

Simply put its, at the moment it works like this like this :

1. you request a web page (via a bookmark or clicking a link)
2. your browser sends a http GET request to the distant server.
3. the request goes through a proxy at your ISP and then on to the server
4. the distant server sends the page requested.

The new way will be the same except that there will be

3a. the GET request is also sent to the PHORM server.

Phorm say that certain data will be ignored after it is delivered to them but personally I don't trust thier security or thier reliability,
It raises huge issues over personal privacy, for example there is a family computer and a 16yo son is gay but not out; he visits gay chatrooms/websites but always clears caches and keeps it to himself. His parents get delivered gay related adverts while surfing and realise it must be because of him. His right to privacy as enshrined in the Human Rights Act (Article 8 IIRC) is breached by this policy.
It is, frankly, fucking apalling and I can only see disaster coming from it. if it comes in, I will have to get myself a new line and Broadband connection (currently have BTBB free due to my job) via a reputable supplier.

Oh, and sorry for the swearing but I feel quite strongly about this Embarassed

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:38 pm

Quote:

Oh, and sorry for the swearing but I feel quite strongly about this

And you should!
You're right if they give the info further to another server, nothing I can do about it as trying to detach myself from my IP#.
But to block the incoming info that they want on my screen for me to see, that's easy. I have my firewall block anything I don't like. The trouble is now that Billy G is using a gadget that isn't using the normal route and can pass the firewall without notice. Catroot, used to be called a Trojan by Norton, but now MS uses it to check your computer for???.
My idea, they have me invest so they can check on me? Switching to Ubuntu soon Very Happy

Or I'll have a script run random Google requests when I'm not using the internet, see if I can redirect them a bit towards puppies and bunnies Smile

Not quite a Newb Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 55

Thats quite worrying... Can't imagine it'll be long before all the other ISP's jump on board.

Any way to block them?

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:11 pm

^^switch providers or use a proxy
http://www.razorproxy.com/
http://www.hidemyass.com/

there is a speed penalty with these and I wouldn't like to send too many personal details for security reasons but they will stop them collecting ad info on you.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 55

^^ I wondered about using a proxy, so it seems that is the way to go...

I'm not affected by it yet, just getting my tinfoil hat ready Laughing

Thanks

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:53 pm

Just had a look at how to turn this Webwise crap off (thanks for the link Eight)

Quote:

Simply go to www.bt.com/webwise and click 'BT Webwise Off' or 'BT Webwise On'. BT Webwise uses cookies stored on your computer to capture your preference. These cookies are linked to individual computers, user accounts and browsers, so you will need to switch the service on or off from each computer, user account and browser you use. If you delete the cookie, you'll need to reset your preference. [

As I have FF set to dump all cookies after each session (apart from a few), that means I have to reset my preferences each time; otherwise they think they have the right to carry on? No thanks BT!

To be fair they do add later

Quote:

If you regularly delete your cookies and want to ensure that Webwise is permanently switched off, simply add www.oix.net to the Blocked Cookies settings in your browser. Up-to-date versions of both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox have this capability.

And that is done and done.

But do I trust BT any more? Gonna call Zen on Monday for a quote.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:25 pm

@ON7 - turning it off via the webwise site will tell Phorm not to use the data; it will still be sent to them.

Western Union · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:13 am

What an utter disgrace. I wonder if someone could write a FF extension to constantly call random web pages whenever I have my browser open. If I can�t opt out of sending them data it would be nice to at least make whatever they collect on me totally meaningless.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 55

^^ This might help?

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