Network Solutions Hijacking Unassigned Sub-Domains

[INVIGOR]

DNS wildcard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcard_DNS_record

I understand now. It has to be a site being hosted by netsol.

 

[MAllie]

Thanks for clarifying that, Gorlov. Goodness, that's definitely unethical. Many years ago I regged my first names with Network Solutions, but moved them to Register.com. Just as well, it seems.

 

[HarveyJ]

NetSol have a history of this going back about 5 years now.
How they're still even in business is beyond me.

Basically, if you look up a domain using their registry system, but don't register it within 3 minutes (this has been timed, but I forget where the link to it is), they automatically register it themselves, and then attempt to resell it back to you at a 5x-10x inflated price, claiming that it's for security, so people can't take the domain from you *jerk off motion*

 

[Dave Zan]

^^ they probably updated their TOS on a news break ^^,

Nope. It's been there since 2007 according to one link from Wayback:

http://web.archive.org/web/20070106...utions.com/legal/static-service-agreement.jsp

You also agree that any domain name directory, sub-directory, file name or path (e.g. ) that does not resolve to an active web page on your Web site being hosted by Network Solutions, may be used by Network Solutions to place a "parking" page, "under construction" page, or other temporary page that may include promotions and advertisements for, and links to, Network Solutions' Web site, Network Solutions product and service offerings, third-party Web sites, third-party product and service offerings, and/or Internet search engines.

Hmmm, makes me wish I still had my one domain name with Network Solutions
so I could've maybe tested to see if any wildcard DNS entry would redirect to
their parking page or so. The TechCrunch link indicated Shashi's comment that
it's been resolved or so, though.

 

[Salient]

Not surprised.

Here is an example of what the "innovation" team at Netsol might be doing today....

"Ok, here is the plan. We need to track all of our customers IP addresses. When the customer is not perusing their site we will replace their rich content with our ad-filled crap to make a few extra bucks. Since we control the whois, no need to display the fact we are perpetually changing the DNS. Also, we need to take the list of customer passwords and start trying them at other registrars. We have a 200 hi-jacked domains a month quota now people. Lets get cracking!"

Ok, a bit of overkill. Perhaps?