Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]

[CaptJamieHunter]

Originally Posted by OF1975

[ Relatives of Winston Churchill please forgive me for this....]

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight for everyone,
we shall fight on the news sites and blogs
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in our cause, we shall defend our privacy, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight in the media,
we shall fight online,
we shall fight in chat rooms,
we shall fight in courts;
we shall never surrender

Churchill's speech was the opening part of Iron Maiden's 1985 world tour (which many believe was their best ever) - "We shall never surrender!" brings to mind "Aces High" for many people *looks for Guitar Hero game*

Think I'll have to write to my bank as well, the staff in the branch don't seem to know anything about Phorm.

201 pages and over 3000 posts here - I doubt whether Phorm and the ISPs ever expected this kind of response.

[OF1975]

Originally Posted by CaptJamieHunter

Churchill's speech was the opening part of Iron Maiden's 1985 world tour (which many believe was their best ever) - "We shall never surrender!" brings to mind "Aces High" for many people *looks for Guitar Hero game*

I never knew that. Learn something new everyday.

Originally Posted by CaptJamieHunter

Think I'll have to write to my bank as well, the staff in the branch don't seem to know anything about Phorm.

Another excellent idea. I may consider doing the same. Although I dont personally do my banking online many others do and its important the issue is raised with the banks for those who DO bank online. Then theres the issue of shopping online too...

Originally Posted by CaptJamieHunter

201 pages and over 3000 posts here - I doubt whether Phorm and the ISPs ever expected this kind of response.

I completely agree. I think they planned on launching this with next to no information for customers and no significant time to evaluate their actions. We would have got the PR spin that this was a security tool to benefit us. Little mention or information on the technical aspects and how they would be intercepting all our data.

They have made many mistakes along the way and we should be grateful for that. Its quite scary to think what would have happened if they had actually got their act together and carried out their plan flawlessly.

That said I really do feel we still have a huge battle on our hands. As one of the commenters on the iii site has already mentioned, the real revenue potential for Phorm is in the US market. Even if we hamstring them here in the UK we wont be able to mortally wound them unless we can defeat them in the US too. Naturally if we can defeat them here in the UK then that will be an important step to defeating them in the US too.

[amateria]

I have my draft letter ready for banks/credit card companies. It's about 2 sides of A4. Is it OK to copy and past it in - I don't have somewhere to host it.

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by amateria

I have my draft letter ready for banks/credit card companies. It's about 2 sides of A4. Is it OK to copy and past it in - I don't have somewhere to host it.

If you used the advanced reply or preview your reply, there's an option to attach a text file...

[OF1975]

I know I keep coming back to this but I think its a really important issue. Will someone who goes to the meeting please ask some questions about these "research and debugging logs" that phorm have said they will store for 14 days.

Phorm keeps saying they store no personally identifiable information but they will be storing these logs for up to 14 days and they have not told us what information will be stored in these logs, who will have access to them, precisely where they will be stored or even what "research" may be done with the data.

[CaptJamieHunter]

I'd still like to know why any ISPs who (are foolhardy enough to) implement Phorm will not be allowed to at least monitor if not proactively check the Phorm hardware. Unless the ISP has access to the Phorm hardware for it to be independently monitored then there's no way it can be remotely considered trustworthy.

I'd also like to know what, if any, mechanisms for independent monitoring exist and if not, why not.

[Portly_Giraffe]

I am having a meeting with my MP this coming week about another matter (totally unrelated other than it also involves greed). I thought it would be a good opportunity to try to put together a one-page summary of where we are and what we want our legislators to do, and get her reaction in person. I may also be able to get feedback from one or more of the four MPs who were my contemporaries at university. We could then look at spreading the word further in parliament.

Can people review the page at
http://www.inphormationdesk.org/legislators.htm
and provide me with feedback for accuracy, clarity and impact?

Thanks in advance.

[labougie]

In paragraph 6 "It's being spun as a benefit" you mention CA without having referred to them by their full name beforehand. Otherwise, brilliant!

[AlexanderHanff]

Originally Posted by Portly_Giraffe

I am having a meeting with my MP this coming week about another matter (totally unrelated other than it also involves greed). I thought it would be a good opportunity to try to put together a one-page summary of where we are and what we want our legislators to do, and get her reaction in person. I may also be able to get feedback from one or more of the four MPs who were my contemporaries at university. We could then look at spreading the word further in parliament.

Can people review the page at
http://www.inphormationdesk.org/legislators.htm
and provide me with feedback for accuracy, clarity and impact?

Thanks in advance.

Naaaah 1 page summary can't effectively cover this issue. Print out my paper (which will be finished today) and hand that to him

Alexander Hanff

[amateria]

Thanks, I think I've attached it: template letter to bank or credit card company

[AlexanderHanff]

Proud moment alert!!!

Just thought I would share a photo we got from the photographer today of my son. the photo was taken as part of a Cute Toddler newspaper competition which is running in May. He is just over 2 yrs old and is almost 4 feet tall you can see the picture here.

[Portly_Giraffe]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHanff

Naaaah 1 page summary can't effectively cover this issue. Print out my paper (which will be finished today) and hand that to him

Alexander Hanff

But somehow we have to grab their attention ... and they are busy people, lobbied from all sides with all kinds of causes.

The message is a simple one.
- The law is about to be broken - please make sure that it is enforced.
- The law has been broken - please make sure that those responsible are called to account.

Though don't worry, I'll also pass her a printed copy of your paper!

[AlexanderHanff]

Originally Posted by amateria

Thanks, I think I've attached it: template letter to bank or credit card company

amateria,

Can I respectfully request you look at starting to use Open Office instead of Microsoft Office. That way there are no interoperability issues for people wanting to use your template and you can save it as pdf.

Alexander Hanff

[Portly_Giraffe]

Originally Posted by amateria

Thanks, I think I've attached it: template letter to bank or credit card company

Excellent - I will be sending one like it.

[dav]

Originally Posted by amateria

Thanks, I think I've attached it: template letter to bank or credit card company

Good letter!

A few observations...

...I don't think the servers in China are confirmed for a fact, therefore, I wouldn't include that bit. I remember Phorm refuting that rumour categorically, so until positive evidence to the contrary emerges then it is just speculation.

...I would tar all the ISPs involved with the same brush. VM may be important to you, but this is likely to affect 70% of the bank's online customers which makes it a much greater concern for them. Name and shame them all.