Rogers Hijacking failed DNS lookups - Page 5 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Hondra · 2008-07-20, 01:59 PM

This is not really connected to DNS, but URL monitoring and manipulation.

If you attempt to use the following URL:

HTML Code:

http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=mysearch&src=IE-Address

You will be redirected to Rogers.Search.Com

The DNS services do not actually resolve URL addresses, only the domain names to IP addresses. What Rogers is doing is far worse. They are actually reviewing what addresses we are browsing and manipulating the results.

If you remove the "&src=IE-Address" from the sample URL above your results will be returned normally. This is further evidence of this blatent abuse of service.

Hondra · 2008-07-20, 02:06 PM

The "Opt-Out" feature Rogers introduced is no different than the search manipulation itself. All they are doing is redirecting your traffic too

HTML Code:

http://wwww20.search.rogers.com/not_found

instead of their own search results.

The original search request has still be interrupted and redirected, just to a different location of their choice.

serialbox · 2008-07-20, 02:19 PM

As of this morning it appears Rogers is violating some net neutrality rules of some sort. They are now redirecting all invalid DNS requests to a search page with sponsored results.

There is no way to permanently disable this feature. They have an opt-out link which removes the redirected search results BUT it STILL redirects you to a ROGERS.COM address and displays an INTERNET EXPLORER ERROR MESSAGE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE USING FIREFOX!!!

How the hell can we stop this crap. I want this garbage off of my computer NOW.

serialbox · 2008-07-20, 02:21 PM

Whether yo use firefox or not this is still an issue.

I am using firefox and when I type http://asdfasdfa.asdfasdfa.asfas into my browser I get this stupid search page with rogers ads on it. If I opt out of their page using the link they provide I no longer get hte search page BUT my browser still redirects to http://www20.search.rogers.com/not_found and displays an INTERNET EXPLORER error message instead of my standard NOT FOUND firefox error. this is a damn joke

serialbox · 2008-07-20, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvme

MTS Internet in Manitoba has started to do this as well. However they have a link to "opt out of this service". Does Rogers have a similar link?

they have an opt out link but all that does is remove the sponsored ads. it still redirects you to a rogers web page displaying internet explorer errors.

I use firefox and still get an internet explorer error when a DNS error occurs. there has to be a way to permanently disable this garbage

shabbs · 2008-07-20, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serialbox

I use firefox and still get an internet explorer error when a DNS error occurs. there has to be a way to permanently disable this garbage

The only way to get around this is to use DNS servers that are not on Rogers' network. Something like OpenDNS or EasyDNS as discussed earlier in this thread.

Or run your own DNS server.

serialbox · 2008-07-20, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabbs

The only way to get around this is to use DNS servers that are not on Rogers' network. Something like OpenDNS or EasyDNS as discussed earlier in this thread.

Or run your own DNS server.

thanks. I will have to look into that. Id switch ISPs if it were that easy. I almost want to not that my lost business would matter to them anyway but justto make a point

serialbox · 2008-07-20, 03:02 PM

a reader left a comment on my blog with an alternative way to stop this.

edit your host file and redirect rogers.com to 127.0.0.1 for windows XP windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

127.0.0.1 rogers.com

LunaC · 2008-07-20, 05:55 PM

I'm on the phone to them now, they tried telling me that it was 'just the normal browser error' when I 'opted-out'.... I'm on a Mac using Firefox, obviously the error page is a copy of IE's error page and the URL still shows as search.rogers.com/not_found.

My Firefox preferences are at the original setting to enable domain guessing (about:config keyword.enabled true), yet Rogers is overriding that preference and sending the phrase to their ad-ridden junk filled search.

I did verify that DNS lookups are included in the monthly internet access fee. I'm on hold now waiting because I asked why, if I'm paying for that service is it suddenly ad sponsored. I guess that threw the guy a bit.

... After the call:

So they suggested finding a free DNS service, and agreed when I said "So basically Rogers official statement is basically 'put up or shut up'". Hmm.

OpenDNS also over-rides Firefox's default setting for domain guessing even with "typo correction" unchecked.

Has anyone found a way around this yet?

I think I'll write a letter to cbc.ca, they seem to have an interest in fighting for Network neutrality. I think this may interest them as well. I'd urge others to write to them and any other media and / or government official that may be interested in helping.

stampeder · 2008-07-20, 08:22 PM

Quote:

edit your host file and redirect rogers.com to 127.0.0.1 for windows XP windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Not a good idea. 127.0.0.1 is the TCP/IP loopback that some software apps and services use to communicate with other services on the same host.

MarcP · 2008-07-20, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Not a good idea.

It's harmless. It only redirects any requests for rogers.com back to yourself. Does not affect anything in a bad way on your machine.

However, the one bad effect is that you will no longer be able to monitor your bandwidth usage on the Rogers' site. Not really a good thing.

stampeder · 2008-07-20, 08:30 PM

Right you are. I'm just a stickler for not messing around with TCP/IP address assignments.

TVJunkie · 2008-07-20, 09:15 PM

As per Alternate's advice I logged a formal complaint

on the 18th of July 2008 at approximately 10am easter daylight saving time Rogers made a change the redirection of DNS lookup. This redirection resulted in advertising commercials being displayed in the place of information that is normally displayed on that page. The advertising was related to the URL typed. Rogers decided that if a request is made that is outside of the primary DNS such as a virtual private network (VPN) they would instead of processing this request as all other Major ISPs do in accordance with the terms of the contract, they would redirect this to an advertisement of their choice. This type of web hijacking is both illegal and immoral and should be stopped. This is the foundation of internet filtering and redirection of intended requests and it is imperative that Rogers is not the gatekeeper or sensor of intended information.

The long term issues could extend from simple request redirection to the redirection of requests from auctions.yahoo.com being automatically redirected to www.********* or request to www.ccts-cprst.ca being redirected to rogers.com/feedback

Yes you can and will also be a victim of this form of URL hijacking unless you act with the full authority you have been given under the law.

So if others wish to express their concerns of this new form of censorship please follow Alternate's advice

Token government complaints site. Like the BBB.
http://www.ccts-cprst.ca/en/

Government representatives contact page..
http://www.canada.gc.ca/directories-...irect-eng.html

serialbox · 2008-07-20, 09:48 PM

Im going to go sit in front of your hardware store and for each customer that trips on the step before he opens your door I will try to sell them my hardware tools instead before they get inside the door.

MarcP · 2008-07-20, 09:58 PM

Or...

While you're making a phone call and make a mistake on the number, Bell will play an advertisement on the phone instead of the usual error tone.

Hey... Maybe Bell is thinking about this too.

2008-07-20, 01:59 PM	#61
Hondra Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	This is not really connected to DNS, but URL monitoring and manipulation. If you attempt to use the following URL: HTML Code: http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=mysearch&src=IE-Address You will be redirected to Rogers.Search.Com The DNS services do not actually resolve URL addresses, only the domain names to IP addresses. What Rogers is doing is far worse. They are actually reviewing what addresses we are browsing and manipulating the results. If you remove the "&src=IE-Address" from the sample URL above your results will be returned normally. This is further evidence of this blatent abuse of service.

2008-07-20, 02:06 PM	#62
Hondra Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	The "Opt-Out" feature Rogers introduced is no different than the search manipulation itself. All they are doing is redirecting your traffic too HTML Code: http://wwww20.search.rogers.com/not_found instead of their own search results. The original search request has still be interrupted and redirected, just to a different location of their choice.

2008-07-20, 02:19 PM	#63
serialbox Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 8	Rogers has hijacked my browser As of this morning it appears Rogers is violating some net neutrality rules of some sort. They are now redirecting all invalid DNS requests to a search page with sponsored results. There is no way to permanently disable this feature. They have an opt-out link which removes the redirected search results BUT it STILL redirects you to a ROGERS.COM address and displays an INTERNET EXPLORER ERROR MESSAGE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE USING FIREFOX!!! How the hell can we stop this crap. I want this garbage off of my computer NOW.

2008-07-20, 09:15 PM	#73
TVJunkie Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 471	Formal complaint lodged As per Alternate's advice I logged a formal complaint on the 18th of July 2008 at approximately 10am easter daylight saving time Rogers made a change the redirection of DNS lookup. This redirection resulted in advertising commercials being displayed in the place of information that is normally displayed on that page. The advertising was related to the URL typed. Rogers decided that if a request is made that is outside of the primary DNS such as a virtual private network (VPN) they would instead of processing this request as all other Major ISPs do in accordance with the terms of the contract, they would redirect this to an advertisement of their choice. This type of web hijacking is both illegal and immoral and should be stopped. This is the foundation of internet filtering and redirection of intended requests and it is imperative that Rogers is not the gatekeeper or sensor of intended information. The long term issues could extend from simple request redirection to the redirection of requests from auctions.yahoo.com being automatically redirected to www.********* or request to www.ccts-cprst.ca being redirected to rogers.com/feedback Yes you can and will also be a victim of this form of URL hijacking unless you act with the full authority you have been given under the law. So if others wish to express their concerns of this new form of censorship please follow Alternate's advice Token government complaints site. Like the BBB. http://www.ccts-cprst.ca/en/ Government representatives contact page.. http://www.canada.gc.ca/directories-...irect-eng.html

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2008-07-20, 02:21 PM	#64
serialbox Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 8	Whether yo use firefox or not this is still an issue. I am using firefox and when I type http://asdfasdfa.asdfasdfa.asfas into my browser I get this stupid search page with rogers ads on it. If I opt out of their page using the link they provide I no longer get hte search page BUT my browser still redirects to http://www20.search.rogers.com/not_found and displays an INTERNET EXPLORER error message instead of my standard NOT FOUND firefox error. this is a damn joke

2008-07-20, 03:02 PM	#68
serialbox Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 8	a reader left a comment on my blog with an alternative way to stop this. edit your host file and redirect rogers.com to 127.0.0.1 for windows XP windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts 127.0.0.1 rogers.com

2008-07-20, 05:55 PM	#69
LunaC Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	I'm on the phone to them now, they tried telling me that it was 'just the normal browser error' when I 'opted-out'.... I'm on a Mac using Firefox, obviously the error page is a copy of IE's error page and the URL still shows as search.rogers.com/not_found. My Firefox preferences are at the original setting to enable domain guessing (about:config keyword.enabled true), yet Rogers is overriding that preference and sending the phrase to their ad-ridden junk filled search. I did verify that DNS lookups are included in the monthly internet access fee. I'm on hold now waiting because I asked why, if I'm paying for that service is it suddenly ad sponsored. I guess that threw the guy a bit. ... After the call: So they suggested finding a free DNS service, and agreed when I said "So basically Rogers official statement is basically 'put up or shut up'". Hmm. OpenDNS also over-rides Firefox's default setting for domain guessing even with "typo correction" unchecked. Has anyone found a way around this yet? I think I'll write a letter to cbc.ca, they seem to have an interest in fighting for Network neutrality. I think this may interest them as well. I'd urge others to write to them and any other media and / or government official that may be interested in helping.

2008-07-20, 08:30 PM	#72
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	Right you are. I'm just a stickler for not messing around with TCP/IP address assignments.

2008-07-20, 09:48 PM	#74
serialbox Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 8	Im going to go sit in front of your hardware store and for each customer that trips on the step before he opens your door I will try to sell them my hardware tools instead before they get inside the door.

2008-07-20, 09:58 PM	#75
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,822	Or... While you're making a phone call and make a mistake on the number, Bell will play an advertisement on the phone instead of the usual error tone. Hey... Maybe Bell is thinking about this too.