Another ISP Caught Hijacking Firefox Toolbar Results The next evolution of NXDOMAIN DNS Redirection? Earlier this month we reported how Windstream Communications had started hijacking users' Firefox Google toolbar results, redirecting users to Windstream's ad-laden search portal -- instead of normal Google results. Windstream quickly fixed the issue after users complained, and issued a statement insisting that the hijack wasn't intentional. However, Windstream never explained what occurred technically, and every indication is they were tinkering with newer deep packet inspection technology that goes well beyond the now common practice of DNS redirection advertising. Slashdot now directs our attention to a thread in the MozillaZine forums about a user whose Hong Kong ISP is now redirecting traffic from data plugged into the Firefox location bar (which usually uses Google by default, something the user of course should have control over): My preferred way to go to many websites is simply to type their name into the location bar, and then let Google's "I'm feeling lucky" feature take me to the actual site. I realize this might not be the most conventional way to do it (sure, I could have bookmarks etc.), but it's they way I like to do it.. I also use KDE's Alt-F2 launcher to start programs. Today I noticed that this great feature of Firefox (combined with Google of course) has stopped working, and has instead been replaced with an add-laden search result from another website...I've confirmed that my keyword.URL setting is still pointed at Google, so this must be happening at the traffic level Again, this behavior appears to be going beyond the normal DNS Redirection NXDOMAIN behavior we've seen ISPs implementing -- and hints at something new entirely. Users see these behaviors even when using alternative DNS servers.
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 Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| oh ho ho My preferred way to go to many websites is simply to type their name into the location bar, and then let Google's "I'm feeling lucky" feature take me to the actual site. Off topic, but this is really approaching the apex of laziness. | |
|  | | | Re: oh ho ho Please don't hate on how others use their PC's
I'm sure we all have habits that could be better accomplished. | |
| | | | Laziness? I thought that's what computers were for. | |
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·WOW Internet and..
| Re: Define Broadband access as a Telecommunications Service. wire tapping without a warrant? LMAO! yah we see how well that went over the last few years. And this is NOT wire tapping. They're simply re-routing traffic from THEIR network to THEIR servers before it touches the Internet itself. Again THEIR NETWORK. NOT Yours.
Also if you ant Broadband a Telecommunication Service, are you going to pay my taxes along with yours for that nice service?
Cause i for one refuse to pay any taxes on my service and pay enough taxes over people crying and whining about how services should be "utilities" just because you want to do something else.
Here's how this works though, you LEASE the ISP's network on a month to month basis in the United States (unless you agree to a contract- 24month price locks are not contracts based upon service, but only price). You are free to leave when ever you want due to any chances in the service, speed, price, etc. If you feel the ISP is not doing as they should, take your $$$ and move to another company. I'm sure there are plenty more that are willing to take your money each and every month.
And don't pull the crap about not having any options. There are always options. 3g cards from Sprint, VZW, ATTWS, T-Mobile and countless resellers. Oh and lets not forget the areas that already have the 4G network of Clearwire/Sprint.
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www.twopugsbrand.com Kosher, Vegan, and Organic Certified Dog and Cat treats/foods and other products! | |
| | | | | Re: Define Broadband access as a Telecommunications Service. i see this as a phone company intercepting a phone call to dominoes pizza and sending me instead to papa johns, and collecting a fee for it. Its the same thing. | |
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·WOW Internet and..
| Re: Define Broadband access as a Telecommunications Service. actually no its not wire tapping.
it is URL redirection. And i said before, you are free to change your ISP if you do not wish to play by their rules on THEIR network.
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www.twopugsbrand.com Kosher, Vegan, and Organic Certified Dog and Cat treats/foods and other products! | |
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|  SLDPremium
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA | I'm sure ISPs in HK will be quaking in their boots! | |
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| | Thoughts and thanks Thanks Karl for picking this one up! The issue here seems to be that there's a clear driving force behind this. This vendor is likely attempting to sell these "solutions" to various ISPs, likely designed to purport to generate ROI.
Just something to keep an eye out for, especially since there may be two modes of operation:
1) Redirect
2) Silent harvest
I'm more concerned about #2 and Windstream still to date has failed to be forthcoming and their official response actually appears to indicate they're using option #2 on an aggregate level. Option #1 is what caused them to show their hand. | |
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·WOW Internet and..
| Re: Thoughts and thanks And Windstream does not have to come forth with any information regarding anything they don't wish to. After all "illegal wire tapping" is legal this country as long as the information goes to NSA.
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www.twopugsbrand.com Kosher, Vegan, and Organic Certified Dog and Cat treats/foods and other products! | |
| | | | You'd think Google would be suing these ISPs for infringement !! | |
| | | | | Re: Thoughts and thanks no they'd go cry for a new law to protect them. | |
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jus10
join:2009-08-04
Sterling, VA Reviews:
·Comcast
| I guess Google is going to have to offer SSL If it becomes widespread, then encryption/authentication are going to be the only ways around this. If I were on one of these ISPs, I'd switch to Scroogle. That's not totally fair to Google, but the SSL Scroogle should be more resistant to this mucking. | |
| |  Romney2012Defeat Obama 2012-Chg we can believe inPremium
join:2002-03-03
USA
kudos:4 | Re: I guess Google is going to have to offer SSL said by jus10:If it becomes widespread, then encryption/authentication are going to be the only ways around this. If I were on one of these ISPs, I'd switch to Scroogle. That's not totally fair to Google, but the SSL Scroogle should be more resistant to this mucking. While a nice tool, this has nothing to do with the Firefox Toolbar intercept. The normal Google search product isn't being redirected, just toolbar searches. And Scroogle wouldn't stop that.
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Are you happy with your rep in Washington, DC? | |
| | | budone
join:2002-09-07
Coopersville, MI Reviews:
·Charter
| Re: I guess Google is going to have to offer SSL It has been going on for about two weeks.
If I do a search of google, lets say for yahoo. The yahoo site will be the first option and it states I will go to Yahoo.com. But once you click the link, you will be sent elsewhere.
It happens about every thirty searches I do. | |
| | | | | | Re: I guess Google is going to have to offer SSL and who's network are you leasing that this issue is going on with? | |
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Define Broadband access as a Telecommunications Service.
Once Broadband access is a Telecommunications Service the Corporate Officers of these companies could be arrested for wiretapping without a warrant! That would stop these Weasels from continuing to come up with more schemes to abuse customers privacy rights.