Would this by-pass Phorm ??

Reading a lot about Phorm and its tracking methods i was trying to think of a way to avoid the inevitible "spying" on my internet traffic.

If i create an ssh tunnel (like this http://tinyurl.com/2zvqxr ) between myself and an external server and then direct all my traffic over this tunnel would this avoid the tracking by Phorm ??

I have used this in the past so i know i`m able to get it to work just wondered if it would get around the Phorm issue.

N1ks

Yes.

As I understand it, except for TalkTalk (who say they'll have different routing for opt-ins and non-opt-ins), you can't avoid your traffic going through Phnord's equipment at the ISP, so encrypting everything would be the only way to avoid them spying on your habits. Is that what you mean?

(I can't view your link as TinyURL is blocked at my workplace )

Yes this should do the trick provided Phorm is not given your password form.

I read my news through my own categorized service. I am changing from going direct to deep linked news to going to a set of alias links behind a secure site. The password will be sent in the clear but I need to do some more research on this to make sure Phorm never sees my password and never gets admitted to my secure site.

I shall most likely ditch both Virgin Media and BT Business if this Phorm nonsense materializes. I am not prepared to conduct trading and e-commerce activities through an intermediary with software developed in the Kremlin and servers hosted in China and a service run by a villain on past form.

Has anyone here been aware of their inclusion in the trials that Virgin Media have apparently already run?

In reply to:

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And third, the launch customers � BT, Carphone Warehouse and Virgin Media � have also undergone extensive trialling of the technology, and none are in the business of taking unnecessary risks on new technology adoption.

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Source: http://www.capmarkets.com/9344/PHRM_230408.pdf

Virgin Media has gone on record to say they are in discussions rather than a fully commited customer, only trials that have been seen are with BT - is this someone bigging up the company to get share seles.

If you read the linked document it is pretty obvious that a lot of the copy has been provided by Phorm themselves. It would appear that it is an attempt by Phorm to prop up their shares which have been pretty much in free fall for the last couple of months. At times of pressure (and it's pretty clear that Kent is under extreme pressure at the moment - witness the way he disgraced himself when being interviewed for Click!) people tend to let slip facts that they really intended to keep hidden. This is one of those occasions. I've also seen a post saying that a user had observed strange behaviour which is now believed to be the result of the testing of the Phorm system by VM - although we are waiting for evidence to be posted so I'm reserving judgement on this one.

Also worth considering is that they are issuing revised T&C's which include in paragraph B1(i) "With your permission, we may monitor email and internet communications, including without limitation, any content or material transmitted over the service".

The "with permission" is interesting - does it mean opt-in or opt-out? Phorm have made it abundantly clear that they prefer opt out.