Virgin Media Phorm Webwise Adverts [Updated: See Post No. 1, 77, 102 & 797] - Page 911

11-08-2008, 04:15

morphisafb

This forum has a single thread on the subject of Webwise and Phorm. There are hundreds of other threads covering a wide range of subjects which you may also wish to peruse.

If you have an interest in the subject being discussed in this thread then please feel free to join in the debate but if it is not to your liking I'm sure that you will find plenty to occupy you by visiting the forum home page and reading through the list of other topics or even join in the fun and start your own thread on a subject that does interest you.

Rchivist · 11-08-2008, 06:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by icsys

Most of this is already in hand at WhatdoTheyKnow
Responses are due around the end of August and early September.

thanks - let me know if you want any more done. Thought it was worth pointing out the relevance of the tribunal ruling though as you can quote it back at them if they try and delaying/avoiding tactics.

Raistlin · 11-08-2008, 06:47

Just e reminder that anybody is allowed to post an opinion here, provided that (in the opinion of the Team) they arent breaching any of our Terms of Use.

**Mick** · 11-08-2008, 08:10

However, provocative postings aimed at causing a flame war with fellow posters will not be tolerated ...

I will not have people joining this debate mocking others who have spent time and effort in trying to establish a reasonable debate on this issue for some stupid people to come along and post crap which I just deleted above.

If you have an opposing view lets hear it but without calling other people, inflaming others and making childish remarks, some people need to grow the hell up.

Dephormation · 11-08-2008, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpsonsFAN

out of interest, is there anyway I can find out if my connection is being phormed ? or does anyone know of phorm being tested in the cambridge area ?

Hi Chris,

couple of points to add.

The Dephormation add on will opt you out of Phorm, but it doesn't give you any security/privacy protection. It simply sets a cookie which begs Phorm to ignore your surfing.

My Dephormation site has a number of tests for Phorm, but because Phorm control the network between you and Dephormation, it is possible that Dephormation will be black listed (to limit the ability to capture information about Phormed web users). So don't rely on the results of tests run from that site.

The only way to ensure the security, privacy, and integrity of your data comms is to move to a Phorm free ISP.

If you're on cable there are tips here for moving away from cable economically and painlessly.

If you haven't sent Virgin a DPA section 11 notice, you can print one off here. You should do so immediately, and keep a copy (should you discover you have been a trial victim you can take legal action).

You should also write to your MP. Again, there is a wizard you can use to generate a letter here. Print, sign, and post.

If you're involved in internet publishing/ecommerce in any way you should be aware that Phorm takes copies of you creative work, and use marketing intelligence gleaned from your interactions with customers to promote your competitors. If you need more info, just ask.

Pete.

**Mick** · 11-08-2008, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphisafb

It's adverts mate, nothing more, nothing less

It's not just adverts, its intrusive bloody spying on peoples browsing habits and not a lot of people want that which is what this thread is all about.

We do not want these these so called adverts-end of story. When ISPs realise this together with Phorm, the better.

So there is my view, nothing more, nothing less. if I see you attack me like you have others, because attacking others is the only way to get attention and yourself noticed, (I've always maintained this type of poster is a weak person) I will take the appropriate action.

warescouse · 11-08-2008, 08:40

To any posters who think "It's adverts mate, nothing more, nothing less"

It's not actually NOT if you read up on the subject but in answer to that particular statement.

Regarding adverts, so is a lot of Spam, So are a lot of Trojans, so are a lot of Browser Helper Objects (BHO's) that take over your surfing and take you to sites you don't wish to visit. A lot of these are recognised by anti-virus companies as particularly dangerous.

If it was just only about adverts, it wouldn't mean it is particularly safe anyhow so the argument is flawed.

Dephormation · 11-08-2008, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

It's not just adverts, its intrusive bloody spying on peoples browsing habits and not a lot of people want that which is what this thread is all about.

I think there's more at stake here than many people realise.

A web request travels over a point to point connection, it is not a broadcast transmission open to anyone who cares to receive it*.

And all data on the wire is simply 1s and 0s, web traffic included.

So, if the Government tolerate interception of web traffic without consent of both parties... there is no coherent or logical argument against interception of VOIP, email, SMS, even standard telephony (which is also digital once it reaches an exchange). Indeed, it is clear parasitic 'cross channel' marketing is something Phorm aspire to.

Your right to private data communication is at stake.

Phorm must be stopped

* as was pointed out earlier in the thread, even some forms of 'broadcast' are private, BT were keen to ensure the local loop broadcast of their AGM remained 'private'.

Florence · 11-08-2008, 09:07

Seems there has been a litle news over the delayed trials from BT more a good time to get a little more info out there since the news on ISPreview auto links to a thread for comments.

Quote:

According to Adam Liversage, BT's chief press officer, the trial has not been abandoned:
"We are still planning to trial the technology, but have not started doing so yet. We are currently working on some things before we can begin, but are expecting the trials to commence soon."

bluecar1 · 11-08-2008, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florence

Seems there has been a litle news over the delayed trials from BT more a good time to get a little more info out there since the news on ISPreview auto links to a thread for comments.

interesting

"trials not expected to begin until after a respone to the EU request"

seems to blow out the water the option of a start during the olympics

ho hum

mean while phorm are burning up the cash with PR firms and trying to retrofit there spyware / adware to make it compliant with legal requirements

peter

Dephormation · 11-08-2008, 09:55

clickz.com: B.T. Still Stalling Phorm Trials in UK

http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3630476

Quotes Adam Liversage, BT.

davews · 11-08-2008, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpsonsFAN

out of interest, is there anyway I can find out if my connection is being phormed ? or does anyone know of phorm being tested in the cambridge area ?

And nobody has actually answered you question...

As far as we can tell, Phorm is not being trialled ANYWHERE in the UK at the moment. You will see from the latest postings that the 'imminent' BT trials seem to be delayed yet again - and if it they are depending on a response from the Government that probably means not until Christmas now. Virgin and TalkTalk seem to be keeping a low profile waiting for BT to act first, if they had started trials then this is the first place you would hear about it... Meanwhile Phorm continues to brag about its 'technology' but there is no firm evidence that even that exists....

Keep up the good work chaps. With any luck my BT contract will have completed (next March) before anything happens.

Dave

davethejag · 11-08-2008, 11:19

Hi, The Virgin Media marketing head has quit. here -

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=6633

I wonder if anybody has any ideas that his replacement would like to use to make Virgin Media more attractive to customers!

Dave.

Kymmy · 11-08-2008, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by davethejag

Hi, The Virgin Media marketing head has quit. here -

Come on guys, it's a big enough thread without it going off-topic, posts about head of marketing quitting is nothing to do with Phorm unless someone confirms that he quit because of Phorm.

Dephormation · 11-08-2008, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by davethejag

Hi, The Virgin Media marketing head has quit. here -

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=6633

It is interesting, in context. He joined July 2006. You'd expect a guy in marketing to know about Phorm.

Similarly the previous CEO, Steve Burch, resigned suddenly in August 2007 citing "family and personal reasons"... and returning to the USA. Again, someone who would have been famliar with Phorm.

Also, CFO Jacques Kerrest left in April 2008. You'd expect him to know about a new source of income.

And 'Managing Director of Customer Care' Steve Stewart in new year 2008.

And Ernie Cormier 'Head of Strategy' at the same time. He returned to the USA. Wasn't Phorm announced as a strategic partnership with Virgin Media?

So lots of movement in the stratosphere at Virgin since August 2007.

Should point out, there is nothing to link these events directly to Phorm.

Yet, many of the people who would have known about or authorised Phorm have seemingly been purged from the organisation. And the Americans have left the country.