WTV TV TRACKING LOGS


Fortunately, WTV has recently offered users an opt-out from having their off-line family's TV viewing habits tracked and logged. None the less it should NEVER be forgotten that WTV began this higly invasive tracking without ever formally notifying WTV subscribers... and continued the practice for an entire year before offering the "opt-out".

If you ever get around to reading the WebTV Privacy Policy you might never catch referrence of the TV LOGs. It receives scant mention... about three words. But those few words conceal one of the most outragous privacy invading systems ever devised. If not disabled, these TV LOGS RECORD EVERYTHING.... right down to what TV listings you read or search for. This is in keeping with WebTV's Tracking and Logging everything we do on-line. Even if WebTV fully informed us what private information they "steal" from us... what they can doing is truely Orwellian.

What follows are examples of the information these TV LOGs contain along with some notes... s well as a listing of other WTV-LOGS.

It MUST be remembered these LOGS were NEVER something WebTV users were ever meant to see. Some of the LOGs were found in cache with a tool dubbed the "Autohacker". The TV and GAME LOGS were found on a Plus hard drive where they are stored until uploaded each night to WebTV. Since the Logs were never meant to be read by the WebTV browser, the raw form contains some alt-character jibberish which has been edited out. Howerver some of this coding contains data on particular TV programs and TV channels we may have read about, viewed. or selected. This means these LOGs track even more private behavior than is evident from the codes alone!

Why does WebTV invade our privacy in this manner? The press reported WebTV made a deal with Neilsen TV Ratings in February of '98. It has long been the goal of these rating services to get a peek into our secret lives... to collect data on our behavior without our conscious attempts to censor it. This TV Tracking scheme was tailor made for Neilsen's purposes. Maybe now we finally know what WebTV means when it tells advertisers they can look over the user's sholders in everything they do.


TV LOGS: TV Logs contain the box's SSID NUMBER
as well as the USER NAME of the person watching the show. Each listing represent a separate page viewed.

TO CONFIGURE SYSTEM.. this is info WebTV already sent to the WTV servers.... why do they need it again? wtv-setup:/validate-epg-zip?setup-epg-zip=00666& setup-epg-source=cable&setup-epg-autodownload=1 wtv-setup:/epg-provider?ZipCode=00666&HeadendTy pe=CAB&setup-autodownload=truewtv-setup:/validate-epg-provider?setup-autodownl oad=true&ZipCode=00666&HeadendType=CAB&epg-provid er=666X file://rom/tvhtmls/TVListingsOptions.html file://rom/tvhtmls/notvdata.html file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-listings.html client:showtvlistingssetup?auto-retrieve


NORMAL OPERATIONS client:showtvhome client:showtvlistings?time=todayP <0 0P Gp/0 9 0/P 0p ,{ 0P 0Pp " P 0PP X0PX [note TV show jibberish codes] client:showtvfullscreen?tvchannel=7P 0PX q [Logged that I viewed this show on CH 7 on full screen TV.] client:showtvinfopage?tvchannel=7&time=9363258 0 0P pP #X [logged that I went to the page with more specific information about this show.] cache:Crossover.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/ [logged that I visited this site.] file://rom/tvhtmls/TVListingsOptions.html client:VCRController?command=ShowPage file://rom/tvhtmls/vcrprogram.htmlfile://rom/tvhtmls/TVListingsOptions.html client:tvPlanner
TV PROGRAM SEARCH: note "results" are codes for TV programs. client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=series client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=sports client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP "06p .KX client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=sports client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=news client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP f%00 $~vX file://rom/tvhtmls/Search/TVSearch.html client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=instructional client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP \L0s0 .BX 1client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=specia ls client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP fF0 W;@
CHANNEL SETUP file://rom/tvhtmls/setup.html file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-center.html client:showchannelsetup P ~00p ӜP * 0p {AP :0Fp *P Tpsk0 ,SDP 80up gP 0sk0 ,SDP K00 NP 80mp .κP 306p .KP 0Fp (P 70p cP 4pJjp )oP 60*p $P \0Fp *P Q0Fp 'P 60ɟp , P \0p cP (pmp .κP ;0-p _P Y"pp )P !0sQp #oP 0{p P 0p -G{P _0-p _P 8p / P 80u0 gP _ 00 ,^P :05p .P P 9*0A0 (P 8+0gp ]P 6,0Q0 H\P m00Ap .P 7/0Wp .uP 4.p;p P 5-0p gP Z10l{p .P 6202p -xP 63p;p 9 P 540zp *P w80p ."P 870)U0 .7P 960Xp P 350Fp 'P 860Xp P 7p)U0 .7P 80p ."P q0 )
[I deleted a number of channels from my list... now WebTV knows exactly what TV stations I have listed!]
file://rom/tvhtmls/TVFavoritesEdit.html client:tvPlanner?showEventList=true file://rom/tvhtmls/TVCrossoverRecent.html cache:Crossover.html wtv-content:/redirect?req-id=find-movie&tunnel-param-1=Amistad&tunnel-param-2=1997&tunnel-param-3=2682098 6 WX

VCR SETUP file://rom/tvhtmls/novcr.html client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=IntroPage client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=StartDevice Setup&device=VCR client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn ection&device=VCR&UseDevice=true client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConne ction&device=VCR&ConnectionType=LINE client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConne ction&device=VCR&UseDevice=trueclient:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn ection&device=VCR&ConnectionType=VHF client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=CheckSigna l&device=VCR&ConnectionType=VHF-3client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufacture rList&device=VCR&startIndex=0 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufacture rList&device=VCR&startIndex=9 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=VCR&startIndex=27 fNclient:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=VCR&startIndex=45 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=VCR&startIndex=63 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=VCR&startIndex=81 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=VCR&startIndex=99 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=VCR&startIndex=117 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufacture rList&device=VCR&manufacturer=125 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSets client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSets client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSets client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSets client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSets client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ConfirmCodeSet&device=VCR&CodeSet=5client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=FinishPage& device=VCR&CodeSet=5
CABLE BOX SETUP client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=StartDevic eSetup&device=CableBox client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn ection&device=CableBox client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn ection&device=CableBox&UseDevice=true client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn ection&device=CableBox&ConnectionType=LINE client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=0client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=9 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=27 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=45 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=63 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=81 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=99 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=117 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&startIndex=135 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=CableBox&manufacturer=94 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSets client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ConfirmCodeSet&device=CableBox&CodeSet=3 file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/CableboxTroubl eShootMore.html file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/CableboxConnecti onMore2.html client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ConfirmCod eSet&device=CableBox&CodeSet=3
MISC SETUP PAGES file://rom/tvhtmls/p-PhoneSetupIntro.html client:showdialingpage file://rom/tvhtmls/p-PhoneCallWaiting.html file://rom/tvhtmls/p-PhoneCallWaiting.html file://rom/tvhtmls/p-PhoneCallWaitThresh.html file://rom/tvhtmls/p-PhonePower.html file://rom/tvhtmls/p-AdvancedPhoneSetup.html file://rom/tvhtmls/p-PhoneReset.html file://rom/tvhtmls/setup.html
SATELLITE SETUP client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=IntroPage client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=StartDevic eSetup&device=SatelliteBox client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConnection&device=SatelliteBox&UseDevice=true file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/SatelliteConnectionMore1.html?ConnectionType=LINE client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConnection&device=SatelliteBox&UseDevice=true client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConnection&device=SatelliteBox&ConnectionType=VHF client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=CheckSignal&device=SatelliteBox&ConnectionType=VHF-3 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ManufacturerList&device=SatelliteBox&startIndex=0 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=Manufactur erList&device=SatelliteBox&manufacturer=1 client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSet client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=TestCodeSetsclient:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConnection&device=SatelliteBox&UseDevice=true client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=StartDeviceSetup&device=SatelliteBox client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=IntroPage client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=StartDeviceSetup&device=SatelliteBox client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn ection&device=SatelliteBox client:ConfirmExternalSetup?showPage=ChooseConn
MISC INFO PAGES file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/TVHookupMore1.html file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/TVHookupMore2.html file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/TVHookupMore4.html file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/TVHookupMore5.html file://disk/browser/Howto/Hookup/TVHookupMore3.html file://disk/browser/Howto/howto-index.html file://disk/browser/Howto/remote_01.html file://disk/browser/Howto/remote_02.html file://disk/browser/Howto/remote_03.html?Continue=Continue file://disk/browser/Howto/remote_04.html?Continue=Continue file://disk/browser/Howto/remote_05.html?Continue=Continue file://disk/browser/Howto/watching_01.htmlX file://disk/browser/Howto/tvlistings_03.html?Continue=Continue file://disk/browser/Howto/tvlistings_04.html?Continue=Continue file://disk/browser/Howto/settings_01.htmlX pP D0m0 P I0Jjp )oP B0p (P > 0p ,{P V 0[0 P _ 00 P 0p P B 0p P 0[0 P 0p ,{P 0p (P 40Pp "P u0p ,{P >0/p 9P H0p / SP 60

PICTURE CONTROL: And what valid reason does WebTV have for wanting to know if we have adjusted our TV sets? client:showtvhome file://rom/tvhtmls/setup.html file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-center.html file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-display-info.html?Continue=Continue file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-contrast.html?Continue=Continue file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-brightness.html?Continue=Continue file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-sharpness.html?Continue=Continue


OTHER WEBTV TRACKING LOGS:


WTV-LOG:/ is the assigned IP address our other Logs are sent or uploaded to. The logs below are all those so far discovered. What they seem to have in common is they report back private data that can not be tracked by the WTV in normal ways... such as SSL activity which bypasses the WTV service. While some may exist to aid network operations, others clearly exist for one pupose: so WebTV can Track and Log what should be our private activities.

PRINT LOGS: This is the WebTV tracking log which notifies WebTV what material we print... each and every page. In this case it also logs what type of printer a user has, how many pages were printed printed, and what site was printed. The site name is fictitious and used only to illustrate just how sensitive the info one prints might be and why this should be considered private.

wtv-log:/log?type=print&action=printok&pagecnt=1&printytype=0&result=0&model=1%C5&setup=1%2C1%2C1%2C0&url=http://wallstreet.com/insider/stocktips 


SECURITY LOG: When we make an SSL Secure Page connection, we bypass the WTV network entirely. WTV found a way to track what we do none the less. This Log tracks and logs you credit card use including where you were prior to making a purchase. Again, the URL and the referred URL are fictitious. wtv-log:/log?type=security&ction=SSL&host=https:/wallstreet.com/stocks/your_account&refer-URL=http://wallstreet.com/broker/


The purpose of this second Security Log is unclear at this time. wtv-log:/log?type=security&action=restart&lastURL=http://wallstreet.com/broker/


CHAT LOG: This log tracks your Chat usage. Since this Logs exists we might be safe to assume that IRC Chat connections are made without using the WTV Servers. These Logs report to WTV what room you visit and how many people were in that room. Hmmmm...... wtv-log:/log?type=chat&action=JOIN&host=morechat.talkcity.com&port=7000&channel=%23ROOM_NAME&UserCount=2


JELLYSCRIPT LOG: this may log javascript errors. wtv-log:/log?type=jellyscript&action=error&lastURL=


NOTICES: purpose unknown at this time wtv-log:/NoticesLog >


PHONE LOG: logs phone numbers your box dialed to connect. wtv-log:/phone-log


TCP LOG: more on this later

UNEDITED TV TRACKING LOG

7JP [[--SSID #--]] 0Pp ,L 7JQX client:showtvhomep m+X )file://rom/tvhtmls/TVListingsOptions.htmlX "client:ShowTVListings?time=editDay 2client:ShowTVListings?time=editTime&date=928036800X $client:showtvlistings?time=928036800P _0P w0client:showtvinfopage?tvchannel=7&time=928029600P 0P D$client:showtvlistings?time=928036800P N0PX 0client:showtvinfopage?tvchannel=7&time=928022400P 0P $client:showtvlistings?time=928036800P Y0P N2client:ShowTVListings?time=editTime&date=928036800X "client:ShowTVListings?time=editDayX 2client:ShowTVListings?time=editTime&date=927950400X $client:showtvlistings?time=928022400P P0PP 00 P @ 0p 00 X 0client:showtvinfopage?tvchannel=8&time=928008000P 0ǘ $client:showtvlistings?time=928022400P V0X a2client:ShowTVListings?time=editTime&date=927950400X k"client:ShowTVListings?time=editDay 6'file://rom/tvhtmls/Search/TVSearch.html "client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP Y 00 _X 1client:showtvinfopage?tvchannel=12&time=927666000P 0 "client:TVSearch?action=showResults 1client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=specials q"client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP gD0F0 '04 C1client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=specials "client:TVSearch?action=showResults 40P0 +P 4 00 _P m0P0 +X F0client:showtvinfopage?tvchannel=7&time=927772200P 0P "client:TVSearch?action=showResultsX T1client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=specials Z"client:TVSearch?action=showResults O1client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=specials "client:TVSearch?action=showResultsP [E00 "l AD0F0 '04P E00 "lX @1client:TVSearch?action=showSubTypes&type=specials "client:TVSearch?action=showResults client:showtvlistings?time=todayP 7E0 E0P `G00 d G0P H0jp $ H0jP I0 \*0 I0 \*X -$client:showtvfullscreen?tvchannel=73P I0 \* client:showtvlistings?time=todayP ;I0 \*P I0 \*P iH0j0 $ H0jP &G00 dP G0P E0p "l E0P 5D0F0 '04 D0FP =B0p B0P f 00 `; 0P M00 0P 0p 0P 0[p -P 0[P 0p `; 0P 0p _P 0P 0*p NP "0*P #0+p S #0+X $client:showtvfullscreen?tvchannel=35P #0+X ( client:showtvlistings?time=todayP 8#0+ #0+P 0*p N 0*X $client:showtvfullscreen?tvchannel=20P 0*X client:showtvlistings?time=todayP 80* 0*P ) 00 _ 0P 0p `; 0P 0[p - 0[P 0p 0P 00 0P V0/p 9 0/P pp N 0P 0p 0P 6I0 \*0 I0 \*P %H0jp $ H0jP G00 d G0P E0p "l E0 client:showtvhomeX file://rom/tvhtmls/setup.html X$file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-center.html file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-display-info.html?Continue=ContinueX 8file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-contrast.html?Continue=ContinueX :file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-brightness.html?Continue=ContinueX 9file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-sharpness.html?Continue=Continue O$client:showtvlistingssetup?main-page Z(client:showtvlistingssetup?auto-retrieve &file://rom/tvhtmls/setup-listings.html Yclient:showtvlistings X 5_wtv-setup:/validate-epg-zip?setup-epg-zip=XXXXX&setup-epg-source=cable&setup-epg-autodownload=1X \Mwtv-setup:/epg-provider?ZipCode=XXXXX&HeadendType=CAB&setup-autodownload=true iclient:showtvhome _*file://disk/browser/Howto/howto-index.html u*file://disk/browser/Howto/watching_01.html client:showtvhomeX )file://rom/tvhtmls/TVListingsOptions.htmlX }client:showtvhomeX v$client:showtvfullscreen?tvchannel=69P E0 D0F0 '04 ?C0|0 e̐ gB00 @