I was horrified when I read about Phorm. Virgin Media, BT and TalkTalk are teaming up with Phorm to track all web browsing on their networks. The tracking info will be used to spam subscribers with targeted ads. The privacy implications are mind bloggling…
I have already written a few letters of complaint, but it seems what it boils down to is there is no easy way to escape being monitored by Phorm – a company run by a fraudster who used to run the PeopleOnPage spyware. Their business is based on raping users privacy, and they clearly don’t give a damn. They do offer a rather patheitic “opt-out”, but people people who regularly clear their cookies it’s next to useless.
The bottom line is what they are doing is most likely illegal, breeching either the Data Protection Act, RIPA or the Human Righs Act. It seems moves are already under way to bring private prosecutions.
See http://www.badphorm.co.uk for more details. More good info here: Spyblog
So, how can we fight back? Well, aside from avoiding ISPs that use Phorm (not an option for many people unfortunately) tracking can be avoided either by using Tor or signing up with an encrypted VPN provider like Relakks or Perfect Privacy. Using a VPN is probably not a bad idea anyway, as is using OpenDNS, because it ensures UK agencies can’t spy on you without going to a lot of effort. Certainly, it should prevent any causal monitoring or censorship, and of course block Phorm.
I also recommend blocking Phorm cookies by adding the following to your blocked list in Firefox:
*.oix.*
*.phorm.*
*.sysip.*
*.webwise.*
By blocking cookies, Phorm will find it impossible to track your specific browsing habits. They will still see what sites you visit and deliver ads, just not be able to join all the dots.
Also sign the petition at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ispphorm/
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