How can my ISP tell that I'm downloading copyrighted files? Your ISP Sees (almost) All The whole point of having an ISP is to use their services to provide you with a connection to the internet.
That means that when you send or receive data - any data - it travels from your computer through your router and immediately encounters equipment owned and operated by your ISP. "... for the most part even if the ISP can't see what you're sharing, the can see that you're sharing. " Where, if they choose, they can look at the data. Rarely do they look at the contents of the data, but more and more they're looking at the type of data - they'll note whether it's email or a web request or an instant message. I Know My Phone's "Spying" on Me, But How Bad Is It? Dear Lifehacker, With all the hullaballoo about Carrier IQ spying on all those phones, I'm left wondering what else is my phone gathering about me?
Should I be concerned, and if so, what should I do about it? P Signed, Not Trying To Be ParanoidP Dear NTTBP, A healthy dose of skepticism is, well, healthy, and you're definitely not alone in wondering what kind of private information your phone is gathering and what's being done with it. The CarrierIQ rootkit is the most recent of many mobile privacy and security concerns that have been raised (though particularly worrisome because it comes preinstalled on your phone, and removing it can be difficult).
Surfing Anonymously (Tor & SSL) The Tor Blog.