The Underscore Archives

BT, Virgin and Talktalk broker deal with Phorm.com, who intercept
traffic, set anonymous cookies and deliver targeted ads...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/technology/18target.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Lots of comments on the Guardian, including this one from martinusher:

"I had a quick look at this system today on a technical website and it
appears that the system effectively routes all your web traffic
through a proxy server which records your browsing habits (and, while
its about it, obscures your browsing habits from anyone else
downstream from it). This is why they require the cooperation of your
ISP -- they have to intercept your network traffic before it passes
onto the Internet proper. (Typically the link to an ISP is a point to
point link just like a dial-up even if you're using broadband.) This
has implications far beyond just figuring out what you're doing so
they can feed you 'relevant' advertisements; its nothing less than
packet by packet control of everything you do.

"This may sound infeasible because of the volume of traffic but a
quick look at the equipment suppliers will show that its not -- the
industry is quite capable of examining and categorizing everything you
do CIA style but won't at the moment because its not cost-effective.
The ads will give it the motivation to install the kit, the other uses
will follow.

"Its also got the potential to cut off the air supply to sites like Google."
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/02/29/you_might_call_it_resistance_95_say_theyll_opt_out_of_isps_datasharing_deal.html

See also:
http://www.badphorm.co.uk/page.php?2

Oh, and Phorm.com are an (ex?) spyware firm:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20080227/114140370.shtml

Tim