BT/Virgin/Talk Talk Customers... YOU NEED TO READ THIS!

mattyh

mattyh

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Just read this on another forum, makes interesting reading:

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 ?

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
 
Just signed another 12 months with BT :(
 
I read this the other day, and TBH I'm absolutely shocked.
 
mattyh said:
Just found this: If you want to "opt out" of this with BT, the information is here
Click to expand...

When I select that link, for me it says that "BT webwise is OFF" :thumbs: Hopefully it will stay that way
 
Not too serious. it's an auto opt in by default but you can turn it off if you want.

However I'll wager they won't publicise the "off" facility and will make money selling the data from those that are not aware what is happening.

Not good form really.
 
mattyh said:
Just read this on another forum, makes interesting reading:

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 ?

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
Click to expand...

They will/should fall foul of the Data protection act.
If on the other hand it's just general info abouts their customer/user ,what's the problem?
 
I'm amazed they still plan on going ahead with this.

Still, I hope they do. Lots of their customer will switch suppliers - which suits me ;)
 
The problem is, The system works by profiling all your browsing habits which are then stored on database, I have issues with that, if you don't, and are happy for anyone to see what you're looking at, carry on ;)

They (phorm) reckon that they're ok with the DPA, because their data is anonymised, I (and many others) disagree.

Another thing to note is that Phorm used to be 121 media, responsible for distributing the Apropos Spyware: http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/apropos.shtml

Now I don't know about you, but I'm not too keen on sharing my data (which COULD include addresses, emails etc) with a company that has a history of distributing spyware.
 
I reckon it might face a legal challenge of some kind, report on BBC News website yesterday said that it was 'illegal'
 
Signed, and disgusted at the ever increasing privacy invasions we face in this country!
 
2blue4u said:
I'm amazed they still plan on going ahead with this.

Still, I hope they do. Lots of their customer will switch suppliers - which suits me ;)
Click to expand...

The thing is though, once one goes down that road, it WILL be a slippery slope. Just look at caps / bandwidth restrictions / FUP's etc.
 
mattyh said:
The problem is, The system works by profiling all your browsing habits which are then stored on database, I have issues with that, if you don't, and are happy for anyone to see what you're looking at, carry on ;)

They (phorm) reckon that they're ok with the DPA, because their data is anonymised, I (and many others) disagree.

Another thing to note is that Phorm used to be 121 media, responsible for distributing the Apropos Spyware: http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/apropos.shtml

Now I don't know about you, but I'm not too keen on sharing my data (which COULD include addresses, emails etc) with a company that has a history of distributing spyware.
Click to expand...


Maybe I'm missing something here:

It's illegal for them to share "mattyh's" individual data outside their organisation however if Phorm are part of the org sharing the data then it's not illegal.

They can share non specific group data as do many market research companies.
 
I think the main problem is that they are collecting and analysing ALL traffic information, this includes all websites, emails, communications.

The fact that they then don't tie it into you personally isn't the concern.

Once we go down this road, it's a very slippery slope.
 
Signed:rules:
 
they are not allowed to share my info or even allow other companies to phone me! I registered when I moved house and got a new phone number, no cold callers, and if one random call comes in you threaten to report them and they don't bother you again:D
 
Signed.
Hopefully they wont get away with this.
If other ISP's advertise NOT to do it, then there'll be thousands jumping ship.
 
Ladybird said:
they are not allowed to share my info or even allow other companies to phone me! I registered when I moved house and got a new phone number, no cold callers, and if one random call comes in you threaten to report them and they don't bother you again:D
Click to expand...

Thats not going to stop them, they are still going ahead, with a very flimsy opt out (rather than opt in) system :)

KeithH said:
Signed.
Hopefully they wont get away with this.
If other ISP's advertise NOT to do it, then there'll be thousands jumping ship.
Click to expand...

Without a doubt, there are a few, BE are one of them, and there are others that I can't name at the moment (because I can't remember :D)
 
you have to go onto the www.webwise .com site I believe.. I've blocked them on my router, but unless they've changed it, thats where you turn this **** off.

Even if you do opt out, it's likely (at the moment anyway) that your data will still be mirrored on the phorm server, you just won't see the adverts.

there's a debate going on at the moment... live updates of which can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/04/the_phorm_privacy_debate_londo.html
 
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