ISPs such as Cox, Earthlink and Charter have all tinkered with DNS redirection services. Such services usually redirect users who mistype URLs to an ISP-run search page (complete with referral links) instead of giving a traditional error message. While ISPs claim these services are deployed to help users, they're really little more than advertising cash generators. In essence, butterfingers create a revenue stream.

The practice annoys many of our regular users, who say the changes often break useful network monitoring tools that require a "clean" 'net. Often, ISPs will allow users to opt-out of the service, but the opt-out solutions are sometimes flaky. We've seen at least one ISP back down after our users riddled them with complaints.

Last June, we were the first to report that Verizon was also tinkering with DNS redirection for DSL users in the Midwest. Now, one FiOS customer tells us he's seeing the service in Maryland. "It isn't happening on my business FiOS connection, just my home FiOS connection in Annapolis," he tells us.

This is what the Verizon DNS redirection page looks like. There is an opt-out link on this page, where Verizon informs you the service was "designed to make your web surfing experience more productive." We've contacted Verizon for comment on when users can expect this across the entire Verizon footprint, and will update this report with any responses received.