This is not technically webtapping, but a gentle reminder on why you should secure the information you make available online.
(source: Slashdot)
Webtapping refers to the practice of logging the IP addresses of users that access certain websites. Though it is allowed by the PATRIOT Act, it is considered by many to be at the very least a questionable practice, if not an all-out violation of civil liberties. [edit—WikiPedia] This blog discusses privacy and security matters in the era of Social Networking, Blogging, WiFi, hosted emails and files and the Patriot Act and the Great Firewall of China.
The UK ISP TalkTalk has been caught using a form of Deep Packet Inspection technology to monitor and record the websites that its customers visit, without getting their explicit consent. The system, which is not yet fully in place, ultimately aims to help block malware websites by comparing the URL that a person visits against a list of good and bad sites. Bad sites will then be restricted. TalkTalk claims that its method is totally anonymous and that the only people with visibility of the URL database itself are Chinese firm Huawei, which will no doubt help everybody to feel a lot better (apply sarc mark here) about potentially having their privacy invaded.