Research has revealed that 57 per cent of subscribers would leave their Internet Service Provider (ISP) if the Phorm targeted advertising system were to be adopted.

Phorm is currently working with ISP providers including BT, TalkTalk and Virgin, and uses technology that monitors the websites users visit.

According to computerweekly.com, only two per cent of respondents said they would stay with their ISP if it started to use Phorm and 25 per cent claim not to know what the technology was.

Mark Jackson, editor-in-chief of ISPreviw.co.uk, which carried out the research, said: "Consumers are sending a clear massage to the ISPs that they do not want Phorm and are even prepared to leave if it forced upon them, regardless of whether the provider is offering an opt-in solution or not."

In related news, the Open Rights Group expressed concern last month regarding privacy issues with Phorm claiming it potentially breaks the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

A recent Connect survey found that the two major concerns about outsourcing services like IT support were 'loss of control' (56 per cent) and 'budget over-runs' (43 per cent)