gg23
@embarqhsd.net
| reply to Maxo
Re: EMBARQ Hijacks Browser Search Capabilities
Just spent 40 minutes on phone with Embarq support. Ralph did not know anything about issue of address bar search failure. He spoke with Techs that are just as uninformed or will not admit they are the problem. I did Optout and my searches immediately changed from going to Embarqs Search page to "The page cannot be displayed" page, but the address bar search will not work. |
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MrMoody
But the Grinch ... did Not.
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
 ·Embarq
 ·Skype
·magicjack.com
| said by gg23 :
the address bar search will not work. That's because it relies on getting a real "domain not found" error from DNS instead of just another Embarq page that LOOKS like one. The only way to fix it is switch DNS to an unadulterated server. It would be nice if Embarq would provide this as an option.
Savvy users can run their own local DNS server if they have a machine that's always on. I've done this in the past when Time Warner's DNS servers were constantly bogged down or screwed up. It makes browsing faster, too.
--
"It is a future in which globalization really does work ... and everybody winds up getting to be part of the third world." - William Gibson |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
| said by MrMoody  :It would be nice if Embarq would provide this as an option. When you get redirected to Embarq's search there should be an opt-out button. There was for me. |
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MrMoody
But the Grinch ... did Not.
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·Embarq
·Skype
·magicjack.com
2 edits | That's not the same as having a DNS server that returns an error indication when there's no such domain. Opting out just gives you a different result page with error text instead of search results. A nonexistent domain now returns the IP address of a server at customers.simplicita.com whether you opt out or not. The server checks your opt-out status (presumably by your IP address - I wonder how well it keeps up with dynamic IPs), then if you're opted out returns an error page, or if not, a search results page. Your local application has no way of knowing if the domain was invalid - all queries return an IP address.
I meant the option of separate, unadulterated DNS servers for customers to use.
Edit: Simplicita is owned by Sandvine, ugh.
Edit 2: Opting out unadulterates the DNS server. |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
1 edit | I didn't realise that. Thanks for the clarification. I rarely mistype URLs. I usually start typing them and then complete it from the address bars history. I'll have to mistype a URL when I get home to watch it in action.
I don't think it will have a problem tracking who has opted out, as the DSLAM does do background PPPoE with the Redback, that the user never sees, and this can easily be stored in their LDAP server, or whatever Embarq uses to store information on it's customers. I may be wrong on this point since this is a DNS level "feature." I wonder if they have their DNS servers talking to whatever servers store the customers profile. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Maxo
May I suggest that you try using 'nslookup' from a command prompt? I don't have the Embarq DNS server IP addresses (and even if I did, Embarq may obstruct access from outside of their IP network). But I can see the difference between using an error correcting DNS server and a straight, unadulterated DNS server.
Standard DNS (provided by my ISP):
Some utilities depend upon that error to function correctly.
Error-correcting DNS (using OpenDNS):
Those utilities which depend upon an error to function properly will fail to function with this result.
If you opt out of Embarq's DNS error corrections, will you get the first result, or the second when you run 'nslookup' from a command prompt. Try it and post your results. I am curious.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
|
MrMoody
But the Grinch ... did Not.
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·Embarq
·Skype
·magicjack.com
2 edits | reply to MrMoody
Hmm, seems I was wrong. Opting out (of both options presented) returns:
Server: unknown
Address: 192.168.1.1
*** unknown can't find www.typo.con: Non-existent domain
And fixes the search from address bar. The DNS addresses did not change. Apparently the DNS server is checking accounts before returning results. |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs: | reply to NormanS
If I remember when I get home tonight I'll do that. |
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dagman52
join:2007-11-12
32879
| reply to Maxo
Features and Benefits
* Per-user preferences that function independent of cookies and dynamic IP addresses for opt-out and opt-in - improves subscriber experience with holistic preferences and controls integrated into the “My Account” experience
»www2.simplicita.com/product_nxd.html |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
| reply to NormanS
Mind you, this is on Linux:
--
"Padre, nobody said war was fun now bowl!" - Sherman T Potter
»www.cafepress.com/maxolasersquad
»maxolasersquad.com/
»maxolasersquad.com/network/ My DSL Network Guide
»myspace.com/mlsquad |
|
espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
 ·Comcast
·Embarq
1 edit | reply to NormanS
FYI -- you can also disable OpenDNS's error correction service if you register with them. (No cost)
|
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
2 edits | I haven't found it. Yet. Well, maybe I did. It sort of works:
Which is satisfactory, from the standpoint of getting a proper error when a domain doesn't exist. OTOH...
From the standpoint of going straight to the source, it still resolves an OpenDNS IP address, instead of the source IP address. Or am I reading that result wrong? When compared with:
When I go somewhere, I'd like to get the data from the horse' mouth, so to speak... |
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dagman52
join:2007-11-12
32879 | Haven't found what? |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| The place to disable OpenDNS error correction. There is a bit of lag from when I change the router to use their DNS servers, and when their Dashboard reflects that change. And I want to be sure that the change is in effect before I run the 'nslookup' command, just so I am certain that the results reflect the changes.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
|
espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Embarq
| 
OpenDNS Control Panel |
|
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Maxo
said by Maxo :Mind you, this is on Linux: As long as the results make sense...
Your first lookup queries your router, or modem? That would hold the actual Embarq DNS servers, yes? What would interest me would be the results of looking up 'www.microsoft.con' using the Embarq DNS servers. Should be something like this:
I have actually been jumping around, trying different setting in my router. I ran with the default DHCP setting (router gets IP address, DNS servers from SpeedStream 4100) for a long time. Every so often, though, I'd hit a period of DNS lag. I thought it might be the router firmware, and tried both the latest version, and the first (router shipped with the middle version, of three). Ultimately figured it might be some kind of interaction between the router and the modem, so I manually overrode the automatic settings. I also played with OpenDNS (set up an account to configure things) and Verizon DNS server on the router. Ultimately, what I don't like about OpenDNS is that the Google lookup suggests an OpenDNS landing page for the Google site:
I am not sure why they do that. I don't know why I should trust OpenDNS more than Google.
Anyway, I'd rather keep the ATTIS DNS servers, for now (68.94.156.1/68.94.157.1). If 'at&t Yahoo!HSI' (ATTIS) changes things, I would consider jumping over to DSL Extreme for Internet service. As long as DSLX kept a basic, no-frills, no tricks DNS service. Or run with Dynamic DNS Network Services, LLC "Recursive DNS" service, if necessary. Granted, I'd have to pay for it. But it would be exactly what DNS should be.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
|
dagman52
join:2007-11-12
32879
|
Norman,
I didn't take screenshots, but nslookup is responding correctly when I'm opted out of the service (using Linux). Opting back in is overriding the queries on a known typo. I would go so far to say as Embarq's DNS servers are working as I would expect. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| I didn't post a single screen shot. All are "copy and paste" jobs; plain text.
If an 'nslookup' on a non-existent domain does not return an IP address to a landing page, then there is no problem that I can see.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
|
dagman52
join:2007-11-12
32879 | agreed. Perhaps we are arguing the same thing.  |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| I was just trying to find out what the Embarq DNS servers were really doing. I don't use them myself, and don't know if I could test them myself. At least on ISP blocks access to their DNS servers from outside of their customer network IP address space.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
|
