While true the internet is technically a public network, a majority of the packets that I send travel through my isp, then a handful of known core backbone providers, and then the isp hosting the site I'm connecting to. To me this means that it isn't a completely insecure "chain of packet custody" devoid of all accountability, and I don't think I'm out of line to expect that the companies moving my packets will adhere to at least a minimal code of ethics in regards to my privacy. I hope not to see AT&T handing off my packets to some shady character with a couple of fat pipes and a packet sniffer, and I would hope that there are certain guarantees made by the core carriers to their customers respecting my individual privacy. While I still encrypt the really secure stuff (sometimes bad men do work for ISPs, or packets take the long way around) I hope we never have to resort to encrypting even our amazon.com order confirmations for fear of our providers capturing this potentially marketable data and selling it to the highest bidder. I'm not certain why AT&T is playing with my packets, but I hope they have some decency and will use any information gathered for aggregate and/or user opted-in purposes only.
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While true the internet is technically a public network, a majority of the packets that I send travel through my isp, then a handful of known core backbone providers, and then the isp hosting the site I'm connecting to. To me this means that it isn't a completely insecure "chain of packet custody" devoid of all accountability, and I don't think I'm out of line to expect that the companies moving my packets will adhere to at least a minimal code of ethics in regards to my privacy. I hope not to see AT&T handing off my packets to some shady character with a couple of fat pipes and a packet sniffer, and I would hope that there are certain guarantees made by the core carriers to their customers respecting my individual privacy. While I still encrypt the really secure stuff (sometimes bad men do work for ISPs, or packets take the long way around) I hope we never have to resort to encrypting even our amazon.com order confirmations for fear of our providers capturing this potentially marketable data and selling it to the highest bidder. I'm not certain why AT&T is playing with my packets, but I hope they have some decency and will use any information gathered for aggregate and/or user opted-in purposes only.