What is Phorm?

[james_tigerwoods]

I've read about this today and from what I can see, I'll get ads sent my way from my ISP based on my web habits? Why is this allowed to happen?

More importantly, how can I prevent it from impacting me?

[anonymous-user]

It's panty liner for PH ladies!

[Mc Lovin]

body phorm for yooooooou

[MrV]

Here you go

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorm

HTH

[james_tigerwoods]

Lol

I was hoping for a "soundbite" guide, but thanks

[Silverbullet767]

Phorm is a service, much like the DRM in EA's 'Spore' that is designed to lose lots of customers.

If you ISP is using Phorm, vote with your wallet and take your business elsewhere.

[Fetchez la vache]

Silverbullet767 said:

If you ISP is using Phorm, vote with your wallet and take your business elsewhere.

How would we know?
Surely they'll just say no if asked?

[sadako]

garyhun said:

It's panty liner for PH ladies!

And with the market research from 4chan users is being advertised by ayanami rei...

[benoli]

Phorm is very very bad.

BT are spying on your internet browsing to then sell the info to advertising companies, so that you receive adverst 'targeted' specifically at your interests !

more at the register

and here

Edited by benoli on Thursday 18th September 12:58

[cyberface]

The alternative if you like your ISP's performance but they collect browsing data (which you DON'T want) is to use an anonymizing proxy like Proxify or even go the whole nine yards and use Tor to be completely untraceable on the net...

Or vote with your wallet. Easy.

[Noger]

Really only of interest if you think Linux is interesting read El Reg or think teh knternt is 4 pr0n.

Or more likely all three.

Phorm would like you to think that if you read PH and search for 'bhp' a lot you will get ads from car makers.

Beardy pr0n fiends would like you to think that if you accidebtly do a search for 'busty redhead' then Paul Raymond himself will be at your frontdoor within minutes with a pile of jazz mags.

Ones suspects the truth is somewhere in the middle.

[Pigeon]

james_tigerwoods said:

I've read about this today and from what I can see, I'll get ads sent my way from my ISP based on my web habits? Why is this allowed to happen?

Why is it allowed to happen? Because they have more money and political clout than you.

[cyberface]

Noger said:

Beardy pr0n fiends would like you to think that if you accidebtly do a search for 'busty redhead' then Paul Raymond himself will be at your frontdoor within minutes with a pile of jazz mags.

I've got a busty redhead complaining that I spend too much time on the internet and not enough time with her... looks like I don't need Phorm then