NebuAd shuts down
Summary
In 2007, NebuAd reported that it had raised $30 million in funding and for a while, its software seemed very promising for wireless ISPs that wanted to offer free Wi-Fi in exchange for users viewing ads. A report by Robert Topolski (“NebuAd and Partner ISPs: Wiretapping, Forgery and Browser Hijacking,”) says that NebuAd “monitors, intercepts and modifies the contents of Internet packets” as people go online and “commandeers users’ Web browsers” to load tracking cookies and collects information from users in order to place ads from ISPs. network, injects extra hidden code into a user’s browser that was not sent by the Web site being visited. The consumer then sees ads based on NebuAd’s profile of a user’s browsing habits — built through the secretly collected information (from Public Knowledge). The revelations triggered a public outcry, resulting in Congressional scrutiny of the practices of companies like NebuAd and Phorm.