Comments on: Comcast Launches “Domain Helper”: I Call It “Cash For Typos”

By: Opt Out of Domain Helper, DNS Assistance, Open Guide and other DNS Hijacking 'Services'. | DomainNoob

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:39:37 +0000

[...] post on TheDomains last week reminded me of how much I hate that Verizon DNS hijacks my typos to take me to their [...]

By: JohnH

JohnH — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:49:03 +0000

How cool is that. When I first contacted Verizon Online IT they didn't know what I was talking about. Thanks to the last comment I now have the correct terminology and was able to find the Verizon opt out link. Worked like a charm. I have my "Server Not Found" message back! Here's the url http://www.verizon.net/central/vzc.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=vzc_help_contentDisplay&linkflag=guestsso_fios_primary_east_undecided_consumer&case=dns_assist PS The Comcast link in the above comment doesn't seem to be resolving. I did a quick look around and perhaps Comcast are no longer allowing you a DIY opt out method. "How do I turn off the Domain Helper service? Click on the Disable this error service link found at the top of the page ...we will ask you for your email address and your cable modem MAC address..." http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?Guid=e02580db-8813-43a3-9642-b66d8cfceb1a

By: Chris Luksha

Chris Luksha — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:46:03 +0000

Instead of complaining – only b/c it does nothing to comcast and only serves to frustrate you more – go and opt out… https://dns-opt-out.comcast.net/

By: No Ads, No Clicks, No Revenue? What business model? | DomainNoob

No Ads, No Clicks, No Revenue? What business model? | DomainNoob — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:16:13 +0000

[...] post on Michael Berkens’ TheDomains.com blog about Comcast stealing error traffic, ” Comcast Launches “Domain Helper”: I Call It “Cash For Typos” re-sensitized me to how much it pisses me off that Verizon steals my type-in errors (costing me [...]

By: JohnH

JohnH — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:29:59 +0000

DC: I like my browser to display a “Sorry the page could not be found.” error message when I mistype a url into my address bar. The error stays in the address bar, I simple have to correct my mistake. But now Verizon Hijacks my error to THEIR url with a page of ads I don’t want anything to do with. In other words, my ISP has forced me to look at their ads and costs me the time it takes to clear their url and reload mine.
But sure! Maybe a keyword entered into an address bar should go to the most popular TLD. I guess my point is, who decides? And what gives them the right? Because you know, if left up to them I would never see a page outside of the ‘trusted family of Verizon websites’ ever again. (Windows computers only to pages with Microsoft ads. Google searches result in only pages with Google ads. Page rank gamed through algorithm which considers ISP’s ‘cut’. etc. etc.)
IMO We really need a truly Open (as in software) DNS system where the individual can control how their browser behaves.

By: DomainersChoice

DomainersChoice — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:34:08 +0000

JohnH: Why should it go to .com ? Wouldn’t it be more logical to send it to the most popular TLD / ccTLD for this keyword ?

What’s the difference between the ISPs and Mircosoft, Google or Baidu ? If you have windows installed and use explorer, you get redirected to live.com or possibly now to bing.com, when you enter a keyword into the URL. If you have Google toolbar installed you end up at a google search page…

Some ISPs offer an optout solution for their customers (cokkie based), if they operate NX catches.

By: JohnH

JohnH — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:18:03 +0000

Exactly! What hypocrites. I hate that my errors get directed to Verizon’s ‘Domain Helper’. I went to the trouble of registering an account and changing my DNS settings so that I could try “OpenDns.com” But that was even MORE frustrating because they turned out not to be Open at all and also stole my error traffic to their ‘Domain Helper’. I wish there were an Open (as in Open software) DNS option.
The newset version of Firefox on my Verizon network has been doing something really strange lately. It was the case previously that if I typed “keyword” into my Address Bar, I would automatically be directed to keyword.com. Lately I’ve noticed that I’m being directed to what I assume is the most popular tld for that keyword, so it might be keyword.com but it might be keyword.net or keyword.org . Wow! So long type-in traffic?

By: MHB

MHB — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:17:06 +0000

think you’re right on

By: jp

jp — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:15:20 +0000

I think I figured out the system. If you are an insider (in the domain industry, or a Domainer) then you can’t do anything like this. But if you are an outsider then anything goes. CADNA members (TM interests), big corporations, etc… can do as they please online.

I posted a nutty comment about this on DNW last night. I think if for some crazy reason domainers just threw in the towel and left the space, the big corps and TM interests would step in and take our place in a heartbeat, doing exactly what we do, but nobody would give them crap about it, and even if somebody did nobody would care.

By: MHB

MHB — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:29:31 +0000

Lisa

It’s still making money off of trademark traffic.

It fine if they do it with generic domain typo’s.

Just because some class action lawfirm hasn’t gone after them for this conduct doesn’t mean its legal.