Advance Copyright and Privacy Warning

Webwise = Access denied during 2008 WebWise trials.
To protect the copyright of this site, access is denied to customers of your Internet Service Provider.

Your IP address indicates that your ISP has installed equipment within its exchanges which is:

Infringing copyright by using the content of web sites for commercial gain
Invading privacy by selling advertisers information about every web page you visit

Demand internet privacy.
Petition: petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/

Protect Internet Copyright
petitions.number10.gov.uk/target-ad-copy/

BT spies on customers without telling them

During 2006 and 2007, BT Retail installed and tested a behavioural targeting, profiling program owned and controlled by an advertising network trading as Webwise / Phorm / OIX. The program sees and records everything you see on the Internet: it remembers what you have been looking at long after you have forgotten: the adverts you see will be there as a reminder. You may have met the program in its earlier incarnation as 121Media’s PeopleOnPage or the Apropos rootkit.

Or, you may previously have been infected by one of the other adware / spyware / rootkit programs that many unsuspecting people downloaded onto their computers when downloading a free program or clicking a link. Some of these programs are now being promoted to other ISP networks by a business called NebuAd.

You are being followed

Whatever else you may call it, you are being followed and spied upon. Webwise / Phorm / OIX know so much about you that your surfing is personalised and relevant to your interests.
The profiler knows you better than you know yourself. It remembers, even when you forget.

Everything in the browser search bar is copied and passes through the profiler. Everything you see in your browser window is copied by the profiler before you see it.

Made a search for car insurance? Being spooked by having sites that have nothing to do with insurance showing car insurance ads?
Been searching the internet to buy a surprise present? Guess what the person you are giving the present to will see in the ads for the next few weeks.
Start search for a holiday, only to have to cancel your plans because the washing machine flooded. Prepare to be annoyed by holiday ads.
Are you single? Maybe ads for engagement rings or dating sites will inspire you.
Overweight? What about ads for weight-loss products reminding you about past failures.

Is anyone else spying on their customers?

TalkTalk, Carphone Warehouse, Opal and VirginMedia have also signed up to trial the behavioural targeting program trading as Webwise in their systems. Other internet service providers are also in talks to install the networks.

If you are using Wi-Fi HotSpots, your surfing details may be passed to FrontPorch who display advertisements which fund the free Wi-Fi connections.

Tiscali uses Barefruit to redirect your typos to advert filled portals.

I didn't sign up to anything

The profiling is not offered as adware / spyware. It is presented as ‘Webwise’ - increased privacy by protecting you from phishing sites, and improved surfing experience displaying adverts based on surfing history.
What does this mean?

Privacy - every web page you see is copied to the profiler to match your interests to an advertisement - data about your surfing is stored for 6 months and tied to a cookie on your computer.
Phishing - sites recognised as phishing sites will be flagged. Unfortunately https addresses are ignored so the majority of phishing sites will not be tagged. Malware, viruses and trojans hosted by sites will not be flagged. Browsers already provide a better warning system.
Security - forged cookies are placed on your computer to identify YOU wherever you surf. Your browser is being fooled into accepting data from which its security systems are designed to protect you. This decreases your security.

I don't see ads – they're blocked

Unlike earlier adware and spyware programs, because the program intercepts the data stream between your computer and the internet, there is no way that you can switch it off. Nor clean it from your system. If you block www.webwise.net in your hosts file (the usual method for blocking tracking sites), you will be unable to access the internet. Just as, if you reject the T&C detailing the spyware used by the wi-fi free-hotspots, you are not given access to the Internet. Webwise does offer an opt-out cookie: that only opts you out of the targeted adverts and phishing protection, it does not prevent your every request to the internet being intercepted.

You can read more about Webwise at BT Webwise

How can I protect my privacy?

Opt-out cookie? If you are relying on a cookie to opt-out, the profiler still needs to examine your internet traffic to read the cookie. BT is working on a system which allows you to opt-in – who would want to have everything they and their family do on the internet followed? To date, this is not technically possible.

Take back your life !

Move to a broadband supplier who will not sell your commercial, personal and private surfing data to make up for their bad business model. www.mADSLax.co.uk - Griffin Reseller: Pround to be free from any spyware.

Lobby your MP and MEP to tighten legislation to prevent the illegal interception of your personal communications.

Visit www.badphorm.co.uk/ for more campaign ideas.

RIPA Notice: The contents of this site, and communications between this site and its users, are protected by database right, copyright, confidentiality and the right not to be intercepted conferred by section 1(3) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The use of those contents and communications by Internet Service Providers or others to profile or classify users of this site for advertising or other purposes is strictly forbidden.