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

[Kursk]

Thanks for comments and additional contributions. UPDATED
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[OF1975]

Good work kursk.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by vicz

This would concern me far less than being profiled in order to line the pockets of spyware **** and incompetent ailing ISPs.

There is a separate debate to be had about individual freedoms v national security. In fact MI5 or whoever wouldn't need something as sophisticated as phorm to spy on your data stream.

No they would just put a L7 switch in place and duplicate the data stream off to Thames House (and probably Vauxhall Cross for good measure).

[AlexanderHanff]

My email to APWG:

Hello,

I am very concerned to see that you have signed up Phorm Inc. as a member. As I am sure you are aware Phorm Inc. have been the root of a major controversy in the UK where they are trying to deploy Layer 7 network technology to generate behavioural profiles of UK broadband users based on the web sites they visit. Phorm Inc. are the new name for 121Media, a company which was pretty much chased out of the US on the threat of law suits regarding their adware which utilised root kit technology.

Senior Law academics, legal experts, technologists, politicians and peers in the House of Lords are pressuring the UK Government to initiate a criminal investigation into Phorm Inc. and one of their partner ISPs for what have been described as illegal trials of the technology in 2006 and 2007. I myself have appeared as a guest speaker at the Phorm PIA public meeting where I discussed the privacy concerns stemming from their proposed technology as well as having appeared on a BBC technology news show (broadcast world wide) and other press/media engagements.

I wrote a legal analysis of the 2006/2007 trials (in which Phorm Inc. were complicit at the very least) which I have attached to this email for you to read. The dissertation has received very positive comments from privacy advocates and legal experts and is in fact being cited at an ISPA Legal Forum in London next month.

I should also advise you that news of your organisation accepting Phorm as a member is being seen in very bad light by the public based on all the feedback I have seen thus far.

I would urge you to refund Phorm Inc. their membership fee and expel them from your organisation in the interests of integrity and public opinion. I am of course available should you wish to contact me and discuss the issue in more detail.

Sincerely,

Alexander Hanff
University of Cumbria

PS: I will be publishing this email in the public domain and any responses I may receive.

Alexander Hanff

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by OF1975

Good work kursk.

Originally Posted by AlexanderHanff

My email to APWG:
Alexander Hanff

[Bobcat]

@RJ & OB re: BT Forums.

See:http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...=3514&tstart=0

Posts 4 & 5 mention phorm. Sorry for delay - just catching up now.

[SpinyNorman]

Im just about to email APWG and I notice that Frontporch is also a sponsor!

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by SpinyNorman

Im just about to email APWG and I notice that Frontporch is also a sponsor!

Interesting:

After years of targeting individuals who loaded up their PCs with unauthorized copies of songs, movies and TV shows, copyright owners now are turning their attention to Internet service providers -- including cable ops, telcos and others -- whose broadband data networks are instruments of illegal content access and sharing of illegal files. Copyright owners want ISPs to take a stronger role in proactively notifying users of potential abuses.

The good news is that new technologies are emerging to help operators with these sticky concerns, including online messaging systems. These systems dispatch warnings directly to Internet-connected subs' PC screens if they're downloading unauthorized content. And, beyond heading off copyright abuse, an operator also can use these tools for other purposes including keeping customers updated on the likes of localized network issues.

Phorm may not only be about targeted ads. Big business is trying to protect its honeypot. Simon, we need your help.

[declanh]

I happened to notice that

"Hiss! Who ? Hint - Beware Pimping !"

is an anagram of

"Phorm Webwise anti-phishing"


:-)

[ziggycat]

They're trying to buy themselves credibility,

My email to APWG,

APWG,

I would like to express my concern on your recent announcement that Phorm Inc. have been allowed to join the APWG.
This company has a known history (previously 121media) of using rootkit technology to deploy adware, I would therefore ask you reconsider allowing them membership to your association..

Your membership eligibility states. Quote;
“Membership is open to qualified financial institutions, online retailers, ISPs, the law enforcement community, security solutions providers and research institutions”

I don’t see where Phorm Inc. falls into any of these categories.

The bottom line to this announcement is it undermines the association’s credibility in the public eye. There is currently a very active online community of people who object to Phorm’s use of deep packet inspection technology to intercept data and profile them based on browsing habits.

It is yet to be proved that what Phorm are proposing to do is even legal under several acts including privacy and DPA.

I urge you to further investigate this company and its history, to make an informed decision rather than a financial one, and to see beyond Phorm’s PR spin.

Regards,

As OF1975 said;

"Anti-Phishing Working Group withdraws Phorm Membership"

That would be a nice concrete achievement if we could make it happen and would help to increase publicity and would be one more nail in the coffin.

[AlexanderHanff]

Originally Posted by declanh

I happened to notice that

"Hiss! Who ? Hint - Beware Pimping !"

is an anagram of

"Phorm Webwise anti-phishing"


:-)

That's like my computer's dictionary suggesting Virus as the correct spelling of Phorm's US COO.

Alexander Hanff

[SpinyNorman]

well here's my email to apwg

Hello

I am appalled to see that you have Phorm as one of your sponsors.

In case you are unaware Phorm as they are now known are in the business of targeted advertising whereby they intercept all of a users surfing clickstream data (at the ISP level) create a profile of said user so they can send advertisements to an individual’s pc.

Details can be found here http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001420.html

In their previous incarnation Phorm were known as 121Media a spyware/adware company that used rootkits (notably one called Apropos) to surreptitiously serve a user with targeted popup adverts.

Details can be found here http://www.f-secure.com/sw-desc/apropos.shtml

At the moment here in the UK there are Major arguments reaching as high as the House of Commons and the House of Lords surrounding the legalities of this company where privacy is concerned.

I really feel that taking Phorm as one of your partners undermines the great work you are trying to achieve and I urge you to return their sponsorship money and cancel their membership.

Yours sincerely

lets see if I get a reply.

[AlexanderHanff]

If enough people email them I am sure at least one of us will get a response.

Alexander Hanff

[OF1975]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHanff

If enough people email them I am sure at least one of us will get a response.

Alexander Hanff

Agreed. Good going everyone

[Rchivist]

Originally Posted by Bobcat

@RJ & OB re: BT Forums.

See:http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/th...=3514&tstart=0

Posts 4 & 5 mention phorm. Sorry for delay - just catching up now.

And you will see moderator has edited the 5th post.
http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/me...ID=19692#19692