Police to be granted powers to view your internet browsing history

[rl4engc]

All theoretical obviously, but supposing someone used a VPN as they frequented lots of torrent sites.

They download this file: sometorrentsite.com/spectre.1080p.bluray.torrent

Would they be right in saying that the only thing the ISP would see was a secure connection from their router to [Some IP] which doing an nslookup would come back as somevpn.com ?

I.e. the ISP wouldn't see any connection from the persons router to [IP of sometorrentsite.com] Correct?

[VectraMan]

All theoretical obviously, but supposing someone used a VPN as they frequented lots of torrent sites.

They download this file: sometorrentsite.com/spectre.1080p.bluray.torrent

Would they be right in saying that the only thing the ISP would see was a secure connection from their router to [Some IP] which doing an nslookup would come back as somevpn.com ?

I.e. the ISP wouldn't see any connection from the persons router to [IP of sometorrentsite.com] Correct?

Yep. Though if you're not using the VPN's DNS server they may see the DNS lookup of sometorrensite.com. And that's just the torrent file; if you were to drop your VPN connection then it would download via your normal (insecure) connection which they could see. And if you keep bittorrent running and so sharing, and you didn't have the VPN connected again the ISP could see that you were sharing that file.

And I guess if they really wanted to they could break the VPN encryption.

[DaveB]

Does it matter that this was a made up scare story and that they have said they will NOT be looking at browser history?

We've already posted some actual facts further down the thread.

Linkies :

Top cops demand access to the UK's entire web browsing history
Investigatory Powers Bill to update UK communications data laws
Q&A: what is the Investigatory Powers Bill? | The Times (paywall)

Resurrection of the original "Snoopers Charter" that was proposed by the Tories in the past government and scuppered by the LibDems.

Essentially an extension of what was required under RIPA but now becomes a blanket collection of internet usage metadata by ISP's. They will be required to log traffic info such as date, time, type of traffic and destination of anything that goes through their networks and keep it for later use by Law Enforcement agencies.

Using Private Browsing locally won't help you. That just stops it being saved in your browser history for when you are "Buying a surprise gift for your wife".

Using a VPN will hide the content but not the source and destination so they will still see you visiting www.Jihadies4You.com or sending an email to [email protected]

Even if you are jumping onto a Tor node the fact that you are doing that will still be logged. Same with going via a Proxy, that will be recorded and if the proxy is keeping logs they can go get those as well or get the ISP the proxy is on to give them the info on whats leaving the proxy.

Changing your IP won't help, DHCP records at the ISP will still link you to the ones you use if it's dynamic, or DNS records if you change it manually. It's all backed up so they can trawl through it if needs be.

As ever, the proposals are "For our own safety" and "in the interests of national security" but will doubtless come in very handy when the next "threat" is identified. Especially if it happens to be a civil liberties group, investigative journalists or anyone who disagrees with the government of the day.

[WTFH]

We've already posted some actual facts further down the thread.

The most recent one of those was from 30/10.


On 31/10...
Theresa May forced to backtrack on internet 'snooping' plans | World news | The Guardian


and then this...
Online surveillance bill 'will fall without judicial oversight' | Politics | The Guardian


(linked to the gruniad because they don't have a paywall (FT), or a side bar of soft porn (DM) )

[NickFitz]

Does it matter that this was a made up scare story and that they have said they will NOT be looking at browser history?

But they will be looking at browsing history

This stuff about them only seeing "a basic domain address, and not a full browsing history of pages within that site or search terms entered" is essentially meaningless.

To paraphrase the EFF presentation on the NSA's phone metadata-gathering activities: they'll know that somebody at your address went to the website of an escort agency, and a couple of weeks later to the site of an STD clinic, and a florist, and a jeweller; and that evening, somebody at your home went to the website of a local hotel, and a solicitor. But how could any of that basic information possibly reveal anything about your private life?

[MrMarkyMark]

This stuff about them only seeing "a basic domain address, and not a full browsing history of pages within that site or search terms entered" is essentially meaningless.

You are indeed correct, sir.

To paraphrase the EFF presentation on the NSA's phone metadata-gathering activities: they'll know that somebody at your address went to the website of an escort agency, and a couple of weeks later to the site of an STD clinic, and a florist, and a jeweller; and that evening, somebody at your home went to the website of a local hotel, and a solicitor. But how could any of that basic information possibly reveal anything about your private life?

I think I just felt a little bit of wee come out

[WTFH]

I think I just felt a little bit of wee come out

Go home and google Tenna.

[MrMarkyMark]

Go home and google Tenna.

Why not from client co

[SueEllen]

Heard something really scary on the way home. The bill will give HMRC the right to seize your computer to look for financial irregularities.

[greenlake]

Go home and google Tenna.

Looks nice!



Tenna - La perla della Valsugana - Trentino