Comcast adopts DNS hijacking, cashes in on bad URLs

[Broni]

Unbelievable!!

http://www.techspot.com/news/35736-c...-bad-urls.html

In a bid to squeeze out more cash through their existing service, one of the largest ISPs around has added themselves to the ranks of companies participating in controversial DNS-redirecting programs. Comcast has officially begun redirecting invalid DNS requests to their own “search portals,” which are advertising pages intended to capture anyone who makes a typo or visits an invalid address into a web browser.

The technique is slowly being adopted by other ISPs around the world, and has been rife with controversy since the beginning. Essentially, anytime a user tries to visit an invalid web page, they are redirected to an advertising splash page rather than being told that the page is unavailable. As most other ISPs are doing, Comcast is offering an opt-out system – though there have been complaints that the process is not particularly friendly. Other ISPs around the world that have begun implementing this include Bell Canada, Verizon, and EarthLink.

Several years ago, Verisign, a major domain registrar, attempted to implement this. Their attempt received massive public outcry, and ultimately even ICANN stepped in and asked them to stop. Comcast has even gone a step beyond their cohorts, pushing for a new IETF standard that would make such DNS hijacking more legitimate.

For those who want to opt out without going to something like OpenDNS..

https://dns-opt-out.comcast.net/

Once verified through e-mail get this response:


Confirmed: Domain Helper Service Opt-out

Your opt-out request has been confirmed. We will complete processing of this request within 2 business days.

Once we complete this work, we will send you an email to advise you that you have been successfully opted-out.

[Welshjim]

Thanks, Broni. As said the Opt-Out procedure is not particularly user friendly. I had to chose among eight MAC addresses for the modem. I chose the HFC. Perhaps I should have chosen the "Known CPE". I will see what the final confirmation email says.

[Broni]

MAC address is on the label on the back of your modem.
I just got automated confirmation, they received my request, but still, 2 working day for the final solution.

[Welshjim]

Broni--The HFC MAC address is the one on the back of the modem. That is why I chose it of the eight that Comcast offered.

[Broni]

I'm free

We have completed the work to opt you out of the Comcast Domain Helper service.
This change will take effect automatically when your cable modem renews its DHCP lease (generally within 5 days or less). However, you can easily make this take effect immediately via one of the following two methods:

1. If your computer is directly connected to your cable modem, you will need to reboot your computer.
2. If you have a router directly connected to your cable modem, you will need to (a) reboot your router and then (b) reboot your computer.

Thank you,
Comcast