Ntl Advice On Spyware Ho Ho Ho

Frostbite · 22-12-2004, 18:43

I just have to laugh at NTL's advice on spyware, don't know for sure if it happens on that link but I know for sure that when I click on LOADS of ntl links, i get a Spyware alert, adviva I believe is one they use,,,naughty.

Frosty

threadbare · 22-12-2004, 19:01

a pop up advert isn't spyware. its an advert - thats what pop up blockers are for.

Frostbite · 22-12-2004, 19:12

Based on this ,I would consider it to be spyware.

http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/a/adviva.asp

Frosty

andygrif · 22-12-2004, 20:00

Considering that most pop-up ads also contain tracking cookies, I'd class them as spyware.

threadbare · 22-12-2004, 22:45

tracking cookies are hardly spyware. there are just small text files

Frostbite · 23-12-2004, 01:27

Yes and what do they do?

Frosty

threadbare · 23-12-2004, 09:30

the same thing as most cookies actually - just because they are from known spyware sites they are labelled as tracking cookies.

Frostbite · 23-12-2004, 11:51

Yes precisely, which means your movements on the web are being monitored and to me that means I'm being spied on thus spyware.

Frosty

Toto · 23-12-2004, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frostbite

Yes precisely, which means your movements on the web are being monitored and to me that means I'm being spied on thus spyware.

Frosty

The tracking data in cookies does not identify you as an individual, and are only normally used to push advertisments to you based on your browsing habits.

SpyBot S&D as an example will always baulk at ntl and other sites that use the double click cookie tracking method - short answer here is to put up with it, its not causing you harm. Actually, its not ntl that uses the data, its the advert companies that ntl use, and they have extremely stiif privacy policies. ntl would be remis if any data was colated that could breach the Data Protection Act.

If you are concerned about privacy, maybe the Internet is not the best place to be

Frostbite · 23-12-2004, 16:31

Thanks Toto for that answer and I think I have to agree with you but I do think it would be better if maybe NTL made people more aware as to what they use regarding things like tracking cookies, maybe at the same time as they put out the warning about spyware. Regarding the best place for me, well my attitude is that because of what we are talking about now, we will put pressure on those responsible to make the web as secure as is possible, after all we are being encouraged to use it more and more eg banking, shopping.

Frosty

Frank · 23-12-2004, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

ntl would be remis if any data was colated that could breach the Data Protection Act.

Well don't worry, ntl are well practiced at dodging the DPA and feeding BS to the Information Commissioner.

threadbare · 23-12-2004, 18:16

I don't really want to get into this arguement, but ntl are a service provider they are not responsible for educating ppl on the perils of the web.

Unfortuately no one seems to have taken on this responsability either, so ppl are left to learn from their mistakes.

Toto · 24-12-2004, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frostbite

Thanks Toto for that answer and I think I have to agree with you but I do think it would be better if maybe NTL made people more aware as to what they use regarding things like tracking cookies, maybe at the same time as they put out the warning about spyware. Regarding the best place for me, well my attitude is that because of what we are talking about now, we will put pressure on those responsible to make the web as secure as is possible, after all we are being encouraged to use it more and more eg banking, shopping.

Frosty

A fair comment

Dug this up from the ntl privacy statement.

Cookies:

Use of Cookies on our site
Like most major websites, ntl uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies allow ntl to arrange content to match your preferred interests. The following information explains how ntl uses cookies on our websites.

What is a cookie?
A cookie is a text-only string of information that a website transfers to the cookie file of the browser on your computer's hard disk so that the website can remember who you are. A cookie will typically contain the name of the domain from which the cookie has come, the "lifetime" of the cookie, and a value, usually a randomly generated unique number.

We use the following types of cookies on our websites.

Session Cookies
These are temporary cookies that remain in the cookie file of your browser until you leave the site. We use these cookies:

To allow information to carry across pages of our site and avoid you having to re-enter information
To allow you to maintain a shopping basket
Within registration to allow you to access stored information

Persistent cookies
These cookies remain in the cookie file of your browser for much longer (though how long will depend on the lifetime of the specific cookie). Cookies cannot be used by themselves to identify you. We use these cookies:

To help us recognise you as a unique visitor (just a number) when you return to our website and to allow us to tailor content or advertisements to match your preferred interests
To compile anonymous, aggregated statistics that allow us to understand how users use our site and to help us improve the structure of our website. We cannot identify you personally in this way.

Third Party Cookies
We also allow third parties to serve cookies via this site. These are used for the following purposes:

To count the number of anonymous users of our site and allow us to better understand user activity
To tailor content to your preferences
To serve advertisements on our site and track whether these advertisements are clicked on by users
To control how often you are shown a particular advertisement
To tailor content to your preferences
To provide security within shopping baskets or transactions

Advertising
Internet advertisements on the ntl web sites are served through 24/7 Real Media Open AdStream technology. 24/7 Real Media does not collect personal identifiable information (such as name, address, phone number and email address) that may be used to identify ntl users. Only anonymous information about your Internet browser and Web surfing is collected and used to better determine which ads to show you and to prevent repetitive ads being delivered to the same user. 24/7 Real Media and ntl are firmly committed to protecting the privacy of Internet users and fostering consumer confidence in the Internet, Internet advertising and direct marketing.

http://www.home.ntl.com/page/privacy&source=ntlworld

Toto · 24-12-2004, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank

Well don't worry, ntl are well practiced at dodging the DPA and feeding BS to the Information Commissioner.

Frank, your views on ntl are well known, and may be justified, but your comment is more of an indigtment on the Information Comissioner than ntl. Heaven help us if he can't smell the BS

I'm sure you would have to agree, given your network and Internet experiance that tracking cookies are not an invasion of privacy, and despite ntl's best efforts, they do not have the technology, staff nor the where with all to make anything more of the data collected by such technology. The tracking cookes are there to ensure that adverts clicked on by the user are not fed through again, and a fresh bunch of ads are sent, and only the advertising companies use the data, not ntl themselves. All they (ntl) do is collect the comissions on any sales generated from the click throughs.

poolking · 24-12-2004, 23:28

This is the Information Commisioner as in appointed by Labour?

If so doesn't this party run on BS?