[ExI] inernet whiffenpoof, was: RE: Tracking your internet browsing

[Eugen Leitl]

On Sun, Oct 27, 2013 at 12:47:44PM -0600, Kelly Anderson wrote:

> > But Btguard knows your real IP address and your physical identity by
> > having your payment information on file.
> >
> 
> True enough. Though they are in Canada. Doesn't protect me from the NSA,
> but my problem was with my ISP, not the NSA.

Your problem is less with the ISP, but by a third party who's
interested in learning which is the warm body associated
with a particular download. That third party has modified
your local politics (likely, by paying a nice sum, off the
record) to the point that it can enforce their interests.
That third party might well have representants in the compartment 
where your traffic egresses. Any of these will make some
nice money on you, if they can make their case.

As I said, some people had to learn this the hard way.
 
> > If you think that using a VPN service is sufficient, evidence shows
> > that it isn't.
> >
> 
> It has worked for over a year to keep my ISP off my back, which is all I
> cared about.

This certainly seems to be working, so far. I just wouldn't rely on this entirely.
 
> You missed my point. As a software person, I recognize that the more data I
> have about a customer, the better customer service I can provide. The loss

You're a software person, not a salesman. A salesman has very different
interests, for instance, what is the amount of interest in a particular
product I *know for sure* this customer has? The higher the amount of
interest, the higher the price that customer is willing to bear.

You can watch this in action when booking flights online.
If you want to pay more for the same product than an anonymous party, 
by all means keep being tracked online. You're subsidizing the prices
for all the anonymouses.

> of privacy is a side effect, but the increase in customer service is
> measurable.
> 
> If, for example, Google serves me more relevant advertising, I don't have

Google doesn't care about you at all. You're not Google's customer.
You're Google's product. As long as you're willing to deal with
obnoxious advertisming and not ditch the product Google will carve
you up in nice pieces, and sell the prime rib and the cutlets
to the highest bidder.

> to watch tampon ads. I like not having to watch tampon ads, than you very

If you don't like to watch tampon ads, why the fuck are you watching
tampon ads?

I ditched TV in early 1990s, because the ads bugged me too much.
I opted out from online advertisements, by running the right kind
of tools it takes seconds to install. I don't watch Youtube
ads, because I don't watch Youtube. 

> much. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

So, again, why the Stockholm syndrome? These people are making money
on you. Why are you giving them the benefit of doubt?