Yesterday
we noted how Windstream Communications had hijacked Google toolbar search results so users were redirected to Windstream's own search portal. While many ISPs now use DNS redirection to push users who enter mistyped or nonexistent URLs to an ISP-run search portal, this appeared to take a significant step beyond the traditional NXDOMAIN tinkering, given it impacted users
not using Windstream DNS servers. Consumer group Free Press
quickly called for an investigation, and Free Press Research Director S. Derek Turner had this to say:
quote:
We are still waiting for all the facts to come in, but if initial allegations are true, Windstream has crossed the line and is actively interfering with its subscribers' Internet communications. Hijacking a search query is not much different from deliberately 'redirecting' a user from NYTimes.com to WashingtonPost.com, and a limited 'opt-out' capability is not enough to justify Internet discrimination. This is further proof of the need for strong open Internet rules, comprehensive transparency and disclosure obligations, and a process for relief at the FCC.
But was this an unintentional glitch, or was Windstream really testing the next evolution in search advertising shenanigans? Some of our users
would like to know if Windstream has started using more sophisticated deep packet inspection practices, though Windstream seems hesitant to discuss the real technical specifics behind the redirection.
Ars Technica also covered the story, and in conversations with Windstream still couldn't quite ferret out whether this was a bug or a "feature":
quote:
"Windstream implemented a network change on Friday, April 2 that affected certain customer Web browser search box queries, producing search results inconsistent with Windstream's prior practices," a spokesperson for the voice/DSL service told us. "Windstream successfully implemented configuration changes today to restore original functionality to these search queries after hearing from affected customers." The question, of course, is whether the company accidentally or deliberately rigged its network software to produce those "inconsistent" results. We asked, but not surprisingly didn't get an answer to that query.
Again, hijacking Google toolbar search results (made even worse by not informing users) is such an obnoxiously
bad idea, it's very hard to believe that Windstream did this intentionally. Whatever the case, Windstream is taking to Twitter to say that the "
unintentional issues with Firefox search" have been resolved. Let us know if that's the case in our comment section below.
