Cox capturing traffic...???

[labrocca]

The past couple days I have seen this COX search page but it didn't register in my small brain till just now. They are capturing traffic from domains that don't exist. Normally my browser would display a "page cannot be displayed" error. So Cox is now pulling an Agoga.

Any thoughts on this? I actually prefer to get a dead page. I also wonder how much income Cox will generate now from this. I have heard of other providers doing this but it's new for Cox.

 

[dgridley]

I'll have to ask my nephew.. he's a techie for Cox in Virginia.

 

[namenut]

I'm not seeing it. I still get this.

" Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage "

They are in your box!

namenut

 

[Fka200]

Same thing with Road Runner: http://www.fka200.com/2008/02/22/road-runner-now-hijacking-not-found-mistyped-websites/

 

[wikes82]

can you opt-out?
Road runner has an option to opt out from this program.

another way out is using http://www.opendns.com/
and, YES, I know about the latency of using DNS outside your network, I'm just offering an option

 

[dnb8]

Maybe you have trojan or something like this?

 

[wikes82]

Maybe you have trojan or something like this?

it is not a trojan, most US ISP start doing this thing with landing page.
Basically, when user requesting DNS lookup, and domain name is not available, instead of returning a NULL A Record, their NS redirected the browser to a landing page full of ads.

 

[Kate]

Will be interesting to see the TM links.

 

[labrocca]

http://support.cox.com/sdccommon/as...sprt_cid=c8daf50a-61ba-442d-90b9-8d2e18ceb58d

It requires manually changing your DNS to opt-out. Those who aren't tech savvy will probably never know how to do that. If you have a router for instance as many people do...you have to change your routers DNS as well.

Interesting that Cox is teamed up with Yahoo! Marketing to push this.

 

[weblord]

just use firefox

Q Why do I see this new results page now?
A. Cox is providing an enhanced error results service to residential Cox High Speed Internet customers that provides a list of relevant alternative sites based on keyword searches entered in the Address bar of Internet Explorer.

 

[wikes82]

just use firefox

again, it's not in the browser, it is in DNS...using firefox will not do you any good, you'll still see the landing page,
you need to change DNS server and use the public one, or install your own recursive DNS server in a home network

It requires manually changing your DNS to opt-out. Those who aren't tech savvy will probably never know how to do that. If you have a router for instance as many people do...you have to change your routers DNS as well.

RR has the option to opt out, it is not right to make extra money from customer traffic

 

[cache]

what is cox?

 

[namewaiter]

Same thing with Road Runner: http://www.fka200.com/2008/02/22/road-runner-now-hijacking-not-found-mistyped-websites/

and same thing as windstream (Alltel)

 

[Rob J]

Will I be charged for this service?
A. No, the service is provided free of charge to Cox High Speed Internet users.

It's amazing how they promote this as a feature that everyone should enjoy, and they're not even charging you for it!!!! What a great company!!!!

 

[inFlux]

what is cox?

A cable TV/internet service provider