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Verizon DNS Redirection 'Service' Spreads
Consumer Affairs: Is this a network neutrality violation?

Verizon has been implementing a DNS redirection service for select DSL and FiOS customers. The service redirects users who mistype URLs to an Verizon-run search page (complete with referral links) instead of giving a traditional error message. While Verizon insists the service was created to help users, it's really just a revenue generator. In essence, butterfingers create a revenue stream.

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Verizon isn't alone. ISPs such as Cox, Earthlink and Charter have all tinkered with DNS redirection services. While the majority of users aren't bothered by them, many users believe they "break" core Internet functionality -- causing errors in useful network monitoring tools that require a "clean" 'net.

Consumer Affairs discovers the Verizon redirection service and wonders if the practice violates network neutrality, not only because it disrupts normal DNS functionality, but also because it could be used to deliver advertiser-skewed search results:
quote:
In order to redirect the user to the search sites, the user's Domain Name Service (DNS) settings are altered, which can interfere with previously set network security and safe Internet browsing features. 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.
Of course, unlike Comcast's Bit Torrent throttling, Verizon does allow users to opt out of the service. The service first sprung up in the Midwest last June, and just recently appeared on the East Coast. We asked Verizon when/if this would be launched nationally, but received no response.
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N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

N3OGH

Premium Member

Oh it's here now too..

I'm on Verizon DSL here in the Philly 'burbs and I saw this screen yesterday when I had a case of the "butter fingers"

mmmmmmmmmmm Butter......

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

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.

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

swhx7

Premium Member

Re: Doesn't alter user's DNS settings

said by FFH5:

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 FFH5:

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.
mikenolan7
Premium Member
join:2005-06-07
Torrance, CA

mikenolan7 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
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.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

Bad juju

If they are allowed to do this, whats to stop them from going further?
Dictate the browser, OS, or hardware manufacturer?
Make you stop using popup blocker or other security?
After all, it's for the good of the network :P

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

1 edit

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

said by gaforces:

If they are allowed to do this, whats to stop them from going further?
Dictate the browser, OS, or hardware manufacturer?
Make you stop using popup blocker or other security?
After all, it's for the good of the network :P
LOL!!! One has nothing to do with the other. You should really try to get a better understanding of things before making comments like that. Don't like what they do, don't use their DNS servers. They aren't forcing you to do or use anything. Nothing is forcing you to actually pay attention to what appears on the page that opens. It's not like they are hijacking legitimate requests and sending them to other pages.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

Re: Bad juju

"Give them an inch, and they take a mile"

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo to Jodokast96

Member

to Jodokast96
said by Jodokast96:

Don't like what they do, don't use their DNS servers. They aren't forcing you to do or use anything.
this is my favorite line as it places the blame on technologically ignorant consumers. it makes Verizon look like it actually cares about consumers when it cares more about money. if they really cared about consumers it would be opt-in .

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

1 recommendation

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

Should it be opt-in, sure, why not. But it is not having any effect at all on what you or anybody else does. Hell, 90% of the addresses I mistype anyway has already been taken by 3rd parties doing the same thing. Is it greedy? Absolutely. Unethical? Eh. And they did send notice that they were doing this. Of all of the crap for people to cry about, this isn't one of them. If you don't like it, don't use their servers. Pretty simple.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: Bad juju

said by Jodokast96:

If you don't like it, don't use their servers. Pretty simple.
as i just said, no it isn't. not for the tech ignorant, which is most of their customers.
SilverSurfer1
join:2007-08-19

SilverSurfer1 to Jodokast96

Member

to Jodokast96
said by Jodokast96:

But it is not having any effect at all on what you or anybody else does.
And you would know this definitively because?
said by Jodokast96:


If you don't like it, don't use their servers. Pretty simple.
That is beautiful advice to suggest to those of us who know better and know that there are other DNS servers out there to use. But what about the (as someone else put it) technologically ignorant?

Given what we already know about providers, it is fairly accurate to state that if they're given a millimeter, they'll take ten thousand miles. This particular matter is no exception to that evidence.

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

So tell me then, what the effect is? Are they redirecting you to to another page in place of the one you typed? No. The page you typed doesn't exist. So instead you're sent to a search page, and told the page you were looking for wasn't found. This is nothing more than a money grab.

As for the technoloically ignorant, they won't know the difference anyway. This is exactly the type of person it can give some help to. Maybe next they'll spell the site right.
SilverSurfer1
join:2007-08-19

SilverSurfer1

Member

Re: Bad juju

said by Jodokast96:

So tell me then, what the effect is?

Clearly, you don't see any big deal about a DNS redirect and bury your head in the sand accordingly, but I'm wondering what other seemingly innoucuous avenue ripe for a "money grab" will the provider take next.

S_engineer
Premium Member
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

S_engineer

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

Agreed, the "honor" system providers once semi-adhered to with the networks is out the window. They will bring net-neutrality regs upon themselves. Then everyone will lose.... except of course the CEOs ...and Haliburton!
SilverSurfer1
join:2007-08-19

SilverSurfer1

Member

Re: Bad juju

said by S_engineer:

They will bring net-neutrality regs upon themselves. Then everyone will lose.... except of course the CEOs ...and Haliburton!
NN will benefit anyone with an Internet connection. In fact, every org across the spectrum is on board with NN. I'm not sure where Halliburton comes into play in the NN discussion unless they have become a provider.
massysett
join:2006-01-04
Silver Spring, MD

massysett to SilverSurfer1

Member

to SilverSurfer1
said by Jodokast96:

But what about the (as someone else put it) technologically ignorant?
The technologically ignorant won't care. They might even find this useful. The technologically sophisticated, who want a "clean net" or whatever, can opt out or use different DNS servers.

Bunch of hoopla over nothing.

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

1 edit

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

You could at least quote the right person.

printscreen
join:2003-11-01
Juana Diaz, PR

printscreen to massysett

Member

to massysett
I agree. For most people a page like that is far more useful than a cryptic "Page cannot be displayed" or "DNS error". It isn't like they are redirecting legitimate addresses to their own servers.
Jeff_Dallas
join:2007-11-05

Jeff_Dallas

Member

Re: Bad juju

Yes, they are. Thats the part that bothers me. I am randomly getting their site on properly-formed addresses that obviously exits like www.google.com

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen to Jodokast96

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to Jodokast96
said by Jodokast96:

Don't like what they do, don't use their DNS servers. They aren't forcing you to do or use anything.
Of course, that's "today". Who knows what "tomorrow" will bring? It's trivially simple to set up a rule in a router that simply redirects all 53/udp to "butter-finger" DNS servers and it won't matter what you have in your computer's local settings. If they're trying these "services" as something "optional" now, it's only a matter of time until they aren't an option.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium Member
join:2001-11-29
Verona, PA

1 recommendation

Combat Chuck

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

said by nixen:

If they're trying these "services" as something "optional" now, it's only a matter of time until they aren't an option.
Please!!! The problem with the slippery slope argument is it can validly be taken all the way back to the other end of ridiculousness. If this is an issue because it leads to forced redirects then you know what, lets go all the way back and say it's bad for Verizon to offer internet service at all because if they're offering internet service now it's only a matter of time until they force redirect DNS requests to their servers.

Or we could, you know, wait for them to actually force redirects before accusing them of doing it.

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

Thank you!

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen to Combat Chuck

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to Combat Chuck
said by Combat Chuck:
said by nixen:

If they're trying these "services" as something "optional" now, it's only a matter of time until they aren't an option.
Please!!! The problem with the slippery slope argument is it can validly be taken all the way back to the other end of ridiculousness. If this is an issue because it leads to forced redirects then you know what, lets go all the way back and say it's bad for Verizon to offer internet service at all because if they're offering internet service now it's only a matter of time until they force redirect DNS requests to their servers.

Or we could, you know, wait for them to actually force redirects before accusing them of doing it.
I've worked for Verizon (and MCI and Bell Atlantic). Unfortunately, I can tell you, it's not like the PHB's didn't periodically ask whether such redirection could be done.

But, hey, keep on thinking that the guys in the suits are "on your side".

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium Member
join:2001-11-29
Verona, PA

1 recommendation

Combat Chuck

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

said by nixen:

I've worked for Verizon (and MCI and Bell Atlantic). Unfortunately, I can tell you, it's not like the PHB's didn't periodically ask whether such redirection could be done.

But, hey, keep on thinking that the guys in the suits are "on your side".
Did I say they were on my side, no. What I'm saying is the slippery slope argument is a stupid argument that is turned to when one wants to vilify anything. This is a non issue, should they start redirecting all DNS traffic to their servers, that is a separate issue. Quite frankly for any valid reason you can come up with pointing to this being a problem, I can come up with a valid reason why Verizon would see this as a useful to their customers; the fact that the bad domain error message most browsers throw up is somewhat confusing and likely results in a significant number of support calls incorrectly thinking it's a Verizon problem being just one of them.

The issue is that the majority of the people here will suspend all logic to take whatever opinion it is that makes any large company look bad.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium Member
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

nixen

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

said by Combat Chuck:

Quite frankly for any valid reason you can come up with pointing to this being a problem, I can come up with a valid reason why Verizon would see this as a useful to their customers; the fact that the bad domain error message most browsers throw up is somewhat confusing and likely results in a significant number of support calls incorrectly thinking it's a Verizon problem being just one of them.
In all my years of working for ISPs, and that's a LOT of years, I don't think I've ever personally received a call from someone because they typo-ed. As stupid as some users are, and there are some real clue-children out there, typographical errors don't seem to result in support tickets. Who knows, maybe it's just because they're just too stupid to figure out how to get ahold of support, too. Whatever.
said by Combat Chuck:

The issue is that the majority of the people here will suspend all logic to take whatever opinion it is that makes any large company look bad.
True enough. I can admit to having observed that. I can also admit to having observed that there are those that will do the same but for the other half of the argument. That said, my particular beef comes from what I've observed having worked Verizon and for the various companies that now make up Verizon. In other words, I'm familiar with the mindset of the company - and it is a long-standing corporate mind-set.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium Member
join:2001-11-29
Verona, PA

Combat Chuck

Premium Member

Re: Bad juju

said by nixen:

That said, my particular beef comes from what I've observed having worked Verizon and for the various companies that now make up Verizon. In other words, I'm familiar with the mindset of the company - and it is a long-standing corporate mind-set.
I think you'd be surprised to find out that this same mindset exists at pretty much every large company, and the only difference between them is the number of people who stand in the way of stupid ideas; it's a balance of power thing.

If you're a higher up at Verizon and are uncomfortable with this are you gonna spend your clout on this small by-passable issue or are you going to save it till they do do something like forcing people to their DNS servers.

jester121
Premium Member
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL

jester121 to gaforces

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to gaforces
said by gaforces:

If they are allowed to do this, whats to stop them from going further?
Dictate the browser, OS, or hardware manufacturer?
Make you stop using popup blocker or other security?
After all, it's for the good of the network :P
The quintessential "slippery slope" argument, staple of DSLreports users the world over.

I'm nearly halfway through the comments and George Bush hasn't been blamed yet. We did have the cheap shot at Comcast in the headlines, however, so we know at least Karl is on the job this morning.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

Re: Bad juju

Glad to be of service ...

woody7
Premium Member
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA

woody7

Premium Member

pfftt...

Have Earthlink, and use open dns, no problems
Cyber2lz
join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL

Cyber2lz

Member

What

happens if you don't use V*'s DNS servers??????

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: What

said by Cyber2lz:

happens if you don't use V*'s DNS servers??????
Then maybe DNS redirection doesn't occur depending on whose DNS servers you use.

Of course redirection is on by default(can be opt-out) at other DNS providers like Opendns( »www.opendns.com/features ··· verview/ ). So it depends on what DNS servers you point to.

TechieZero
Tools Are Using Me
Premium Member
join:2002-01-25
Lithia, FL

TechieZero

Premium Member

Re: What

Meh, I use OpenDNS as I noticed Verizon's DNS lags. Plus I like the control OpenDNS gives me.

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

swhx7 to Cyber2lz

Premium Member

to Cyber2lz
Using DNS servers other than the borked ones avoids the problem of falsified results. But it shouldn't be necessary; accurate DNS, according to internet standards, should be a service the ISP provides.

Reportedly at least one ISP started blocking requests to DNS servers other than their own, but fortunately this does not seem to be common or a trend.

Some entities that run DNS servers do not welcome requests from users outside their own organizations, but generally don't prevent it. But choose carefully. I wouldn't mind placing more load on Microsoft's DNS for example, but I might not have as much confidence in the results as with some others. A local university may be a good choice. Better yet, run your own.

AnonProxy
Premium Member
join:2001-05-12

AnonProxy

Premium Member

Host file

Can you host file the referred to web page and re-redirect the request?

Like if you know all mistypes go to www.search.verizon.com, if you redirected search.verizon.com to another site, would that work?

•••••••••••••

Cabal
Premium Member
join:2007-01-21

Cabal

Premium Member

That's not all

I've recently learned that Verizon blocks Microsoft RPC ports on their DSL and FiOS users! This is a serious network neutrality issue and must be addressed. Say "No" to network neutrality violations and a filtered Internet!

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

swhx7

Premium Member

Re: That's not all

I assume you're being sarcastic. There is no good reason for anyone to be exposing Microsoft networking ports on the internet, unless you're a researcher running a honeypot. It's just a way for malware to get in.

But seriously, on principle I'd rather have unfiltered.

Breaking DNS standards is more significant though. Returning false results is much worse than filtering malicious packets.
TheMadAdmin
join:2007-10-24
Matawan, NJ

1 edit

TheMadAdmin

Member

Not Liking this

this is a business. No ethical thought was put into it weather it was right or wrong.

Yes it is wrong. They have changed the way the internet works at it's base, stealing traffic for their own site.

Also once this step is made they can take the next step and redirect traffic away from sites it doesn't want people getting to.... Smart business choice but ethically bankrupt.

»themadadmin.com/wp/?p=1035 (Post on it.)

TheMadAdmin (Dave)

•••••••••
russotto
join:2000-10-05
West Orange, NJ

1 recommendation

russotto

Member

Obnoxious, but not NN-violating

It seems "net neutrality" is the "in" buzzword. This DNS redirection isn't net neutrality violating. It doesn't affect my ability to exchange packets with any host of my choice on any network of my choice. It's obnoxious for other reasons, but not for net neutrality reasons.
migafre
join:2003-06-19
East Elmhurst, NY

migafre

Member

been a few days

Yeah it's been a few days with this piece of crap DNS redirect (noone from verizon mentioned it either). When it poped up, it couldn't even find the site I was looking for, to compare it, I tried searching through google and my search was the first one at the top of the page.
cornelius785
join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

cornelius785

Member

it is here in worcester

i just tried it from a command line based browser and this 'improvement' came up. maybe i should look into another dns server other than verizon.... assuming i'm not too lazy

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: it is here in worcester

As noted 8 posts above, they give you the opt-out instructions right on their own site. That link is for FIOS customers, here's the one for DSL: »netservices.verizon.net/ ··· duct=dsl.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Butter fingers my google!

I typed in "www.google.com" and got THAT Verizon page! I'm looking going, WTF???! I type google.com and same page! I loaded the proper URL (»www.google.com) and I still get that!!!
So I flushed my DNS, deleted any (I had the FIOS one and the trusty old 4.2.2.1...) DNS server names/caches and then replaced the DNS with OpenDNS numbers.

Gone! No more Verizon redirect. You should do the same.

Hey, and this was on OS 10.5 !!
Jeff_Dallas
join:2007-11-05

Jeff_Dallas

Member

Re: Butter fingers my google!

Same here. I was getting the redirect even when the address I typed was completely correct and well known good address.

It also seemed to cache the redirect somewhere because after the first failed google.com resolution it would happen every time until I restarted my browser.

I followed the instructions to add .14 to the last octet of the DNS Servers but I'm still getting the message. Gues I'll have to go the OpenDNS.
Jeff_Dallas

Jeff_Dallas

Member

Angry with Verizon

I've noticed this the last few days and it is most frequently the result of Verizon's own DNS server errors.

For example, I typed »www.google.com and got this message. It only happens about 1 in 50 pages I load but that's too much. I also had this problem at www.linuxquestions.org. I was replying to a post and then when I hit "post message" I got the redirect. After using the back button I tried to post again, and again got the redirect. The only way to fix it was to close Firefox and then restart Firefox, which caused me to lose a long message I had typed.

Upon further investigation I found that verizon was placing cookies to track the failed addresses. To see this for yourself, open firefox, go to Edit->Preferences->Privacy->Cookies (or Tools->Options->Privacy->Cookies) and view the cookies from verizon. Type an erroneous address such as www.verizon.cmo and you will se the cookie appear.

I followed instruction at verizon website to opt out but I'm still getting these redirects.

Let me be clear on this: I HATE IT. ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME I GET THE REDIRECT IS BECAUSE OF VERIZON DNS ERROR, not my mis-spelling or bad address. Most times I've typed or clicked a good address that inexplicably did not resolve.

Conficio
join:2004-06-18
Melrose, MA

Conficio

Member

It's not the users, but the programmers and service provider

While the majority of users aren't bothered by them, many users believe they "break" core Internet functionality -- causing errors in useful network monitoring tools that require a "clean" 'net.
As sooo many commentators here mentioned, most users do not recognize the difference. But it is the programmers that are upset about tinkering with established protocols, such as DNS. Their programs might fail. The same is true for service providers. If your customer can't find a website, because (s)he did mistype the domain, than it is your problem, and you might not even be aware of it. Isn't that about what the RICO law (»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra ··· ns_Act)? Isn't that interfering with other people's commerce?

If you want this gone, call Verizon support as often as you can and complain that they block the website you want to reach (mistyped off course). Once they realize this foolish breaking the DNS protocol, costs them more in support requests than they gain in ad revenue, they'll stop it. Assuming they even make the connection.
Jeff_Dallas
join:2007-11-05

1 edit

Jeff_Dallas

Member

Re: It's not the users, but the programmers and service provider

said by Conficio:

call Verizon support as often as you can and complain that they block the website you want to reach (mistyped off course).
NOT Mistyped.
You're wrong on that. This redirect is happening most often when the website is typed _CORRECTLY_. Thats my big problem with it. I'm frequently clicking internal links within a web page and being redirected to the Verizion Web Search page. The links and addresses are correct. Its an error by Verizon DNS that sends me to their websearch page.

Is this spelled correctly? www.google.com

Then why does it randomly send me to Verizon websearch? That's the big issue. I'm being redirected when there is no error on my end.

hdfh
@verizon.net

hdfh

Anon

yep

Just use OpenDNS.

»www.infospace.com/_1_NW6 ··· more.htm
jjeffeory
jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04
Bloomington, IN

jjeffeory

Member

Re: yep

Just stop using Verizon's DNS servers. That's what I did when I had Fios. Too bad I can't get it here. Maybe I'll move.
neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA

neftv

Member

what are they taking about

Testpage.rtf.zip
146,292 bytes
When I go to www.asklfewa.com I dont go to a verizon page I got to something else see attached.
81399672 (banned)
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA

81399672 (banned)

Member

Guess verizon haven't learned yet

Dslextreme tried and other tried and at the end they gave up from bad publicity. Verizon needs to realize that extra revenue that they get will not be enough after they start losing customers and bad pr

JohnNWPVNJMH
Premium Member
join:2007-03-26
Berkeley Heights, NJ

3 edits

1 recommendation

JohnNWPVNJMH

Premium Member

DNS Error Page

This is not a big deal at all! I know those that wear aluminum foil hats are screaming bloody hell but let's look at this realistically!

First and foremost, the average user is not so savvy. This service will be GREAT for them and actually help them find the sites they mistype and so on.

If Verizon is smart they should take this DNS service and create what OpenDNS offers ... the ability for the Verizon users to log into a control panel and block certain domains such as porn, whitelist sites and blacklist others and track their DNS stats.

On a technical standpoint this service will NOT affect clean DNS. You will ONLY get a help page if the site you try to find does not resolve to an IP!

For the likes of the trio from The X-Files, users can OptOut from this service.

For those that are technical minded and likes what Verizon is doing in regards to help pages, consider checking out the OpenDNS.Com service as it does what Verizon is doing and much more! You can block domains, block porn, block phishing sites, track your network stats and much more.

In regards to advert revenue, great idea Verizon .... extra revenue from such things like this helps to keep package prices affordable for subscribers! Why would anyone cry that Verizon is making money from advert revenue? Someone short the stock or perhaps a Comcast employee is mad they didn't think of it first?

In conclusion, the consumer group that is barking about this service first needs to hire someone that understands what DNS is before they comment on something they certainly do not understand. Verizon is trying to implement a service that will help average users, not tech savvy people like you and I ... the people that browse DSLReports.com ... but the people that call YOU up when their MS Word document disappears from their desktop... .the average user! That said, the service is even helpful for geeks as it confirms the DNS service is working and that for sure the web site they tried does not resolve.

•••••••

furlonium
join:2002-05-08
Allentown, PA

furlonium

Member

On RCN, too

This happens with RCN, and it pisses me right the fock off.

Zverina
join:2004-07-12
Brooklyn, NY

Zverina

Member

Re: On RCN, too

just noticed it on RCN. bastards.

linicx
Caveat Emptor
Premium Member
join:2002-12-03
United State

linicx

Premium Member

My cure

The first time it happened, I was nor happy. I cleared the cookies. The second time it happened I quickly hit the "home" button and the redirect didn't load.
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