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

Response from Virgin Media regarding email telling them I was posting letter (Data Protection Act) and my disgust at any implementation of Phorm or anything like it

Thank you for your e-mail dated 2 August 2008 concerning Virgin Media using PHORM.

I am sorry that you feel this way. Phorm Is there to safegaurd our customers not to transfer information about our users. Webwise checks these sites against a list of fraudulent sites and warns customers if they're heading to one. They're given the option to continue to that site, so Webwise won't restrict their online experience in any way, but at least they'll be able to decide for themselves, and avoid the chance of this form of identity theft. In this way Webwise helps to secure our customers' privacy.

Another great thing about Webwise is that it can help reduce irrelevant advertising. As customers browse web pages, Webwise looks at things like search terms, and learns what topics might be of interest. This is done without collecting any personal information, so once again their privacy is protected. These topics are then used to help filter out adverts that might be irrelevant - instead they'll simply see an advert that will match a topic they're are more interested in.

Webwise doesn't capture or store any customer's personal details, only anonymous information about advertising categories that may be of interest to them. Webwise places a common cookie in web browsers - a small computer code with a unique, randomly generated number on it. With this cookie, Webwise can deliver warnings of potentially dangerous websites and replace untargeted ads with more relevant ones. This cookie can be deleted at any time.

Virgin Media strives to provide excellent service to all its loyal customers. I am sorry for any inconvenience. If you have further queries regarding this matter or any other issue, please use the link provided below:

In short they sent you the usual pointless, inaccurate, cut and paste waffle. If they can't do better than that there is little hope for them.:D

SelfProtection

03-08-2008 19:54

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by philj (Post 34614061)

Two opposing sentences in the same paragraph with makes a total nonsense of their entire Privacy Claims.

If a UID is Unique then it does identify the Surfer, especially if that cookie is not deleted till the intended expiration date!
Combinations of advertising categories will be unique to this Surfer, even if not thing else is harvested, which I doubt.

---------------
Webwise places a common cookie in web browsers - a small computer code with a unique, randomly generated number on it.

Webwise doesn't capture or store any customer's personal details, only anonymous information about advertising categories that may be of interest to them.

Tharrick

03-08-2008 20:54

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

In light of that, I'm now officially leaving VM. Looking at Be, and it's looking good.

Do I need a MAC key while changing from cable to ADSL?

madslug

03-08-2008 21:06

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

While on the subject of Webwise, I notice that the Phorm site is still talking about TalkTalk starting to use Webwise in the summer of 2008.
There is still nothing about Webwise on the TalkTalk site. Their Privacy Statement says little that could indicate a 3rd party like Webwise being used.

Does anyone know where TalkTalk customers 'hang out'? I have not noticed anyone on any of the Phorm-aware forums mentioning that they use TalkTalk.

Ravenheart

03-08-2008 21:10

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

The way PhilJ's reply from VM reads it's as if they're already using it.

I realise it looks like the standard cut and paste reply, but it seems a long way from the "we're only looking at it" responses a few of us got from them early on.

madslug

03-08-2008 21:13

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tharrick (Post 34614106)

In light of that, I'm now officially leaving VM. Looking at Be, and it's looking good.

Do I need a MAC key while changing from cable to ADSL?

That depends on whether you are on a cable or BT copper connection to your house. If via the local BT exchange, then you probably will need a MAC code.

The only advantage to having a MAC code is that you do not have to wait for the current ADSL to be removed from your line before you can ask for a new supplier. At worst, that means being without ADSL for a week (10 working days but usually supplied quicker.)

philj

03-08-2008 21:14

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

Have just emailed VM back and told them
Dont believe them
not convinced
Ashamed of them getting into bed with this mob
I expect the instructions in my letter to Data Controller to be carried out.

Philj
now where is Richard Branson's email address?

Tharrick

03-08-2008 21:20

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by madslug (Post 34614116)

Ah. I'm on their cable line right now

Florence

03-08-2008 21:23

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tharrick (Post 34614106)

In light of that, I'm now officially leaving VM. Looking at Be, and it's looking good.

Do I need a MAC key while changing from cable to ADSL?

No you will not need a MAC just the BT line in to move be carefull VM are claiming back dicounts when you cancel as I have found out.

Dephormation

03-08-2008 21:25

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tharrick (Post 34614131)

Ah. I'm on their cable line right now

When you arrange your ADSL service, plan for a little overlap between the two... say a week... and you'll have no problem.

I tried to do mine back to back, and with hind sight I think allowing a small overlap would have been a smarter plan.

If you want a drop in replacement for your cable modem, I can recommend the DrayTek Vigor 110 (...provided your router supports PPPoE).

Tharrick

03-08-2008 21:26

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

I think my contract expires at the end of the month - I simply plan not to renew

davews

03-08-2008 21:31

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Jones (Post 34613972)

I'm working on a Wikipedia article for the BT Total Broadband page. If anyone is interested in collaboration, please let me know. I'm particularly interested in someone who is more familiar with Wiki, and who can also provide appropriate hyperlinks etc. to my text.

Do you mean you are proposing changes to the already existing page on BT Total Broadband - on the URL you mentioned. That article has been there for a long time and has gone through quite a few changes, although not much in the Phorm/Webwise days. Surprisingly it is not even linked from the Phorm WP page, guess I can soon sort that out.

I have done a lot of editing on Wikipedia over the past couple of years. The normal rule applies - be bold and put in your changes and see what happens. But always to remember to follow Wikipedia policies and you will soon get put in your place if you start stating strong points of view or claims not backed up by authoritative references. I suspect a simple paragraph stating they have recently been involved in Phorm/Webwise and a link to the Phorm article will be enough, anything more will probably get stamped on. I know, I have been through all that, you soon find your place there...

phormwatch

03-08-2008 21:33

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

http://stevenimmons.org/blogs/steven...ne-advertising

Florence

03-08-2008 21:40

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tharrick (Post 34614147)

I think my contract expires at the end of the month - I simply plan not to renew

they auto renew if you do not cancel 30days notice to cancel..

Quote:

The backlash against Beacon and public meetings over Phorm indicate that the consumer must not be rushed. The Internet has an almost unique position in modern culture, for many a last bastion of escapism. We are profiled regularly in ‘real world’ retailing, resistance to which has largely faded, but Internet anonymity will not be easily surrendered. Trust, data security and privacy must be addressed with users and not ‘in spite of them’. The key sell is advertising ‘as content inline with user experience’. Enriching and non-interruptive models coupled with Semantic Web and Web3.0 herald an exciting future for the industry and Internet community.

I have selected this paragraph to talk about from your link phormwatch many thanks for the link. Highlights by me.

I have placed in Bold my main gripe...
It is not "we must not be rushed" I feel this should be "we will not be profiled at the expence of privacy, human rights and copyright infringement from websites we visit."

In the real world retail we give them as much or as little informatioin as we want no retail shop sends anyone around the store following every customers jotting down notes of everything we look at, touch, or buy.

Not always many of us still only give out as much or little as we wish. If it was surrenders anyone downloading copyrighted files would get a notices direct from the authorities not via their ISPs.

BT, TalkTalk and Virgin Media have already caused the ripples we used to trust them now I certainly don't hence why I moved to a smaller ISP that answered my questions promptly with answers that gave me hope there are still some who are not out to rip of the customers. There will never be any trust from Internet users who have come into contact with Kents previous rootkit targeted advertisements, none of my data will ever be profiled by his company or anyother company like his.

Interception will not enrich the internet, advertisments will not enrich the surfing for me I block them.

Quote:

Web3.0 herald an exciting future for the industry and Internet community

Or the death of freedom of speach, freedom to visit any websaite you wish turning the WWW into mini China around the world with many places blocked.

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