ReqWireless: A NEW BIG BROTHER????

Hmm. I agree on what you've said.

Any guys out there having any idea on this? 😊

This does seem a bit dodgy, I'll send them an email and see what they say. :-?

There pretty good with the customer support I got the reply already (And it's the weekend)

Here it is:

Jordan --

Our architecture uses a middleware component to do the "heavy-lifting"
of a Web, Email or Database experience for mobile Java devices. For example,
in the case of a WebViewer user, a URL request is sent from the consumer
phone to our middleware, where cookie management, image fetching/dithering
and other network/resource tasks are performed on behalf of the client, with
an optimized, compressed version of the URL-content being returned to the
user. The information we log for each request are publicly disclosed in our
disclaimer (http://www.reqwireless.com/disclaimer.html) which we ask the
user to consult before downloading the software from our download pages.

Rog.
--
Roger Skubowius, Reqwireless Inc.
Voice: +1 (519) 743-8549
Web: http://www.reqwireless.com/
Email: [email protected]

[/b]

Its not a big deal, proxy servers are used all over the place, when I am at Uni all my connections have to go through the proxy, when at work all my connections go through a proxy, I use a proxy at home to speed up browsing static pages. All a proxy can see is the request you have made, and the response the server gives.
Which might look something like:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Server: Microsoft-IIS/4.0
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 11:48:51 GMT
Set-Cookie: p_uniqid=3UcKfe5j2EQOz1nvoB; expires=Fri, 21-Dec-2012 08:00:00 GMT; domain=.hotbot.com; path=/
Connection: Keep-Alive
Content-Type: text/html
Set-Cookie: HB%5FSESSION=RH=4d7b557f6700175e0e644f3a7f2e685e43540d04; path=/
Set-Cookie: ASPSESSIONIDQQGQQRTM=ODODHAHCNPBNIELPCECBGLBA; path=/
Cache-control: private
Content-Length: 3173

Hmm. Interesting, their privacy policy does make things clear, but this sort of service could be used with malicious intent. (Esp. by third parties / associates of the service provider , whose privacy policy is unknown).

I can understand their need to do some preprocessing on a server but still.. They could rather have given us the software that does it for installation on a personal server as an option ... (Just knowing you have all the cards gives you a sense of security I guess)..

ARGH! its nothing new!! Dont you people realise that your ISP keeps logs of all the pages you are viewing, so if they needed to the could look and see that you were viewing allabouter6.com and have you read their privacy policy?

:roll: 😃

Well my ISP has a privacy policy that I like, except for the clause about 'Unless required by law' 😃

Hey I am not complaining, hell I dont even have data service on my mobile to use the webviewer...

Just saying that services like this can be with malicious intent or misused unknown to the user .. (Not necessarily this one).

:roll:

Fep lay to Rewireless, they make it clear from the outset that the processing is done on a proxy server. My only concern is that I use a software that counts on Reqwireless keeping that service open. What if they shut it, they go bust or something else changes?

Sorry guys, but when ReqWireless e-mailed me for downloading the v1.7 upgrade, didn't mention anything about "Please read our privacy policy", they just told me to click a hyperling and upgrade...

See the original upgrade msg below

-----Original Message-----
Wrom QHYUCDDJBLVLMHAALPTCXLYRWTQTIPWIGYOKSTTZRCLBDXRQBGJS
Sent Wednesday, October 09, 2002 107 AM
To [email protected]
Subject Reqwireless WebViewer 1.7 upgrade

Reqwireless is pleased to announce the release of WebViewer 1.7.
This update includes the following changes

* Added a "Use fewer colors" option for lower-quality,
faster-loading images.
* Added support for viewing PDF documents.
* Added important workarounds for problems on the Motorola T720,
T280i, V60i, V66i, and A830.

Registered users of WebViewer may upgrade to this new version for
free. The update is available from

http//reqwireless.com/upgrades/

which you can access with your desktop browser or (in most cases)
your phone's WAP browser. Note that, due to Java security
restrictions, you cannot upgrade using WebViewer itself.

You will need to enter the following username and password to
download the new version

User --------- (not shown)
Password --------- (not shown)

If you no longer wish to receive notice of free upgrades, or if you
wish to notify us of your new email address, please contact
[email protected].

😃 lol .. what about when you purchased/installed the product, did they ask you to read the privacy policy then ?? (I dont think it is essential for upgrades though, I mean you are already using the software 😊 )...

:roll: Sorry my friend... I don't remember what was the procedure when I bought this product... :roll:
But, anyway, I don't wish any private individual to know what I am watching on the net. For an ISP it's different; ISPs are obligated to laws about privacy. By breaking these laws, they are risking their business. Individuals? It's not the same, isn't it? 😉

I can't find any reason to extend this discussion any more. I just wanted to inform all WebViewer users about this situation (in case they don't know)... 😉

[quote="Jordan"]There pretty good with the customer support I got the reply already (And it's the weekend)

Here it is:

Jordan --

Our architecture uses a middleware component to do the "heavy-lifting"
of a Web, Email or Database experience for mobile Java devices. For example,
in the case of a WebViewer user, a URL request is sent from the consumer
phone to our middleware, where cookie management, image fetching/dithering
and other network/resource tasks are performed on behalf of the client, with
an optimized, compressed version of the URL-content being returned to the
user. The information we log for each request are publicly disclosed in our
disclaimer (http://www.reqwireless.com/disclaimer.html) which we ask the
user to consult before downloading the software from our download pages.

Rog.
--
Roger Skubowius, Reqwireless Inc.
Voice: +1 (519) 743-8549
Web: http://www.reqwireless.com/
Email: [email protected]

[/b][/quote]
This was interesting to see. I think it's widely known that this is how their browser works, but I think it's the first time I have seen them admit that this is the case (appreciated). I have not seen anywhere in their marketing or even the most detailed description of WebViewer that it would indeed use a proxy server. I have even sent them email to ask about it some time ago but their reply didn't mention this at all. So apparently the data mining possibilities it creates is kept low key towards consumers.

I appreciate a lot of people get uneasy about potential "big brother" issues. But really... as has been stated previously, proxy servers are EVERYWHERE. It is impossible to do anything without it being logged by someone. Reqwireless' architecture is designed explicitly to add value to their customers, not part of a judeo-masonic conspiracy... I personally appreciate just how fast web pages launch on the phone. No proxy, no speed.

If you want to get concerned about data issues, just think about how much info your government and banks (and all sorts of private, marketing oriented companies) have on you. That IS worrying (but you still can't do anything about it).

Paul

Wow! After 5 months this topic revealed! (Why?)

For a Series 60 web browser that does not depend on a specialized proxy http//www.anygraaf.fi/browser/maine.htm