Thread: Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]
View Single Post
Old 10-04-2008, 19:29   #2863
AlexanderHanff
Permanently Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,028
AlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful oneAlexanderHanff is the helpful one
Re: Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797]
I wonder how long it will be before Phorm "reconfigure" the hardware during an "update" so that it changes search engine results to place their advertising partners at the top. If done correctly it would be very difficult to detect and prove.

Alexander Hanff

---------- Post added at 19:29 ---------- Previous post was at 19:21 ----------

I just sent a follow-up email to Tom:

Hello again Tom,

I should have included this in my first email but it just occurred to me. It would be possible for Phorm (using the deep packet inspection technology) to alter search results on their way back to the user in order to place their advertising partners at the top of the list. If done correctly, I can't see how it would be detectable as my understanding is most search engine results are at least pseudo random, at best it would be difficult to detect and further prove. Given the history of the Phorm executives in the Spyware industry (121media) this could represent a significant threat to search engine business models.

Regards

Alexander Hanff
AlexanderHanff is offline