Charter Implements SiteFinder-Like DNS 206
paulbiz writes "Charter Cable's DNS servers have just started resolving all invalid hostnames and pointing them to their own error page. The About page states: 'This service automatically eliminates many of the error pages you may encounter as you surf the web. No software was installed on your computer for this service to work.' It has an 'opt-out' page, but when you use it Charter simply sets a cookie that makes their page redirect errors to Microsoft Live Search instead!" One more reason to use OpenDNS, where you can actually opt out of the custom error page.
Run your own DNS resolver! (Score:2, Insightful)
Have any of these survived? (Score:5, Insightful)
Charter customers (I pity you): make your voice heard!
Although the recommendation to switch to OpenDNS has the same flaws from what I have read. They, too, redirect unknown domains to their "organic search" page. I'm not sure how trees and cows help your search, but I suppose supporting an open, free DNS system is better than letting Charter continue to rake in money at your expense.
WOW does this too... (Score:1, Insightful)
I use OpenDNS at home and my websites load a LOT faster (ones that aren't cached anyway).
ISPs are stupid and evil.
Re:Standard? (Score:3, Insightful)
The problem with this is FOSS rarely innovates. The community is usually playing "follow the leader", and duplicating software that is already available on the commercial market.
I swear I'm not purposely trying to be a negative ass, that's just how it is. 99 percent of FOSS comes in to being because someone wants a free (beer/speech) equivalent to a closed source and costs money commercial package.
Re:Issue? (Score:3, Insightful)
That depends on how they are selling it. Would that argument hold up if they were blocking http traffic from comcast.com, verizon.com, etc?
Accurate DNS would probably be an assumed necessity for consumer-level "internet access". If they are actively and intentionally shipping bogus DNS info, there could be some opportunity for lawyers to get some billable hours in.
Re:Standard? (Score:0, Insightful)
Re:Issue? (Score:5, Insightful)
They can do what they want after they've dropped out of the exclusive franchising agreement they have with my city. Until then, they enjoy government protection from market competition, and they should be subject strict oversight to prevent them from taking advantage of their monopoly entitlement to harm consumers.
Re:And this is different to OpenDNS how? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Standard? (Score:2, Insightful)
Come on, you can do better.
Take for example the GNU-tools who spread on most Unices because they were _better_ than their CS-counterparts.
Besides that the whole internet was built on (natural) FOSS.
And then companys with an innovative image (read apple) litterally build on FOSS.
It's just that most software is rarely innovative and FOSS is no exception to that.
Re:Run your own DNS resolver! (Score:1, Insightful)
In East Tennessee, I'm currently able to do both inbound/outbound SMTP and inbound/outbound DNS, and I'd like to keep it that way.
I only allow relaying for 127.0.0.0/8 and SASL authenticated clients on my local networks, and my DNS servers are configured to only return responses to non-bogon clients for authoritative zones.
There's no reason to punish me just because you don't have enough time to wade through your stupid inbox. Maybe you should get a life.
-kayditty [slashdot.org] (slashdot is trying to keep me from posting for some stupid shit like "karma" -- whatever the fuck that even means)
Re:And this is different to OpenDNS how? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:opendns? over my dead... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Run your own DNS resolver! (Score:3, Insightful)
If you really don't trust your ISP to not read your mail then using your own server is not enough--they (or anyone else whoses systems your mail goes through) can use something like tcpdump to capture all your mail and other traffic.
Re:An academic, not practical, complaint (Score:3, Insightful)