Data mining

[Steve M]

Our Bell Canada has announced that they will be tracking our searches and storing them in order to bring ads to us that fit our interests. It's data mining in short. (Much like Google does) Problem is, It will be an opt out set up, so that you must opt out to the ads as opposed to opt in by logging in to Bell. Bell is saying if you opt out they will still collect your data but you won't get the selective ads. You can't opt out of their data mining, however. Example: I have a Bell bundle which is internet, landline telephone, satelite tv and a bell cellphone from work.
We know that Google and other free options data mine, but when a person pays for a service, Such as myself paying $283+- a month, who owns my intellectual property? I think I own them and they think they do. Bell .ca is currently argueing their case in the supreme court. Sorry but no link provided.

[OldAirmail]

The "opt out" system is a piece of dung.


Depending on how serious you are about avoiding such scams, you can give your self some privacy.

It isn't going to protect you from your government, but using an anonymizer can get around your service provider. (that is unless your government asks them to help.).


At its most basic, you connect to another computer somewhere in the world (preferably using an encrypted point to point tunneling protocol). Your internet surfing is done from THAT computer.

With the data transferred between the 2 computers being encrypted, the internet provider has no clue as to what is being sent or received.


There are, at least, 2 types - free, and paid.

The free type will usually have a small bit of advertising at the top of the page, and be slow due to heavy traffic. As it's free, it won't hurt to try it out.

The paid type would probably be the better way to go if you decide to take control of your online privacy.


Just remember what I said though - it WILL NOT stop your government and it's law enforcement from snooping if they should become interested in you.

[Steve M]

I agree with what you have said OAM. (BUT) I believe that when I pay big money to a service provider, I should not have to change my address in any way to stop data mining. I expect it from Google, Facebook or my space because they are free and you sign up or you don't. (BUT) When I sign on to a service provider 10 years ago and pay them faithfully, and they just spring this crap on paying customers, well , that makes my head spin. I think if they want to mine and sell my intellectual properties they should pay me for it. As they are billing me to use their service and profiting when they sell my personal info, without my permission. Don't even tell me about EULA. The guy that installed my satelite service said I had to sign an agreement before he could activate it. He laid some last minute document on my kitchen table and began unfolding it, it covered most of the table and the font was so small you could fit a paragraph on a grain of rice.

[OldAirmail]

Oh, I certainly agree.

That's why I started with "The "opt out" system is a piece of dung."


Just imagine that you bought a car.

Some months later, in a pile of junk mail, is one particular letter saying (in very small print) that if you want to opt out of vehicle tracking you should find a place somewhere on-line to say no thank you.

People would stop buying from that car maker.


But with internet providers, you're more limited. What do you do when they all (2 or 3 choices) do the same thing?


The "opt out" options should be illegal.