funsec mailing list archives
Coming to TV: ads about you
From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 14:50:51 -0500
Are cable boxes the next target for spyware? Richard http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051117.wxhyperads17/BNP rint/Business/ Coming to TV: ads about you By KEITH MCARTHUR Thursday, November 17, 2005 Posted at 4:41 AM EST
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
When you watch your favourite program in the not-too-distant future, your TV could be watching back. Cable companies are preparing to install software on digital set-top boxes that will keep track of everything you watch. Coupling that information with your address, the software would estimate your age, gender, interests and income. The result? Advertisers could send different commercials to different viewers. ... It could be years before the technology comes to Canada, but two U.S. cable companies are planning to roll it out early next year. The concept will likely raise red flags from privacy advocates, and its implications are enormous. Advertisers would be able to make sure the right ads are seen by the right people, challenging the old industry saying: "I know half my advertising dollars are wasted. I just don't know which half." Leading the charge is Invidi Technologies Corp., which is finalizing deals with two U.S. cable companies to install its software and begin "hypertargeting" ads early next year. The company, now based in Princeton, N.J., was founded in Edmonton, where half of its engineers are still headquartered. Invidi president David Downey was in Toronto this week to promote the software at a meeting of the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing. It's astounding how quickly and accurately the Invidi software can come up with a demographic profile of a household and its members, Mr. Downey said during a panel discussion on the topic. "Our goal is to have this software in every set-top box in the world . . ." Mr. Downey said. "There's no one else that's doing what we're doing." _______________________________________________ Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.
Current thread:
- Coming to TV: ads about you Richard M. Smith (Nov 22)
- Re: Coming to TV: ads about you Jeff Kell (Nov 22)