Network Solutions Hijacking Unassigned Sub-Domains

[Dorkside]

Interesting article on TechCrunch.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/08/network-solutions-hijacking-unassigned-sub-domains/

This happen to anyone here? I learned a long time ago to avoid Network Solutions like the plague. :yes:

 

[Alan Glennon]

...closed...

 

[Michael]

Wow, NetSol never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for the link.

 

[HuntingMoon]

whoever at netsol had that evil idea should be banned from the biz for life

 

[tekz999]

Hmm, is there anything written in their TOS saying that customers will abide by their advertisements on unassigned subdomains?

 

[domain newbie]

is there anyone still uses netsol :uhoh:

 

[MAllie]

I didn't know that was unethical. Doesn't GoDaddy do it too? I thought it was just the way all the registrars worked. Well, Register.com doesn't do it, going on some of the names I have with them.

 

[Bender]

this is simply amazing.
everybody else noticed how many "innovations" NetSol brought lately?
they seem never to be out of bright ideas.

 

[katherine]

Not a good idea to host with your registrar. In particular with netsol.

 

[Poohnix]

I didn't know that was unethical. Doesn't GoDaddy do it too? I thought it was just the way all the registrars worked. Well, Register.com doesn't do it, going on some of the names I have with them.

Others do it if you don't use the domain at all, but not when you use the domain.
This way, if a user happens to type "ww.yourdomain.com" instead of "www.yourname.com" they end up on a netsol advertising page instead of your site.
THAT is extremely unethical.

(In normal cases the browser would show a page saying that you may have mistyped the domain name, and check your spelling... now they think that they're on your site, and this is how it looks.)


.

 

[mediawizard]

I think they need someone to rewire their ethics circuit.

And these are the people that are being counted on to stop the Snoweball's road to hell.

Sheeeesh.

 

[domain newbie]

I didn't know that was unethical. Doesn't GoDaddy do it too? I thought it was just the way all the registrars worked. Well, Register.com doesn't do it, going on some of the names I have with them.

godaddy doesn't do-i just checked

 

[Dave Zan]

Hmm, is there anything written in their TOS saying that customers will abide by their advertisements on unassigned subdomains?

http://www.networksolutions.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. You agree that Network Solutions may change the content and/or appearance of, or disable any of these temporary pages at any time, in its sole discretion, and without prior notice.

OTOH, that TechCrunch link says someone from Network Solutions is checking
it out. Let's see.

 

[domain newbie]

^^ they probably updated their TOS on a news break ^^, same as they did with domain holding scam,

by the way how did their suecase went? does anyone hav info

 

[myst woman]

hosting with netsol? cough cough ewwwww

 

[draggar]

I have two domains w/ NetSol. One has a separate DNS and the other is a 301 redirect. Neither have this issue (just checked).

But still, it is appalling. My hosing company will just give you a 404 or site not responding when you type in a subdomain that doesn't exist.

Has anyopne tried this with a page that doesn't exist (for example, maybe an imdex.htm?)

 

[INVIGOR]

How exactly are they doing this?

 

[MAllie]

Domain Newbie, if you mean that a name kept on GoDaddy and not parked elsewhere doesn't have ads on its page when you type it in, you're wrong. All of mine had ads on them until I parked them at Sedo. I saved the pages. But perhaps we are really talking about something else and I haven't realised it. I'm quite prepared to admit that sometimes domaining stuff goes over my head.

 

[Poohnix]

Domain Newbie, if you mean that a name kept on GoDaddy and not parked elsewhere doesn't have ads on its page when you type it in, you're wrong. All of mine had ads on them until I parked them at Sedo. I saved the pages. But perhaps we are really talking about something else and I haven't realised it. I'm quite prepared to admit that sometimes domaining stuff goes over my head.

We're talking about subdomains here.
Most registrars put up an advertising page if you don't use the domain at all, but if you have your site at Netsol, (and we're talking DEVELOPED site here), and it shows up correctly when people type www.yourdomain.com or just yourdomain.com, BUT, it the user for example (mis)type in ww.yourdomain.com, then they end up on an advertising page. not your site, and not, (as it should be), getting an error that you should check the address you typed because the domain doesn't exist.
So basically Netsol steals any traffic who happen to for some reason mistype the subdomain. (Not domain, subdomain.)

.

 

[tomsa]

How exactly are they doing this?

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