Bad Phorm

santa claus · 15-03-2008, 12:48 PM

There's a thread over at Network and Broadband that has wider implications for the greater majority of internet users. A Company called Phorm has plans that represent the biggest intrusion into personal privacy since Big Brother started filming our every move as we walk around the shops. There is an absolute furore about it on a number of other forums.

Phorm has the potential to monitor all your internet browsing through the auspices of your ISP. The system they propose is "opt-out" not "opt-in" so all your browsing will be monitored unless you "opt-out" everytime you browse by retaining the Phorm cookie permanently on your computer. Even then, your visits to sites can be logged.

Phorm as a Company is headed by a man previously involved in spyware and root kits. The question in relation to the use of your data is, as Dirty Harry would say, "Well punk, d'ya feel lucky?" because they will see everything you do and serve you targeted ads for your viewing pleasure. What else they will do with your information is anybody's guess.

Your ISP will be rewarded with millions of pounds. You will pay them for your internet service and advertisers will pay them for your data. They get paid twice. You get nothing but trash and being constantly "watched" and personally targeted.

Bad Phorm. Very bad phorm.

sammyc · 15-03-2008, 02:07 PM

'he knows when you are sleeping - he knows when you're awake - he knows if you've been good or bad..' pot? kettle?

sorry. spamming again. bad sammy.. will go have proper, serious look at this.

Oobie- · 15-03-2008, 02:22 PM

Oh my. I think this may create a huge gap between ISP's then. Surely not EVERY ISP will give in to this and thus become more popular - still, doesn't this infringe on the data protection/privacy act?

Proxies w00t!

**Paulm@scan** · 15-03-2008, 02:30 PM

We know

Phorm - a sign of things to come?

SiM · 15-03-2008, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by santa claus

There's a thread over at Network and Broadband

Originally Posted by Paulm@scan

We know

Phorm - a sign of things to come?

Santa knows too

Are you guys sure that this is not an early April's fools joke?

Lucio · 15-03-2008, 06:10 PM

I hope each of you are writing to your local MP's, because you sure as hell can expect this to spread to other ISP's unless we actually take the time to stand against this.

Most of you would be nervous if this was being gathered by MI5, let alone a private company!

JK Ferret · 15-03-2008, 07:23 PM

I don't click on any ads ever, only ever really see them when it's a rollover type, and I rollover on accident (like the coke ad that was at the top of these pages)

This is just another catastrophe waiting to happen, it'll be Northern Rock all over again, but on a larger scale.

Anyone know if Orange is on the chair for naughty ISPs?

educatedfool · 15-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Filming people walk around shops is not really an invasion of privacy. It's a public area, what kind of privacy do you want? Same goes with most CCTV camera's to be honest.

On the other hand, monitoring your internet usage is ridiculous, and if i get this crap with BT I most certainly won't be staying with them.

Lucio · 15-03-2008, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by educatedfool

On the other hand, monitoring your internet usage is ridiculous, and if i get this crap with BT I most certainly won't be staying with them.

Well you're getting it whether you like it or not, change now and you'll have to be sure you get something that's LLU unbundled because I can't see BT not shoving it on the BT Wholesale network

santa claus · 16-03-2008, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by Paulm@scan

We know

Phorm - a sign of things to come?

Yep, as SiM says, I know you know but this is an issue worthy of broader discussion which is why I posted here (read my OP ffs). This is not an April Fool's Day joke. We are the fools if we let it happen - they will nail all ISP's sooner or later.

There is already an e-petition with over 4500 signatures.

Think about what you're giving up if this goes ahead

**Agent** · 16-03-2008, 12:28 AM

Good post Santa. You get an extra pie this year

santa claus · 16-03-2008, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Agent

Good post Santa. You get an extra pie this year

Thank you Agent. By Christmas 2008, Phorm will have their finger in that pie.

Mike Fishcake · 17-03-2008, 12:07 PM

Bloody hell people - come on! Is hardly anyone bothered about this? Not even one (full) page on this section and only three pages in the networking section...

**Paulm@scan** · 17-03-2008, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by santa claus

Yep, as SiM says, I know you know but this is an issue worthy of broader discussion which is why I posted here (read my OP ffs). This is not an April Fool's Day joke. We are the fools if we let it happen - they will nail all ISP's sooner or later.

There is already an e-petition with over 4500 signatures.

Think about what you're giving up if this goes ahead

OMG sorry FFS lol

MadduckUK · 17-03-2008, 12:14 PM

signed

Salazaar · 17-03-2008, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Mike Fishcake

Bloody hell people - come on! Is hardly anyone bothered about this? Not even one page on this section and only three pages in the networking section...

No one knows if or when it's going to be rolled out, or in what way this opt-in/out thing is going to work. There's no point getting all 'Daily Mail' about it until it becomes a real issue.

You could alway just switch ISP for one that doesn't use Phorm anyway.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)