BT, Webwise and ISP-snooping. What you need to know.

Would you allow your post to be opened
to improve the quality of junk mail you receive?

That's the kind of thing BT want to do with your Internet connection.
They are partnering with a company called Phorm to intercept, read and
analyse your web browsing so that they can use that information to choose
which advertisements to show you. BT are calling this scheme "Webwise".

Virgin Media and TalkTalk have also signed agreements with Phorm, but
both companies appear to be waiting to see what happens with BT.


Surely this can't happen?

It's already happening. Since October 2008 BT have been interrupting
selected home broadband users' web browsing and proposing Webwise to them
as part of a trial of the scheme. This follows earlier trials in 2006 and
again in 2007 when they intercepted and read Internet activity from tens
of thousands of their broadband users, without ever asking for their
consent.


How does it work?

If you say yes to the Webwise invitation, an identifier is placed on your
computer. Webwise associates this with groups of interests which
correspond to advertising campaigns. BT and Phorm claim that this
information about you is anonymous. Attributions

If you say no to the Webwise invitation, Webwise writes a file to your
computer to indicate that you have opted out. But everything you do on
the web still passes through their interception equipment.


What are the risks?

You have to trust that BT will keep all personally identifiable
information - names, addresses, postcodes, detailed interests - secure.
Yet for several months to October 2008, BT Forums leaked names and email
addresses of BT account holders who weren't even active forum users.

You have to trust Phorm's systems to work in the way they have promised.
Yet Phorm were formerly known as 121media, and their products were
blacklisted by at least three anti-virus companies.

You have to trust that BT will only intercept and read your web activity
in the way they have promised. Yet a month into the current trial, a
Webwise invitation was issued to a PlusNet user, PlusNet Forum Posting
even though BT had stated that PlusNet was excluded from the trial.

You have to trust BT that they will not use the equipment which
intercepts your web activity to change data that you send to websites.
Yet during trials of the technology in 2006, data was altered between
users and the websites they were visiting.


Who loses out?

If you accept BT's Webwise invitation . . .
BT's Webwise invitation web page does not tell you that if you say "yes"
then almost everything you do on the Internet from then on will be
intercepted and read. Nor do BT check if it's you, one of your children,
or a visitor who has given consent. And once opted in, even your children
using the Internet for their homework may have their data read and
profiled.

If you refuse BT's Webwise invitation . . .
Everything you do on the Web will still pass through the equipment to be
used for intercepting and reading the activity of users who decide to opt
into the trial. This increases risks to the privacy, security and
integrity of your web activity.

If you run a website . . .
Everything on your website, together with private communications with
your users, may be exploited to profile and identify your visitors. This
will be used to promote your competitors' products. You will not be paid
a licence or royalty fee. BT say that exploiting material in this way is
covered by implied consent, and that putting a notice on a website is not
sufficient to overturn that implied licence.


Can they really do this?

In the US, Congress has halted the deployment of all similar schemes and
a class action has started against the Internet Service Providers who
trialled them.

In the EU, the Commission is currently investigating why the UK
Government does not appear to be enforcing communications privacy laws.

In the UK, the senior vice-president of Orange's online advertising
division says "Privacy is in our DNA, so we need to be honest and clear
about what we are doing. We have decided not to be in Phorm because of
that..."

Yet BT are persisting with their Webwise trial.

Where can you get further information and what can I do?

Please visit this page:

http://www.inphormationdesk.org/

For more information and links to what you can do.

The nodpi website here:

http://www.nodpi.org

is a great place to talk and participate in the anti-Phorm campaign.

Finally, don't forget to sign the 10 Downing Street Petition here:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/

Thanks very much for your time!


--
http://www.nodpi.org

Eddie R wrote:

> Would you allow your post to be opened
> to improve the quality of junk mail you receive?
>
> That's the kind of thing BT want to do with your Internet connection.
> They are partnering with a company called Phorm to intercept, read and
> analyse your web browsing so that they can use that information to choose
> which advertisements to show you. BT are calling this scheme "Webwise".

I think you're several months late waking up to this one.

Suggestion for a fix. Use a decent ISP !

Graham

On 28 Dec 2008 00:44:32 GMT, Eddie R <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Would you allow your post to be opened
>to improve the quality of junk mail you receive?
>
>That's the kind of thing BT want to do with your Internet connection.
>They are partnering with a company called Phorm to intercept, read and
>analyse your web browsing so that they can use that information to choose
>which advertisements to show you. BT are calling this scheme "Webwise".
>
>Virgin Media and TalkTalk have also signed agreements with Phorm, but
>both companies appear to be waiting to see what happens with BT.
>
>
>Surely this can't happen?
>
>It's already happening. Since October 2008 BT have been interrupting
>selected home broadband users' web browsing and proposing Webwise to them
>as part of a trial of the scheme. This follows earlier trials in 2006 and
>again in 2007 when they intercepted and read Internet activity from tens
>of thousands of their broadband users, without ever asking for their
>consent.
>
>
>How does it work?
>
>If you say yes to the Webwise invitation, an identifier is placed on your
>computer. Webwise associates this with groups of interests which
>correspond to advertising campaigns. BT and Phorm claim that this
>information about you is anonymous. Attributions
>
>If you say no to the Webwise invitation, Webwise writes a file to your
>computer to indicate that you have opted out. But everything you do on
>the web still passes through their interception equipment.
>
>
>What are the risks?
>
>You have to trust that BT will keep all personally identifiable
>information - names, addresses, postcodes, detailed interests - secure.
>Yet for several months to October 2008, BT Forums leaked names and email
>addresses of BT account holders who weren't even active forum users.
>
>You have to trust Phorm's systems to work in the way they have promised.
>Yet Phorm were formerly known as 121media, and their products were
>blacklisted by at least three anti-virus companies.
>
>You have to trust that BT will only intercept and read your web activity
>in the way they have promised. Yet a month into the current trial, a
>Webwise invitation was issued to a PlusNet user, PlusNet Forum Posting
>even though BT had stated that PlusNet was excluded from the trial.
>
>You have to trust BT that they will not use the equipment which
>intercepts your web activity to change data that you send to websites.
>Yet during trials of the technology in 2006, data was altered between
>users and the websites they were visiting.
>
>
>Who loses out?
>
>If you accept BT's Webwise invitation . . .
>BT's Webwise invitation web page does not tell you that if you say "yes"
>then almost everything you do on the Internet from then on will be
>intercepted and read. Nor do BT check if it's you, one of your children,
>or a visitor who has given consent. And once opted in, even your children
>using the Internet for their homework may have their data read and
>profiled.
>
>If you refuse BT's Webwise invitation . . .
>Everything you do on the Web will still pass through the equipment to be
>used for intercepting and reading the activity of users who decide to opt
>into the trial. This increases risks to the privacy, security and
>integrity of your web activity.
>
>If you run a website . . .
>Everything on your website, together with private communications with
>your users, may be exploited to profile and identify your visitors. This
>will be used to promote your competitors' products. You will not be paid
>a licence or royalty fee. BT say that exploiting material in this way is
>covered by implied consent, and that putting a notice on a website is not
>sufficient to overturn that implied licence.
>
>
>Can they really do this?
>
>In the US, Congress has halted the deployment of all similar schemes and
>a class action has started against the Internet Service Providers who
>trialled them.
>
>In the EU, the Commission is currently investigating why the UK
>Government does not appear to be enforcing communications privacy laws.
>
>In the UK, the senior vice-president of Orange's online advertising
>division says "Privacy is in our DNA, so we need to be honest and clear
>about what we are doing. We have decided not to be in Phorm because of
>that..."
>
>Yet BT are persisting with their Webwise trial.
>
>Where can you get further information and what can I do?
>
>Please visit this page:
>
>http://www.inphormationdesk.org/
>
>For more information and links to what you can do.
>
>The nodpi website here:
>
>http://www.nodpi.org
>
>is a great place to talk and participate in the anti-Phorm campaign.
>
>Finally, don't forget to sign the 10 Downing Street Petition here:
>
>http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/
>
>Thanks very much for your time!

Do not use BT, how hard is that.

No customers, no one to show those adds to.

Result no BT Internet and that would be a good thing.

Simple.

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:02:17 +0000, MrMe faxed us with....

> On 28 Dec 2008 00:44:32 GMT, Eddie R <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Would you allow your post to be opened to improve the quality of junk
>>mail you receive?
>>
>>That's the kind of thing BT want to do with your Internet connection.
>>They are partnering with a company called Phorm to intercept, read and
>>analyse your web browsing so that they can use that information to
>>choose which advertisements to show you. BT are calling this scheme
>>"Webwise".
>>
>>Virgin Media and TalkTalk have also signed agreements with Phorm, but
>>both companies appear to be waiting to see what happens with BT.
>>
>>
>>Surely this can't happen?
>>
>>It's already happening. Since October 2008 BT have been interrupting
>>selected home broadband users' web browsing and proposing Webwise to
>>them as part of a trial of the scheme. This follows earlier trials in
>>2006 and again in 2007 when they intercepted and read Internet activity
>>from tens of thousands of their broadband users, without ever asking for
>>their consent.
>>
>>
>>How does it work?
>>
>>If you say yes to the Webwise invitation, an identifier is placed on
>>your computer. Webwise associates this with groups of interests which
>>correspond to advertising campaigns. BT and Phorm claim that this
>>information about you is anonymous. Attributions
>>
>>If you say no to the Webwise invitation, Webwise writes a file to your
>>computer to indicate that you have opted out. But everything you do on
>>the web still passes through their interception equipment.
>>
>>
>>What are the risks?
>>
>>You have to trust that BT will keep all personally identifiable
>>information - names, addresses, postcodes, detailed interests - secure.
>>Yet for several months to October 2008, BT Forums leaked names and email
>>addresses of BT account holders who weren't even active forum users.
>>
>>You have to trust Phorm's systems to work in the way they have promised.
>>Yet Phorm were formerly known as 121media, and their products were
>>blacklisted by at least three anti-virus companies.
>>
>>You have to trust that BT will only intercept and read your web activity
>>in the way they have promised. Yet a month into the current trial, a
>>Webwise invitation was issued to a PlusNet user, PlusNet Forum Posting
>>even though BT had stated that PlusNet was excluded from the trial.
>>
>>You have to trust BT that they will not use the equipment which
>>intercepts your web activity to change data that you send to websites.
>>Yet during trials of the technology in 2006, data was altered between
>>users and the websites they were visiting.
>>
>>
>>Who loses out?
>>
>>If you accept BT's Webwise invitation . . . BT's Webwise invitation web
>>page does not tell you that if you say "yes" then almost everything you
>>do on the Internet from then on will be intercepted and read. Nor do BT
>>check if it's you, one of your children, or a visitor who has given
>>consent. And once opted in, even your children using the Internet for
>>their homework may have their data read and profiled.
>>
>>If you refuse BT's Webwise invitation . . . Everything you do on the Web
>>will still pass through the equipment to be used for intercepting and
>>reading the activity of users who decide to opt into the trial. This
>>increases risks to the privacy, security and integrity of your web
>>activity.
>>
>>If you run a website . . .
>>Everything on your website, together with private communications with
>>your users, may be exploited to profile and identify your visitors. This
>>will be used to promote your competitors' products. You will not be paid
>>a licence or royalty fee. BT say that exploiting material in this way is
>>covered by implied consent, and that putting a notice on a website is
>>not sufficient to overturn that implied licence.
>>
>>
>>Can they really do this?
>>
>>In the US, Congress has halted the deployment of all similar schemes and
>>a class action has started against the Internet Service Providers who
>>trialled them.
>>
>>In the EU, the Commission is currently investigating why the UK
>>Government does not appear to be enforcing communications privacy laws.
>>
>>In the UK, the senior vice-president of Orange's online advertising
>>division says "Privacy is in our DNA, so we need to be honest and clear
>>about what we are doing. We have decided not to be in Phorm because of
>>that..."
>>
>>Yet BT are persisting with their Webwise trial.
>>
>>Where can you get further information and what can I do?
>>
>>Please visit this page:
>>
>>http://www.inphormationdesk.org/
>>
>>For more information and links to what you can do.
>>
>>The nodpi website here:
>>
>>http://www.nodpi.org
>>
>>is a great place to talk and participate in the anti-Phorm campaign.
>>
>>Finally, don't forget to sign the 10 Downing Street Petition here:
>>
>>http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/
>>
>>Thanks very much for your time!
>
> Do not use BT, how hard is that.
>
> No customers, no one to show those adds to.
>
> Result no BT Internet and that would be a good thing.
>
> Simple.

A couple of things jump out here. First of all, this kind of crap has
been going on for years. The difference here is it's formalised and done
at the ISP level.

Visit any site carrying adverts and you can be sure the media networks
that stream these adverts via nasty technologies like flash (the work of
the devil) already have a very good idea of your browsing habits.

Drop in to eBay and just about everything you've looked at is there in
front of you along with a custom home page to advertise similar items and
categories to you. Drop in to Amazon and it's just the same.

Advertising on line is just like any other kind of spam, it's only
effective if you open it. It does not matter if this is being placed
online for you in the shape of current cookie sharing arrangements with
media companies or by any other mechanism. A mass exodus from BT is not
going to change anything. You only have to look back to the TalkTalk
exodus of a few years ago. Did BT Internet crash and burn? No.

I don't agree with many things BT do. I recall having an additional line
being fitted for a fax about four years ago. It was 'unlisted' in the
phone book but not ex-directory. Within 10 minutes of the line coming
live I was getting calls asking for me by name welcoming me to my new
home and offering me everything from milk deliveries to new windows. The
only conceivable way my marketing data could have been given to them was
by BT.

The fix for all of this is going to come down to NEVER clicking on any
advert. Disabling nasty rubbish like Flash (No you really don't need to
install the latest flash player to do anything essential online). It's a
bit trickier with turning off cookies and javascript but you can clear
your cache of common advertising cookies either by hand or by software.

Finally you can make use of add blocking in Firefox and Opera. It simply
masks them out in the first place.

The information 'harvested' by any user tracking is only any good if it
results, ultimately, in a click or a sale. You still have the power to
make the technology useless by ignoring and blocking it. Sure, you should
not have to do it - but 'online marketing' is here and it's not going
away. In honesty BT have been a bit slow off the mark here - sound
familiar.




--
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