Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

UK ISP Admitted to Spying on Customers

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the don't-worry-sir-we're-from-the-internet dept.

esocid writes "BT, an ISP located in the UK, tested secret spyware on tens of thousands of its broadband customers without their knowledge, it admitted yesterday. The scandal came to light only after some customers stumbled across tell-tale signs of spying. At first, they were wrongly told a software virus was to blame. BT said it randomly chose 36,000 broadband users for a 'small-scale technical trial' in 2006 and 2007. The monitoring system, developed by U.S. software company Phorm, formerly known as 121Media, known for being deeply involved in spyware, accesses information from a computer. It then scans every website a customer visits, silently checking for keywords and building up a unique picture of their interests. Executives insisted they had not broken the law and said no 'personally identifiable information' had been shared or divulged."

3 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. OT but wtf is up with the buttons? by citylivin · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    How do i turn the reply buttons back to text like it was before? Ive been moving around computers alot and probably enabled some stupid new feature. I cant seem to find it in the preferences.

    thanks

    --
    As a potential lottery winner, I totally support tax cuts for the wealthy
  2. Re:An ISP? by Torvaun · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What's the chart look like for having members of the general public shot?

    --
    I see your informative link, and raise you a pithy comment.
  3. Re:An ISP? by JohnBailey · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What's the chart look like for having members of the general public shot? Not that common, but not unheard of either.
    --
    It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.