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Is Comcast Intercepting Packets? 403

nihilist_1137 writes: "According this page, comcast is intercepting your packets to gain knowledge of your whereabouts and then reselling it to marketers." According to the linked message, "This allows them to not only log all http requests, but to also log the response. Maybe they want to profile their customer browsing history for subsidiaries or resale to marketers. Maybe they want to do their part in The War on Freedom. Maybe they just want passwords to porn sites. Apparently they aren't using it to maximize bandwidth, because it's not configured to serve cached data."
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Is Comcast Intercepting Packets?

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  • by leviramsey ( 248057 ) on Monday February 11, 2002 @11:51PM (#2992197) Journal

    ...this is the worst service in the hist -- It's the best cable provider! Sign up today! [comcastonline.com] -- ory.

  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 11, 2002 @11:53PM (#2992202)
    My packets are copyrighted, so legally they can't copy and resell them without my written authorization.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @12:14AM (#2992296)
    I can't believe Slashdot would link to a unsubstantiated Usenet posting written by a "J Edgar Hoover", and put this as front page news.

    You must be new here. Welcome!

  • by J.D. Hogg ( 545364 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @12:14AM (#2992297) Homepage
    In an effort to bring more services to you
    for your money, Comcast is committed to make
    your Internet connectivity a useful tool in
    your daily life.

    We are partnering with many industry leaders
    to ensure that you get many advantages out of
    our service. In order to server you better,
    Comcast now automatically connects you with
    your interests by analyzing your Internet
    traffic and matching it with one of our
    partners.

    Concretely, what does this bring to our
    Valued Comcast Customers ? if you shop online,
    Comcast and its partners will send you
    E-coupons[tm] to save big at your favorite
    online grocer. Do you book airline tickets
    online ? Comcast and Delta Airlines will send
    you E-coupons[tm] for incredible savings, and
    access to unlisted flights. Do you buy
    antiques on Internet Auction sites ?
    E-coupons[tm] will help you save %15 or more
    on your purchases.

    But it gets better : you don't have to wait
    for your next Value Comcast Customer
    E-newsletter[tm] to take advantage of these
    tremendous opportunities : the savings start
    right now !

    After analyzing your Internet traffic, our
    automated PatnerMatch[tm] server is able to
    send your first E-coupon :

    --8<--8<--8<--
    1 free visit to :

    Madame Tinkertoys House of Leather
    Corner of Bourbon and Toulouse
    New-Orleans, LA

    Authorization number : 5UCK-M3-PL3N7Y
    --8<--8<--8<--

    To use your E-coupon, simply print it out
    and present it to our E-Partner, and you will
    start enjoying incredible savings.

    Thank you Dear Valued Comcast Customer for
    using Comcast's services.

  • by evilpaul13 ( 181626 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @12:31AM (#2992370)
    No, they are just catching them, holding them for a few seconds, and then releasing them to make capped upload completely emulate dial-up.

    ...But, be on the look out for version 2.0 of this Comcast innovation!

    The all new super ultra deluxe Dream [Packet] Catcher. Just like the Native American device only it captures packets and puts the user to sleep waiting for a reply to them.
  • by yintercept ( 517362 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @12:42AM (#2992411) Homepage Journal
    Comcast
    considers customer information that is collected to be confidential


    Of course they consider it "confidential". You get a lot more money when the information you're selling is confidential!!!!
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @12:52AM (#2992447)
    We've got a Trace Buster! Well we've got a Trace Buster Buster! Oh yeah? I've got a Trace Buster Buster Buster! Butchered quote from The Big Hit...
  • by Kalrand ( 177637 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @01:18AM (#2992520)
    >who wants to be the first to write an app that makes
    >random requests to random domains constantly so as to screw up their database?

    You mean actually follow the links on a slashdot story?
  • by pagley ( 225355 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @02:40AM (#2992768)
    Moderators, please mod the parent down! It's obvious that the poster is trying to shine the light of reason on people, and it's hurting their eyes!!

    If it weren't for jumping to conclusions, I doubt anyone whould get any excercise at all around here!
  • by ender81b ( 520454 ) <wdinger@gma i l . com> on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @04:22AM (#2992931) Homepage Journal
    Pretty brave posting a screenshot of a C:> prompt on slashdot.. your lucky you didn't get modded down -1 troll.
  • by yatest5 ( 455123 ) on Tuesday February 12, 2002 @05:56AM (#2993071) Homepage
    "The phone company doesn't tap converstations, but they sure as hell have a database of which line called which number, when, and for how long."

    I work for a phone company.
    No, we sure as hell DON'T have a database. (atleast in Canada). There are only 3 times we keep track.


    Does this mean you don't get itemised phone bills in Canada? Bummer.

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