Web snooping/ad outfit Phorm is to cease trading.

[Stuart]

Some of our older members may well remember a series of threads about a company called "Phorm".

This company were promising to offer a system to help protect the user against web malware, while usually glossing over the fact that the way they were going to do this involved installing hardware at each client ISP which would collect data on user's browsing habits, with the user being required to opt out of the system, and the company assuring us that any users who had opted out would not have their habits recorded.

As you may or may not have guessed, I was most definitely against the system.

Anyhow, after a campaign run on both this and other websites, BT (who were trialling Phorm) and other ISPs (who were considering trialling it) dropped the system, and for the last few years, they've been burning through Venture Capital with only the odd ISP trying the system.

Finally, after several years, they've folded.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04...eases_trading/

[solitaire]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Some of our older members may well remember a series of threads about a company called "Phorm".

This company were promising to offer a system to help protect the user against web malware, while usually glossing over the fact that the way they were going to do this involved installing hardware at each client ISP which would collect data on user's browsing habits, with the user being required to opt out of the system, and the company assuring us that any users who had opted out would not have their habits recorded.

As you may or may not have guessed, I was most definitely against the system.

Anyhow, after a campaign run on both this and other websites, BT (who were trialling Phorm) and other ISPs (who were considering trialling it) dropped the system, and for the last few years, they've been burning through Venture Capital with only the odd ISP trying the system.

Finally, after several years, they've folded.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04...eases_trading/

That's good news, I was personally against the idea.

[Stop It]

Wow, that's a (bad) memory.

Phorm was a horrific company that sold itself to the ISPs completely disingenuously. I was shocked BT didn't drop them faster although I think they were trying to save face at the time. There is nothing wrong with companies trying to rid the internet of Malware, this was not designed for that at all. It was ripe for mis-use and I'm glad they've finally gone away for good.

Good news.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Some of our older members may well remember a series of threads about a company called "Phorm".

This company were promising to offer a system to help protect the user against web malware, while usually glossing over the fact that the way they were going to do this involved installing hardware at each client ISP which would collect data on user's browsing habits, with the user being required to opt out of the system, and the company assuring us that any users who had opted out would not have their habits recorded.

As you may or may not have guessed, I was most definitely against the system.

Anyhow, after a campaign run on both this and other websites, BT (who were trialling Phorm) and other ISPs (who were considering trialling it) dropped the system, and for the last few years, they've been burning through Venture Capital with only the odd ISP trying the system.

Finally, after several years, they've folded.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04...eases_trading/

Remember it well and the outburst against it at the time.

Good riddance.

A good idea but implemented the wrong way. Opt in rather that opt out and it may still be going with acceptance though not by me.