Security Now! Episode 151

The new episode of the Security Now! podcast episode #151, is now available over on the GRC website and also over at the twit.tv site. In this episode entitled  “Phracking Phorm” they discuss the usual new security news, and the main feature is about Phorm Webwise and it’s implications. Anyone who has an interest in online privacy and security issues I’d recommend you take a listen. The episode is around one hour and forty five minutes long, and Phorm gets a mention at the beginning of the episode, then the Phorm section begins one hour in. A  transcript of the show is also available.

So big are the concerns they have on the issue, they’re going to devote some more time to it in 2 weeks time (episode 153) And including input direct from the UK.

If you click on the image below you can download the high quality mp3 version.

If you head over to GRC’s Security Now podcast # 151 you can also download the low quality audio version or get a transcript and notes for the episode, the guys are so shocked by Phorm they’re going to do a second episode all about it.

Thanks to Leo and Steve for allowing Anti-Phorm campaigners to use the image above.

Flash cookies threaten your privacy

As I learn more about online privacy issues an interesting post appeared over on the Badphorm forum with a link to an interesting article about Flash cookies.

As more people clear out their cookies when closing their browser, and increasing use of pop-up and ad blockers the lowlifes in the advertising industry are using a new method to track your online activity.

Known as flash cookies or Local Shared Objects (wikipedia link) they’re not cleared when you clear your privacy settings in your browser so most people are unaware of them and what they’re capable of (as was I until I read the article) The article tells you how you can stop these cookies and there’s also a link to a Firefox plugin to allow you to remove them called Objection.

It’s another hole you can seal up and make you online activity a little more private.

Block 3rd Party cookies in Firefox 3

With the release of Firefox 3 I’d advise anyone reading this who may still be using v2 to upgrade. Firefox 3 has even more security features and a feature to block 3rd party cookies is now easily available again.

Cookie permissions are controlled in “Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cookies” You may choose to accept all cookies that websites wish to set or you may choose the option to accept cookies “for the originating site only”, which will block third-party cookies that are often set by other companies who advertise on those sites. in Firefox 3, you can block third-party cookies in the user interface, by deselecting (clearing) the option, “Accept third-party cookies”.

Thanks to the GRC podcast for the info

EDIT: Ohh, and if you’re using Internet Explorer as your browser you can find out how to block 3rd party cookies by reading this article over on GRC

Security Now Podcast

The guys over at Security Now! have done their latest podcast which features talk about Phorm and the other behavioural advertising leeches, as well as the usual round up of the weeks security related tech news. If you click on the image below you can download the high quality mp3 version.

If you head over to GRC’s Security Now podcast # 149 you can also download the low quality audio version or get a transcript of the episode, the guys are so shocked by Phorm they’re going to do a second episode all about it.

They really go to town on the issue, and say that Phorm is the worst of the lot. I’m looking forward to the next episode on this issue as they guys are real guru’s when it comes to protecting your machine. Podcast # 151 will be the Phorm episode.

Anyone who has fallen for the Phorm spin should really listen to this and wake up to the fact that your privacy is at stake for some parasite to make money out of you.

Thanks to Leo and Steve for allowing Anti-Phorm campaigners to use the image above

Firefox 3 Field Guide

With the release of Firefox 3 only a few hours away, an excellent field guide to the updated browser has been made available. It takes you through all the new and improved features you’ll see in the browser. Head over and take a look.

Firefox 3 Field Guide

Firefox 3 final to be released June 17th

The final version of Firefox 3.0 will be relased on 17th June 2008, and with it Mozilla are attempting to break a world record in the process.

All you have to do is get Firefox 3 during Download Day to help set the record for most software downloads in 24 hours. You can get more information on Download Day by clicking on the image below.

EU could intervene as ICO does nothing

More good news arrived yesterday when Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Information Society and Media stated that the EU could intervene in the BT/Phorm spyware scandal after the ICO said it wouldn’t do anything about the secret trials of 2006.

You can read the article posted over on The Register and I’d urge anyone who wants to protect their privacy from the parasites at Phorm to write to Viviane Reding’s office. I must say that I got a goood response when I last contacted her and the more people that get in touch with her about the ICO inaction the better.

You can contact her by:

By post :

Viviane Reding
Member of the European Commission
BE-1049 Brussels
Belgium

Via e-mail :

viviane.reding@ec.europa.eu

By fax :

+32 2 299.92.01

In other Phorm related news their shares took another bashing yesterday closing at 1,087.50 down 37.50

Dephormation Withdrawn

Pete, the author of the popular “fig leaf for your privacy” Dephormation Firefox add-on, has withdrawn the page containing the add-on as a protest at today’s revelation from the ICO that they’re going to do nothing regarding the secret 2006 trials performed by BT.

In a statement over on the monster Cable Forum thread he said.

I regret to announce Dephormation site will be taken down later this evening and replaced with a notice demanding the resignation of the Information Commissioner.

This temporary protest will last for 7 days (or until Richard Thomas has resigned). During this period Dephormation will be unavailable to new users.

If you haven’t downloaded already, I’d urge you to do so immediately. The software remains copyright and is owned by me. Do not copy or redistribute the software without my consent.

Why am I doing this? Because there is no point me providing software to express a wish to ‘opt out’ if there are no legal consequences when ISPs flagrantly ignore or even fail to obtain consent from hundreds of thousands of users.

The ICO has brought the IT and communications industry into complete disrepute.

Richard Thomas, please resign now.

Pete has now updated the Dephormation page.

ICO don’t give a damn about your privacy

The latest on this issue, despite the leaked BT report last week and all the damning evidence

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39431420,00.htm

Quote:

Following the publication of a leaked document detailing a trial of the technology by Phorm and BT, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) told ZDNet.co.uk on Monday that the information in the leaked document would not cause it to take any punitive action against the companies

Well it’s quite clear from this latest statement that the ICO isn’t there to protect the public at all, and now they’ve said that despite the documentary evidence they’ll do nothing, I think it’s time I got back in touch with Viviane Reding, EU commissioner for information society and media and inform her that the UK’s body to protect the public are totally ignoring the issue, in fact It sounds very much like Phorm and BT are calling the shots there.

The ICO has no interest in protecting people from corporations who’ll abuse your privacy and break the law for profit.

BT report stirs slumbering Beeb

For the first time since mid April, the BBC have run an article on the continuing calls for BT and Phorm to be taken to court over their secret trials of the spyware advertising system Webwise and it’s earlier predecessor Pagesense.

The article which you can find here largely relates the the leaked BT report which was seen by many of us for the first time yesterday. Dr Richard Clayton has told the Beeb that “It’s against the law of the land, we must now expect to see a prosecution,” Dr Clayton has reported on the impact of Phorm himself a few months ago, but the mainstream media seem to be largely ignoring the issue.

All we can do is continue to raise awareness and hope that those responsible within BT for this “stealth trial” will be taken to court and finally put the final nail in Phorm’s coffin.