Jul
Rogers starts re-directing DNS misses
Beginning some time this past week, Rogers, the largest ISP in Canada, starting re-routing missed DNS hits to their own branded Yahoo-search page. Not only is this totally unhelpful and full of irrelevent ads (no, I do not want a Chatelaine subscription, thanks), it also re-writes the attempted URL in your browser’s address bar – making efforts to correct the typo you made a total pain in the ass.
Here’s the explanation from the about page:
These search results were provided because the domain name you entered into the address bar is either improperly formatted, currently unavailable, nonexistent, or part of a key word search. Rogers Supported Search Results is a service designed to enhance your web surfing experience by eliminating many of the error pages you encounter as you surf.
Thankfully, Rogers lets you disable these “helpful” search result pages. Except, they’re not really disabled. Instead of showing you the search results page, you get a mocked up IE-style 404 error served to you by Rogers. Meaning, the URL is still being clobbered.
Between this and the web content tampering fiasco from earlier this year, I’m about done with Rogers. But since I’m moving in a few months, I’ll have to maintain this abusive relationship until then.
Update: This is now being covered on Slashdot.
Commentary
In typical Rogerering fashion.
This is a useful thing for customers, if you do not like it switch using your own dns, its easy. Other Canadian ISPs will most likely follow suite. Its to assist not to make it an annoyance. OPENDNS is a free service you may want to check it out.
This is a useful thing for most basic customers but it’s primary goal is the Ad income from people clicking on the links. This type of thing could add millions $$ to Rogers pockets.
The thing is…. now rogers has the download cap enabled and is charging people for downloads that exceed the limit, to put this page in makes you use more of your bandwidth so you get less bang for your buck. It nibbles away at your limit inch by inch. Oh what a wonderful company.
This is a bit like all those web hosts who cream PPC income off your 4040 error pages. I think they should deduct 50% of the income from your hosting bill :)