BEWARE Virgin Media monitor internet traffic, are they right to do so?

Bobman13579 · 27-11-09, 09:47 AM

A quick note to Virgin Media customers, they will soon be monitoring your internet for filesharing. I neither agree or disagree with it, but just wanted to warn people who didn't know.

Virgin Media to monitor traffic for file-sharing - ZDNet.co.uk

My question is, are they right to do this, or is a breach of privacy?

Discuss.

ndev2k · 27-11-09, 09:54 AM

I work for VM and this is the first I have heard of it.

Can't say anything about it at the moment until I know more

FurbtasticM · 27-11-09, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobman13579

A quick note to Virgin Media customers, they will soon be monitoring your internet for filesharing. I neither agree or disagree with it, but just wanted to warn people who didn't know.

Virgin Media to monitor traffic for file-sharing - ZDNet.co.uk

My question is, are they right to do this, or is a breach of privacy?

Discuss.

"web traffic first enters a network device, or 'black box', where IP address information is discarded, Detica media accounts director Dan Klein told ZDNet UK on Thursday. The data packet is then scanned to see if it follows one of the three main file-sharing protocols — BitTorrent, Gnutella and eDonkey"

If they are taking away the IP information and rendering the data effectively anonymous, then is there a privacy issue?

Newsgroups are the way to go, not torrents!

Bobman13579 · 27-11-09, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndev2k

I work for VM and this is the first I have heard of it.

Can't say anything about it at the moment until I know more

Fair enough

Was just repeating back what I read on the internet, I'm a gullible teenager

ndev2k · 27-11-09, 10:07 AM

Yes I believe they are doing it to see the extent of illegal file-sharing rather than actually targeting individual customers

claire80 · 27-11-09, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurbtasticM

Newsgroups are the way to go, not torrents!

most definitley !!

ndev2k · 27-11-09, 10:12 AM

Buying software and DVDs is the way to go

TEMPLE3188 · 27-11-09, 11:12 AM

What newsgroups are you guys with? I still need to make the switch.

ndev2k · 27-11-09, 11:31 AM

I just use the free ones that come with my ISP. The retention rate is not great but they are good for new releases

TEMPLE3188 · 27-11-09, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndev2k

I just use the free ones that come with my ISP. The retention rate is not great but they are good for new releases

Cheers, but the info your giving is going way over my head with this, do you know of any good articles that explain it well to newbies, everything I find is really confusing, some talk about Usenet, then GigaNews etc etc, can't work out what to do, I understand how the files are sent etc but can't figure out for the life of me of how to do it lol

FurbtasticM · 27-11-09, 12:21 PM

In the simplest terms, there are three key elements to newgroups.

-Somewhere to make it easy to find the stuff you need - Newzbin
-A program to download it - AltBinz
-Somewhere to download from - Usenet Server, Giganews

Those are just my preferred choices but you will get the idea if you search around. Giganews comes with a cost but it is worth it in my view. Pure downloads and insane speeds, none of this uploading malarkey you get on Torrents.

Harvez · 27-11-09, 12:34 PM

I use newsdemon £10 mth for unlimited downloads 8 coneections and maxes me out every time downloading at 2.3MBs

for those wanting nzb's you cant find my forum has a section for requests

williamblah · 27-11-09, 12:48 PM

I was using Newsnext last year because I found that they had a password on Bugmenot! That was pretty crazy fast compared to torrents. My PC is on 24/7 though so if I want to download something it will be done when I wake up...!

claire80 · 27-11-09, 12:59 PM

i use the same as furbs ( he told me about them about a year ago ) the speeds are as he says "insane"

FurbtasticM · 27-11-09, 01:24 PM

The AltBinz version I am using pretty much maxes out the 50mb VM connection on my desktop PC. It is bringing in so much data that AltBinz actually hangs, the only thing you can see is the amount left to download rapidly decreasing.

No way I need that sort of speed but when they offered me a phone package it saved me money to upgrade broadband too.

williamblah · 27-11-09, 01:32 PM

So jealous of everyone with fast connections. And so annoyed we live back from the road so it'll probably beso long before there is any sight of fibre optic cable. I cannot even remember having a connection that works. My PC USB ports are dodgy, and every so often they just kick off my wireless dongle, and doesn't let it reconnect for a while. So I have to either stop what I'm doing and wait, or restart the PC. My wireless has NEVER been reliable, and neither has Tiscali. My internet used to flow in a 10 second cycle of being off, then on, then off, then on, meaning that there was a 50% chance a page I click on wouldn't load.
FML.

27-11-09, 09:47 AM	#1
Bobman13579 iPod Nano 4GB Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Royston Posts: 394	BEWARE Virgin Media monitor internet traffic, are they right to do so? A quick note to Virgin Media customers, they will soon be monitoring your internet for filesharing. I neither agree or disagree with it, but just wanted to warn people who didn't know. Virgin Media to monitor traffic for file-sharing - ZDNet.co.uk My question is, are they right to do this, or is a breach of privacy? Discuss.

27-11-09, 09:54 AM	#2
ndev2k Mini Mac Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St Helens Posts: 4,220	I work for VM and this is the first I have heard of it. Can't say anything about it at the moment until I know more __________________ Free Stuff \|Free iPhone 3GS \| Free Nintendo Wii \| Free PS3 \| Free Stuff Spoiler Received: DS Lite w/Cooking Guide \| Bank Transfers worth £1839 \| 320GB WD Portable HDD \| 8GB iPod Touch \| Navman S70 3D Sat Nav \| Sony Playstation 3 80GB \| £340 Amazon Vouchers \| Singstar Vol 1 & 2 \| Fisher Price Little People Santa's Sleigh \| 7 in 1 Trekker from Mothercare \| Singstar Abba \| iPod Shuffle 1GB Blue \| Windows 7 Ultimate \| Linksys Wireless Router \| Buzz Quiz TV \| Buzz Brain of the UK \| Silver Necklace \| Bio-Oil \| iPhone 3GS 16GB \| 750GB Internal Hard Drive \| SATA Cable \| Hoover Dishwasher \| Sceptre II Gas Fire \| Walnut Fire Surround \| Heated Towel Radiator \| Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi \| £424 Paypal \| £520 worth of Building Materials \| X-Factor (Dual Mic Pack) Game (PS3) \| £90 Amazon Vouchers (prizes in Competition) \| Nintendo 3DS with Zelda Game Value Of Received Gifts : £6019(approx)

27-11-09, 10:07 AM	#5
ndev2k Mini Mac Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St Helens Posts: 4,220	Yes I believe they are doing it to see the extent of illegal file-sharing rather than actually targeting individual customers __________________ Free Stuff \|Free iPhone 3GS \| Free Nintendo Wii \| Free PS3 \| Free Stuff Spoiler Received: DS Lite w/Cooking Guide \| Bank Transfers worth £1839 \| 320GB WD Portable HDD \| 8GB iPod Touch \| Navman S70 3D Sat Nav \| Sony Playstation 3 80GB \| £340 Amazon Vouchers \| Singstar Vol 1 & 2 \| Fisher Price Little People Santa's Sleigh \| 7 in 1 Trekker from Mothercare \| Singstar Abba \| iPod Shuffle 1GB Blue \| Windows 7 Ultimate \| Linksys Wireless Router \| Buzz Quiz TV \| Buzz Brain of the UK \| Silver Necklace \| Bio-Oil \| iPhone 3GS 16GB \| 750GB Internal Hard Drive \| SATA Cable \| Hoover Dishwasher \| Sceptre II Gas Fire \| Walnut Fire Surround \| Heated Towel Radiator \| Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi \| £424 Paypal \| £520 worth of Building Materials \| X-Factor (Dual Mic Pack) Game (PS3) \| £90 Amazon Vouchers (prizes in Competition) \| Nintendo 3DS with Zelda Game Value Of Received Gifts : £6019(approx)

27-11-09, 10:12 AM	#7
ndev2k Mini Mac Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St Helens Posts: 4,220	Buying software and DVDs is the way to go __________________ Free Stuff \|Free iPhone 3GS \| Free Nintendo Wii \| Free PS3 \| Free Stuff Spoiler Received: DS Lite w/Cooking Guide \| Bank Transfers worth £1839 \| 320GB WD Portable HDD \| 8GB iPod Touch \| Navman S70 3D Sat Nav \| Sony Playstation 3 80GB \| £340 Amazon Vouchers \| Singstar Vol 1 & 2 \| Fisher Price Little People Santa's Sleigh \| 7 in 1 Trekker from Mothercare \| Singstar Abba \| iPod Shuffle 1GB Blue \| Windows 7 Ultimate \| Linksys Wireless Router \| Buzz Quiz TV \| Buzz Brain of the UK \| Silver Necklace \| Bio-Oil \| iPhone 3GS 16GB \| 750GB Internal Hard Drive \| SATA Cable \| Hoover Dishwasher \| Sceptre II Gas Fire \| Walnut Fire Surround \| Heated Towel Radiator \| Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi \| £424 Paypal \| £520 worth of Building Materials \| X-Factor (Dual Mic Pack) Game (PS3) \| £90 Amazon Vouchers (prizes in Competition) \| Nintendo 3DS with Zelda Game Value Of Received Gifts : £6019(approx)

27-11-09, 11:12 AM	#8
TEMPLE3188 iPod 30gb Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,227	What newsgroups are you guys with? I still need to make the switch. __________________ Free iPhone \| Free PS3 \| Macbook \| Free iPod \| Record Xbox 360 gameplay

27-11-09, 11:31 AM	#9
ndev2k Mini Mac Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St Helens Posts: 4,220	I just use the free ones that come with my ISP. The retention rate is not great but they are good for new releases __________________ Free Stuff \|Free iPhone 3GS \| Free Nintendo Wii \| Free PS3 \| Free Stuff Spoiler Received: DS Lite w/Cooking Guide \| Bank Transfers worth £1839 \| 320GB WD Portable HDD \| 8GB iPod Touch \| Navman S70 3D Sat Nav \| Sony Playstation 3 80GB \| £340 Amazon Vouchers \| Singstar Vol 1 & 2 \| Fisher Price Little People Santa's Sleigh \| 7 in 1 Trekker from Mothercare \| Singstar Abba \| iPod Shuffle 1GB Blue \| Windows 7 Ultimate \| Linksys Wireless Router \| Buzz Quiz TV \| Buzz Brain of the UK \| Silver Necklace \| Bio-Oil \| iPhone 3GS 16GB \| 750GB Internal Hard Drive \| SATA Cable \| Hoover Dishwasher \| Sceptre II Gas Fire \| Walnut Fire Surround \| Heated Towel Radiator \| Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi \| £424 Paypal \| £520 worth of Building Materials \| X-Factor (Dual Mic Pack) Game (PS3) \| £90 Amazon Vouchers (prizes in Competition) \| Nintendo 3DS with Zelda Game Value Of Received Gifts : £6019(approx)

27-11-09, 12:21 PM	#11
FurbtasticM ..is a Muppet! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Swindon Posts: 10,100	In the simplest terms, there are three key elements to newgroups. -Somewhere to make it easy to find the stuff you need - Newzbin -A program to download it - AltBinz -Somewhere to download from - Usenet Server, Giganews Those are just my preferred choices but you will get the idea if you search around. Giganews comes with a cost but it is worth it in my view. Pure downloads and insane speeds, none of this uploading malarkey you get on Torrents. __________________ iPhone deals \| Giveaway \| Free iPhone \| Free iPad Last edited by FurbtasticM; 27-11-09 at 12:21 PM..

27-11-09, 12:34 PM	#12
Harvez Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: l33dz Posts: 9,421	I use newsdemon £10 mth for unlimited downloads 8 coneections and maxes me out every time downloading at 2.3MBs for those wanting nzb's you cant find my forum has a section for requests __________________ Freebiejeebies \| Free iphone \| Free Blackberry \| Free Wii U \| Free laptop ^^^^ its not real stop begging losers ^^^^ Someone once said "Life is what you make it", I disagree sometimes life makes you into what you are.

27-11-09, 12:48 PM	#13
williamblah iPod 60gb Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Colchester, Essex Posts: 1,635	I was using Newsnext last year because I found that they had a password on Bugmenot! That was pretty crazy fast compared to torrents. My PC is on 24/7 though so if I want to download something it will be done when I wake up...!

27-11-09, 12:59 PM	#14
claire80 Mini Mac Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Midlands Posts: 11,689	i use the same as furbs ( he told me about them about a year ago ) the speeds are as he says "insane"

27-11-09, 01:24 PM	#15
FurbtasticM ..is a Muppet! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Swindon Posts: 10,100	The AltBinz version I am using pretty much maxes out the 50mb VM connection on my desktop PC. It is bringing in so much data that AltBinz actually hangs, the only thing you can see is the amount left to download rapidly decreasing. No way I need that sort of speed but when they offered me a phone package it saved me money to upgrade broadband too. __________________ iPhone deals \| Giveaway \| Free iPhone \| Free iPad

27-11-09, 01:32 PM	#16
williamblah iPod 60gb Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Colchester, Essex Posts: 1,635	So jealous of everyone with fast connections. And so annoyed we live back from the road so it'll probably beso long before there is any sight of fibre optic cable. I cannot even remember having a connection that works. My PC USB ports are dodgy, and every so often they just kick off my wireless dongle, and doesn't let it reconnect for a while. So I have to either stop what I'm doing and wait, or restart the PC. My wireless has NEVER been reliable, and neither has Tiscali. My internet used to flow in a 10 second cycle of being off, then on, then off, then on, meaning that there was a 50% chance a page I click on wouldn't load. FML.