 LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5
1 edit | Doesn't alter user's DNS settings Consumer Affairs says:
In order to redirect the user to the search sites, the user's Domain Name Service (DNS) settings are altered The service does nothing to alter the customer's DNS settings. All it does is modify the way Verizon's DNS servers respond when it finds a URL that won't resolve to an IP address. A case can be made that that isn't the best way to do things. But Consumer Affairs doesn't know what they are talking about. And of course they drag in the magical words "net neutrality" as if somehow using these words give some legitimacy to their complaint even though the concept isn't applicable at all in this case.
The redirection on a mistype is a feature many of Verizon's users would want(see OPENDNS's use of this feature to drive people to using OPENDNS dns servers). But they should make it opt-in instead of opt-out and then advertise it to their customers as a good feature to have.
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 swhx7Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia | said by Linklist:And of course they drag in the magical words "net neutrality" as if somehow using these words give some legitimacy to their complaint even though the concept isn't applicable at all in this case.
said by article :
It also raises the question of whether or not an Internet provider that automatically redirects a user's searches without telling them will also shape the results they do get, such as filtering their searches to get specific results.
[...]
Although Verizon opposes net neutrality, it has also said repeatedly that it would not block content or favor its own offerings over rivals--although it now appears to be doing just that.
In this case it's blocking the "site not found" results that users would encounter from mistyped URLs on a neutral connection.
said by Linklist:But they should make it opt-in instead of opt-out and then advertise it to their customers as a good feature to have.
Agreed. |
| reply to Linklist
A small clarification. OpenDNS does not use this feature to drive users to their system. How could they? You have to actually be using their system before they can affect your search results. OpenDNS does use this feature to fund their service, which is otherwise free to the end user (if you don't mind ads when your fingers are all buttery). They make that very clear on their site, and I think the services they provide are well worth it - but that, of course, is just my opinion. I agree with HCT - check them out for yourself. You might be surprised at what you can get out of DNS.
Save the flames, I don't work for them, or get any money from them, I'm not related to them, and I don't know them. I just kinda like the service. |
