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story category Broadstripe Now Selling User Browsing History
Joins growing list of NebuAD customers
(old news - 09:04AM Wednesday May 14 2008)
tags: business · cable · privacy · BroadStripe
Yesterday I noted that Charter has started selling your browsing history, sending their customers an e-mail saying that doing so gave their customers an "enhanced online experience." Customers of Missouri-based cable broadband provider Broadstripe say they've also received an e-mail stating the ISP will be using NebuAD within the next thirty days (confirmed via their privacy page). NebuAD tells us they've struck deals with "multiple tens of ISPs", but so far I've only confirmed NebuAD's use by Charter, Knology, Embarq, Broadstripe and Centurytel.

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Forums » Broadstripe Now Selling User Browsing History
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dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus

join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

Enough

I use comcast and already when I visit some websites they want to introduce me to women "right here in Southfield, MI." Its a neat trick, but I am just annoyed by it now. Last thing I need is more invasion of my privacy.
--
dnoyeB
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard. " Ecclesiastes 9:16

FLengineer
Premium
join:2007-06-26
Leesburg, FL
·Vonage
·Comcast
·T-Mobile US
·Embarq

Re: Enough

That's probably based on your IP address alone. What NebuAD does with your browsing history is choose what ads to show you based on your history. For Example if you visit a bunch of home loan and financial company websites then you will start to see a bunch of ads related to home loans and debt consolidation.

Chiyo
Save Me Konata-Chan
Premium
join:2003-02-20
Minneapolis, MN
clubs:

Re: Enough

I vist various anime sites so I see banner ads for anime and real anime swords :S

I'm getting tired of all this shit I pay for my connection I'm not a dead beat if thye are going to make money off of me using the service lower the cost!

dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus

join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

I don't mind that Amazon does this within their site. Actually, they do make some pretty startling cross topic jumps which shows they don't actually read their books but just guess as to the content when they make their keywords.

However, how does NebuAd know you "I" am? Is this per-computer? Per-IP address? Are they following my username somehow?

Can a website hosting an ad of theirs tell what add types NebuAd is sending and thus they know "me" as well?
--
dnoyeB
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard. " Ecclesiastes 9:16

Cabal
Premium
join:2007-01-21
Boston, MA
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geolocation_software

Bodge



?

Im not sure if it qualifies in the US but over here in the UK we have the Data Protection Act. Now im sure it only covers personal information and finnancial information, but surely any history regarding any online movement or record of IP regitration on any site or server would be considered personal information? Maybe its time for another one of those infamous changes in the law.
Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
·Comcast
·Embarq

Time for ISP's to obay the law.

We have to save the children. That is the cry of our extreme right wing politicians. It is time for corporate rump kissers to pay up. How will the ISP's be prevented from collection the browsing history of children under 13 years of age. Don't forget Uncle NAT. How will the ISP's prevent the children from receiving inappropriate advertisements if they share the same broadband connection with adults.
George Kidd

join:2001-08-09
Vancouver, BC

Re: Time for ISP's to obay the law.

Hmmm.... This could work if the Internet used IPv6 and every individual had their "own" IP address. Just think of your wife getting all those "enlarge your member" ads....
Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Re: Time for ISP's to obay the law.

Before my previous ISP added spam blocking she did.

viperpa33s
Why Me?
Premium
join:2002-12-20
Bradenton, FL
·Bright House

ISP's still don't have a clue

Just shows ISP's don't understand consumers and I will give you the reason why.

For example:

With generalized ads, if a person is browsing for something and they see a advertisement that is interesting, something else other than what they are looking for, more than likely they will click on it. With targeted ads the person won't be able to do that since the ads are targeted to what the person is browsing. If let's say the banner ad on the web page is set to do targeted ads then it wouldn't be a issue. If all the ads on the page is targeted then it's just a waist.

Tracking a person's browsing habits is the wrong thing to do. First of all it's bad for business and second of all your going to get your customers outraged. Someone's browsing history is personal and private. Even though they don't know who you are by name, it still leaves people's mind open thinking the ISP is doing something bad with it.
hoersche

join:2008-01-21
Iowa City, IA

Mediacom

I am a Telecommunications Commissioner for the city of Iowa City. Our incumbent provider is Mediacom. After reading about NebuAd here on Broadband Reports, I asked our Mediacom Gov't Liason, and as a bonus due to a courtesy visit the VP of Gov't Relations and Community Affairs, if Mediacom was employing "NebuAd or any other deep packet inspection utility for advertising or marketing purposes." They stated that they had not heard of NebuAd or deep packet inspection, and after clarification of the question, it was not believed to be so, but that they would get back to us. This was at the March 24 meeting and no definitive answer has been given. I will be following up and will update on their response.

I would be interested to hear if anyone else has asked Mediacom this question and if so what their response was.
hoersche

join:2008-01-21
Iowa City, IA

Re: Mediacom

Recieved the following:

"We do not do any deep packet mining or any marketing redirect practices as a matter of policy."
ja2007123

join:2007-10-06

Ha!

That's why I use AdBlockPro. It blocks almost all the ads.

Steve Hollasch

@microsoft.com

Re: Ha!

That may work for blocking *delivery* of the resulting targeted ads, but it does nothing regarding the capture of your click trail.

AutumnLeaf

@swbell.net

For the Record

Broadstripe is operated by Bill Shreffler, formerly of Suddenlink/Cebridge/Cequel in St. Louis.

Those cable execs have no shame.

y11

@charter.com

can't you opt out by telling charter u do not want this?

can't you opt out by telling charter u do not want this?
Forums » Broadstripe Now Selling User Browsing History


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