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

While I don't think his PR minions did him any good at all (quite the reverse in fact), I do agree that he's his own worst publicity, every time I see him on camera I can barely restrain myself from shouting foul imprecations at the screen. I'm a fairly volatile person (especially when it comes to shouting at screens), so I expect most people will have a less extreme reaction, but I imagine it will still be there.

That drawling, patronising, dismissive, "I'm so much more in the know than you, peon" attitude may go down a storm in the US, but in the UK, not so much.

Good work on the interview Alexander, I'd love to see the whole thing, that interviewer chap looked like he was going to faint at the end.

I'd have to watch it again, and I can't just now (because I have to go out and deal with the fact that I have accidentally melted my bank card into an interesting shape) but I think there is a moment in the whole pony adverts section where KE disses his own business model while trying to suggest that pony leakage is likely to be minimal. Doesn't he imply (in fact, I think he actually says it) that in fact the ads won't be all that relevant (as many of us have suspected all along) as an explanation of why pony confidentiality will be maintained?

I kind of missed it, because I was full of Kent inspired bile, and he was talking over the interviewer, displaying the cultured manners with which we have come to associate him, but I'm sure it's there.

Possibly be worth doing a transcript, if I'm not imaging it.

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

Sort of off topic... Network Solutions have been hi-jacking peoples websites, using broken links, inactive pages etc:

Snippet
Full story: http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/20...er-controversy

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

Can someone ask on the Virgin Media feedback newsgroup... I'm an exVirgin these days...

If Phorm has been tested internally by VM then

a) What content was used to test it, and was that content drawn from the web, directly or indirectly? Who's content was used?

b) If it was purely internal, why does this Webwise site contain a Javascript which references Virgin Media users...

http://www.webwise.com/script/webwise.js

Code:

---

                else if (hostname.match(/^(.+\.)?virginmedia.com$/)) {
                        userType = 'Virgin User';
                        createCookie(userTypeCookieName, userType, userTypeCookieDuration);
                }

---

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

That is an excellent way to discribe it

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

Hmm if not quite a smoking gun certainly an indication that VMs intent was a bit more developed than it is being touted as today. ;)

What about the script - just something to 'tailor' the spin would you say?

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

It could be... But if you have no commitment to implement, why would you as a software supplier write code to adapt your product to suit Virgin's end users? Particularly on a machine external to Virgins network?

And what purpose would an internal test serve if it was not conducted on a substantial volume of web content from a variety of sources... ie drawn from the internet directly or indirectly. If I own that content and I deny you the right to process it in this way, then I'm not going to be a happy bunny if it is the data you use to test your spyware.

I believe, if only the Police/Home Office would investigate VM, they'd find more evidence. For end users its near impossible; everything is circumstantial without server side data. With Police powers VM offices could be raided.

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

Spin? Did anyone see this post on El Reg:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05...ents/#c_214160

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

Yes as you say there are many unanswered questions. When BT did its 2006 trial the product was obviously different to now - witness the javascript injections. Did they spend the last 2 years on development - that's a long time. And they are still tweaking around how they mangle cookies and hastily how to have a non-cookie based opt in/out. My guess is that they started with their spyware ad-serving infrastructure and tried to mate it with DPI and the layer 7 switch much later. And maybe what they are pushing now is actually a stripped down version of the 2006 product - after all it is apparently only a subset of what is in the patent.

So what exactly were VM playing with 'in the lab.'?

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

Just spoken to a friend who is a wizard at scripting he said it looks fine legal coding but is scarey as it misses the else so if it doesnt match any rule it does nothing.

cookie lasts 24days which is long time it checks which internet you are using if you are on Bt then it checks to see if you are bt.com then adds the cookie same for VM if you are on VM then it adds cookie for VM will be same for TalkTalk if we had anyone who could visit it and copy and paste their findings.
When I visit it I get.
It sees I am on BT but not BT.com so does nothing

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

How about this one (taken from the original article on El Reg)

"The company's business model revolves around distributing its PageSense technology to as many users as possible and showing users as many advertisements as possible, without causing negative reaction, to maximise response. "

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

If only that were true, I'd even consider opting in :D.

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

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

I've always found it subtly ironic that their strapline should be

"The Phorm Privacy Revolution"

Did they really mean to start a revolution?

They've certainly provoked a rebellion.

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

Definitive response from Plusnet re Madasafish use of Front Porch:

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

My bad. Sincere apols, shan't happen again. :dunce: