New York’s Cablevision hijacks 404 error pages
Well, this is interesting. Just took this screenshot of what appears to be an Optimum Online search results page that now comes up whenever I happen to travel to a domain that doesn’t exist.
From what I can see, Cablevision has changed it’s DNS service so that it now hijacks 404 pages to redirect to “domainnotfound.optimum.net” and deliver a page of what look to be Google search results that are supposed to show you the page you were originally looking for. They are calling this “service” the DNS Assistance Service.
According to the DNS Assistance Service page:
The preceding search results page is displayed to you as a result of the specific Domain Name Service (DNS) servers used by Optimum Online to look up domain names. If you misspell or mistype a web address, dead-end “no such name” errors can occur. However, the DNS servers used by Optimum Online are designed to eliminate dead-end “no such name” error pages you can encounter as you surf the web. By displaying the preceding search results page, users know that the web site they’ve attempted to navigate to does not exist, and are presented with suggested sites they may have been seeking. No software is installed on your computer for this search service to work.
Not only that, they’re serving some SPONSORED RESULTS along with the search results. I’m going to have a fit. Hijacking my web connection to deliver YOUR search results is bad enough, hijacking my web connection to serve ADS to me is absolutely insulting and ridiculous. You certainly aren’t lowering the cost of my internet connection, from the revenue you’re making from AdSense or whatever, so why are you serving me ads? It’s completely ridiculous.
Sorry Cablevision, but I do NOT approve. Not one freakin’ bit. As soon as I get home, I’m switching my PCs to use OpenDNS instead, and I highly suggest all other Cablevision customers to do the same. We don’t need your help OR your ads. Thank you very much.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Just noticed the same thing! Bastards…
September 25th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Hey Aaron,
Just so you know there IS a way to opt out, even though we shouldn’t have to. Click “About this Page” on the right side. Towards the bottom of the next page there’s an opt-out button. I installed OPENDNS and it’s working well, but was kind of a pain.
–Justin
September 26th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
[...] reported by blogger Justin Flood Cablevision has secretly adjusted their TOS to reflect this morally questionable service. The [...]
September 30th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I can confirm this as another Cablevision Customer. It’s truly unfortunate.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I completely agree with you Justin is so unfair and so irrespective, I will install OPENDNS too
October 1st, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Justin and rest of the guys, I used Optiomum’s opt-out button option and is working perfectly, (is the first time I love to see the 404 error page on my browser he he he)
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for posting this. I’m also upset and I’m also covering this on my blog (linked). I called Optimum internet support at least 4 times today, refused to give account info (press 0 and # three times when prompted to enter a phone number), and complained emphatically. The agents were obviously all ready for this — so it’s clear that they’ve been trained to handle this in advance. Opt-out now! Screw the Dolans!
December 4th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
thanks for the tip. i only notice it when it goes wonky and says it can’t find google, etc. POS.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Was ist das?