Bad Phorm: New BT trial begins, Safari users spared

Davey Winder
Monday, 29 September 2008 17:23

Business IT - Networking

When this page appears, customers are advised that they can choose to either "Switch on BT Webwise" or say "No Thanks" and that choice is then recorded in a cookie.

"At any point during the trial" BT insists "customers who have seen the invitation screen can turn BT Webwise on or off by clicking "BT Webwise On" or "BT Webwise Off" in the left-hand menu on this website."

Of course, there are other ways to opt out of being a BT and Phorm guinea pig. Perhaps the most tempting for anyone who is concerned about the privacy issues, the secret trials and the way BT has treated customers so far might be to find another Broadband ISP.

It is not that they are in short supply in the UK, after all. However, there is a much simpler way which does not involve switching ISP, just switching Web browser client.

For while BT Webwise is supported on most major browsers, including Internet Explorer and Firefox, we have discovered buried in the BT Help pages that Safari is not.

So by changing to the Safari web browser, and one assumes that Google Chrome as it is based upon a Safari engine, you can enjoy a Phorm free Internet experience.

BT customers not wishing to change ISP or browser, and who are tempted by the BT marketing to join in with the "new free service" which provides a "safer, more personalised online experience" might want to read on.

What do the revised BT terms and conditions for those on the trial say, and what about the BT privacy statement for that matter? More on page 3...

CONTINUES