How Long Does Your ISP Store ADSL IP-Address Logs?

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RalphMyerz

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Hi There,

Found a two year old article on Torrent Freak about the period ISPs in the US store IP-assignment logs and thought it beneficial for all (purely from a privacy and interest perspective) to compile a similar list of SA ISPs. Does anyone perhaps know where I can get more information on this (I have emailed a number of ISPs without any reply).

For interest sake, here's the US list:
Time Warner: store IP-address logs for up to 6 months.
Comcast: 180 days
Verizon: 18 months
AT&T: "about a year"

Now just for the MWEBs and Telkoms of the world.

Kind regards,
Ralf.
 
I suppose you're right but surely no ISP would ever be able to store IP-assignment logs ad infinitum? Again, I'm wondering more from a technical interest (size/time limitations)/privacy perspective than from a "the MPAA is out to get me for download torrents" perspective... Although that may very well also a very legitimate concern! ;)

MWEB Guy, please advise (even a rough ballpark/general figure would be helpful)?
 
I would imagine most don't store them or if they do not for very long because it removes them from any responsibility.
 
Makes perfect sense; the closest I could get was the ECT Act re the collection of personal info (not even sure ADSL assigned IP addresses qualify as such) and, according to S51(5) of the Act, "The data controller must, for as long as the personal information is used and for a period of at least one year thereafter, keep a record of the personal information and the specific purpose for which the personal information was collected." But, again, don't really think that this section is at all relevant...

Again, it would be nice to make a local list mirroring the Torrent Freak one (for the more privacy/paranoid inclined, of course)...
 
Roger that...but why then do US ISPs purge session logs (after 6 months or a year or so)? Is it purely because their law obliges them to keep the data for a certain period, and that they'd want to eliminate their liability as a "facilitator" ASAP...which makes me lean more towards SauRoNZA's argument. But if they do keep it indefinitely, then it might explain why none of their privacy policies mention a "timeout"/"purge period".
 
While it may be kept "indefinitely", one needs to consider all the additional factors:
Merging lists across multiple servers to a single point for backup and retrieval.
Merging timeously so as to avoid loss if routers / servers die and get replaced / upgraded
etc

I imagine the actual process is far from perfect - especially when one considers the abysmal failure of core business functions (invoicing, billing, DSL speeds) that plague many ISPS.
 
Oh yes, definitely not doubting that, mpdjhb! Which might also be a reason why no ISP would divulge this info...it isn't easily "divulge-able"!

@ MWEB Guy, perhaps you can shed some light on this? In line with the torrent freak article, Time Warner stores IP-address logs for up to 6 months, for how long does MWEB retain such info? Your answer will be greatly appreciated!
 
Well the longer they keep it, the bigger the burden on them to keep it secure, and the responsibility is theirs ...
 
YingYang said:
I'm more intrigues by why you want this info. What did you download? :p
Click to expand...

Hehe, it's really not what you think (despite my Bovril wrestling predilection), YingYang! ;) The real reason is that I'm trying to put a list (similar to this one https://torrentfreak.com/how-long-does-your-isp-store-ip-address-logs-120629/) together for local ISPs and I do realise that, as private companies, they are under no obligation to divulge such information...but I believe it is not wholly unfair to publish a comparative list to highlight the more privacy aware ISPs out there.
 
RalphMyerz said:
For interest sake, here's the US list:
Time Warner: store IP-address logs for up to 6 months.
Comcast: 180 days
Verizon: 18 months
AT&T: "about a year"

Now just for the MWEBs and Telkoms of the world.

Kind regards,
Ralf.
Click to expand...

It doesn't (only) matter how long ADSL ISPs store the info, as Telkom Wholesale can store it for all ISPs.

The U.S. doesn't have *any* kind of last mile sharing like IPC, you get your DSL from one of the above, if you don't like the service, you get intrrnet from your cable tv company.

In order to comply with some SA regulations, you need to store minimum 1 year, but if the records form part of revenue accounting (e.g. radius accounting records which include tel no and IP) a publicly traded company may need to archive for 5 years to comply with e.g. SA-OX or King III.
 
ranger said:
It doesn't (only) matter how long ADSL ISPs store the info, as Telkom Wholesale can store it for all ISPs.

The U.S. doesn't have *any* kind of last mile sharing like IPC, you get your DSL from one of the above, if you don't like the service, you get intrrnet from your cable tv company.

In order to comply with some SA regulations, you need to store minimum 1 year, but if the records form part of revenue accounting (e.g. radius accounting records which include tel no and IP) a publicly traded company may need to archive for 5 years to comply with e.g. SA-OX or King III.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing things up, Ranger - really appreciated!
 
I wonder if @crystalweb would provide us with some info considering how they like to be very transparent.

Probably the most likely ISP to reveal to us.
 
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