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Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

WildRose52
Grafter
Posts: 507
Registered: ‎23-02-2010

Is all the `tracking` necessary ?


Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

Hello PlusNet & fellow forum users.
I`m new here.
I only came over to PlusNet yesterday.
So far I am very happy with the service, and connection was very easy.
So what`s my gripe ?
Simple....  all your TRACKING !!!!!
Although I do appreciate that you need to track `USEAGE`  and indeed
that is to be expected seeing as customers agree to either 10 GB
or 80 GB per month.
BUT....  I fail to see the need why you break that down insofaras tracking
EVERYTHING that your customers do online.
For example :  WHY are you tracking their Email ?
I think I know the answer.
Our wonderful UK Government itself desires to track us all.
Its all part of their New World Order agenda.
Alongside that we know that recording companies and artistes
are fed up of people `file sharing`
I am NOT a file sharer by the way.
Therefore the Government is USING the file-sharing issue
as an excuse,  and so long as they appear to only be interested
in file sharers then it allows them (government) to strangle
the ISPs into tracking EVERYTHING that EVERYBODY does online
- ALL of their activities.
I remember not very long ago when ISPs were saying `its NOT our
job to police the net`  (and indeed its not)
My gripe therefore is insofaras saying :  PlusNet you are playing
right into the hands of the Government and their New World Order
agenda !!!!!!!!     
You should tell government to get lost, and that your customers
PRIVACY comes first.
I most certainly will NOT be using the PlusNet email facility.
I do appreciate that maybe PlusNet`s hands are tied, but if Companies
do not make stand then we`re all going to be living in GEORGE ORWELL`S
1984  -  and your grandchildren will not thank you for not having made
your voices heard.
Other than for this I am very happy so far with the service.

50 REPLIES 50
Chris
Legend
Posts: 17,724
Thanks: 600
Fixes: 169
Registered: ‎05-04-2007

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

Hi there,
The 'tracking' you have mentioned does not allow us access to read your emails, nor see which individual sites you've been visiting. It's merely a breakdown of your usage allowance by traffic type as identified by our traffic management systems, nothing more sinister than that.
This page gives you the information about what falls into each category.
http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/usage/howtovmbu.shtml
Former Plusnet Staff member. Posts after 31st Jan 2020 are not on behalf of Plusnet.
WildRose52
Grafter
Posts: 507
Registered: ‎23-02-2010

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

HELLO CHRIS,
I still believe it is an `invasion of privacy` nevertheless.
That `traffic management system`  wouldnt be `Phorm` would it?
Maybe what PlusNet need to understand is that `internet tracking` hits a raw nerve with alot of people.
We can see what our governments are up to LOL  (and rest assured its NOT good)
Anyway, I do THANK YOU for your courteous explanation, and one quick question.
I noticed last night that I had broadband phone calls listed in my internet useage.
At the moment my phone line has not yet been transferred over to PlusNet - so obviously this item must be something
online.
A member of my family uses `SKYPE`  -  am I right in thinking this is what the broadband phone calls refers to ?Huh
thanks.
dick:quote
spraxyt
Resting Legend
Posts: 10,063
Thanks: 674
Fixes: 75
Registered: ‎06-04-2007

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

The traffic management system most definitely isn't Phorm. That really does track which pages you are visiting, informs its masters and alters page content to show advertising material it deems 'of interest' to you. Plusnet have never had anything to do with Phorm
As Chris explained the Plusnet traffic management system does not do any tracking, it identifies the type of content carried within each datagram packet and assigns it the appropriate priority category on the network. This means VoIP (broadband phone) traffic, for example, is given the highest priority so VoIP packets do not queue behind non-interactive traffic when the network is busy which could lead to stuttering and a poor quality broadband phone call. Additionally at busy times lower priority traffic is the first category to be dropped when something has to go.
Only broadband traffic is managed, land line to land line phone calls are separated from broadband traffic at the exchange and handled independently, whether Plusnet or another company provide your phone service. Any broadband phone traffic shown in VMBU is VoIP type and you are correct in assuming SkyPE falls into that category.
However the traffic management is not perfect and you might see low levels of traffic shown in categories you have not used.
David
WildRose52
Grafter
Posts: 507
Registered: ‎23-02-2010

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?


Okay, and thanks very much for those explanations.
I do hope that PlusNet didnt mind me raising this topic.
It is always a controversial topic and we know that we often hear people say:  `well if you`ve got nothing to hide
then you`ve got nothing to worry about` 
lol.  Roll_eyes
When they say that then it only shows their own ignorance as to what is going on nowadays.
Most people (including myself and my family) do only good things online, but just like in all areas of our lives
we do value our privacy -  hence why so many people are against things like I.D.cards, databases, internet tracking etc.
Its not that we bear a grievance towards the ISP companies, but rather its a grievance against what can only be
called `out of control governments`  who use many excuses to trample on our freedoms, including our freedom of
speech -  and that dear friends only stands to get worse  (please remember my words here, cause you will see
it happen)  Shocked
orbrey
Plusnet Alumni (retired)
Plusnet Alumni (retired)
Posts: 10,540
Registered: ‎18-07-2007

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

Understood, you're not the only one who feels that way around here - there are a few posts and threads on the subject of phorm and other methods of tracking. We're happy for pretty much any subject to be raised on these boards, within the scope of the forum rules of course (though those are enforced by independent moderators, not our own staff).
I hope we've reassured you that our traffic management system is benign in that respect. I can assure you it is.
Lurker
Grafter
Posts: 1,867
Registered: ‎23-10-2008

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

This is meant without heat, but your mention of people's ignorance touched a nerve. Wink
You have signed up for a service, with a company, without doing your research - yet you claim to be worried about what this company might do.
A little research would have revealed the answers to all your questions thus far - most people who genuinely are concerned would do this *before* they signed up.
As I say - meant without heat - just an observation.
BTW - What would you have done if Phorm were in use? Cheesy
Strat
Community Veteran
Posts: 31,320
Thanks: 1,609
Fixes: 565
Registered: ‎14-04-2007

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

@WildRose52 For a little light reading you might like to browse the Phorm thread from 2 years ago here but I must warn you it is quite lengthy.
Windows 10 Firefox 109.0 (64-bit)
To argue with someone who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead - Thomas Paine
WildRose52
Grafter
Posts: 507
Registered: ‎23-02-2010

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?



Thank you Strat for the link.  I will read that when I get a little more time.
To James....    although Ive read & heard alot of things about internet tracking, this is the first time Ive seen
how its possible to distinguish between different types of internet traffic packets.
In fact, I didnt even understand some of them lol, and even had to ask about one of them (in a post further
up this thread)
The first I heard about Phorm was when it was in the news that BT had been testing it out on a small
selection of customers.
You ask what I would have done had PlusNet been using it.....    hmm, I dont really know, not thought about
it.......    maybe shouted a little louder LOL !!!    Grin
When I said about people`s ignorance, please read that in the context of how it is written.
For example:  when we read in other forums, or on a news article`s comments board
about a subject like I.D.cards....  then you can always bet there`ll be one or two who will
pipe up and say:  `but if you`ve got nothing to hide then there`s nothing to fear`
Thats what I mean when I say: people are ignorant having got no concept of what is going
on, nor what the ongoing agenda is.
Its NOT a case of having nothing to hide, but rather a case of NOT wanting to be part of
George Orwell`s `1984`  -  and that is where we`re heading, and many cannot see it.
(but of course thats a gripe against the government, and NOT against ISPs)

WildRose52
Grafter
Posts: 507
Registered: ‎23-02-2010

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?


Thanks for the reassurance Matt.  Its good there`s a forum where at least members are encouraged
to air their views.
Lurker
Grafter
Posts: 1,867
Registered: ‎23-10-2008

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

There's nothing wrong with the idea of ID Cards - it's merely ignorant folks who cause the controversy.
MauriceC
Resting Legend
Posts: 4,085
Thanks: 929
Fixes: 17
Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

One thing missing from the "Usage monitoring" debate so far is the one that I use it for most Grin
It gives me a quick (but fairly coarse) view of where all those little bits of Usage over a billing period add up to give my Total Usage for the month?   It's very easy to 'forget' the odd iPlayer download or two and then wonder why you're close to your limit this month?  It's really not a sinister addition to your account - think of it more as a tool to help your monitor your own (and particularly other family members!) usage.
HTH
Maurice

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Jonken
Grafter
Posts: 37
Registered: ‎08-03-2009

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

Quote from: James_G
There's nothing wrong with the idea of ID Cards - it's merely ignorant folks who cause the controversy.

I'm not a number, I'm a human being.  Lips_are_sealed
6
pierre_pierre
Grafter
Posts: 19,757
Thanks: 3
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?

try flying on an airline now days without some from of photo identity,  or getting hospital treatment without a number
WildRose52
Grafter
Posts: 507
Registered: ‎23-02-2010

Re: Is all the `tracking` necessary ?


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