Quote:
Originally Posted by flowrebmit
Anyone else wondered why the allegedly random Webwise UID is so LARGE?
According to Richard Clayton's technical notes point 31, Phorm say that the Webwise UID numbers that will be stored in our browser's cookies is a 16 byte random number. A 16 byte number can range from 0 to 4.3 x 10^38 (or to express it another way that is 43 followed by 37 zeros). It is a mind-boggling large number, so why is the random number so big?
It seems (to me) too much of a coincidence that the replacement IPv6 addressing scheme is 16 bytes long...
For info, an IPv4 address, ones that you may be familar with (e.g. 87.106.129.133) is just a 4 byte number written in a form that is slightly easier for humans to understand.
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I don't think it could be a user's IPv4 address (unless that is a dynamic address?) since every time the user at a particular IP address deletes their Phorm UID cookie, the replacement one they are issued with is different to the previous one.
Perhaps it's because they anticipate a lot of people blocking the permanent cookie, and thus requiring a new unique number for every page they visit? At least with that many to choose from, we might actually avoid being given a recycled one that was previously assigned to someone else (and may well be associated with that person's "habits")
One thing that struck me about Richard's technical description was the fact that the UID number will also be incorporated into the site cookie of each website you visit that uses the OIX advertising platform. If that's true, then won't
each site be able to associate the user's IP address with their Phorm UID number (and, if you've entered your real name, address, credit card number, etc. on their site, also to all of these "real world" details)? That potentially means that each website that uses OIX adverts will be able to link your real identity, personal details and financial details with your web activity profile. Hmmm. Tell me again Phorm, how is this better than Google?