Bell internet now hijacking mistyped domains
- Andrew Kinnear
- Aug 10, 2009
- 1 min read
I went looking for a domain today for a friend, and as a first check, I simply typed the domain into the address bar. (I changed it for the image grab). Normally, this would present Firefox's 'Server Not Found' error, OR if formatted like a search, and not a site, then Google would do a 'Feeling lucky' search, thanks to Firefox. Not this time. Because what I typed in 'looked' like a domain name, somewhere in the bowels of my ISP (Bell Internet / Sympatico) they decided to try to HELP me find what I was looking for. I read about Verizon doing this is the U.S. and actually making money of the ads. There are examples of them hijacking the mistypes for a Yahoo! powered SERP. It's a terrible search result.So why has Bell followed suit? Money? Brand awareness for those that don't understand what's happening and actually think that it's helping? Who knows, but I don't like it.Anytime the ISP decides what happens in my browser-- I get nervous. They are the PIPE, and should not try to be smarter. We already know they're shaping traffic, and before today, I just closed my eyes and pretended I didn't know... But now I can't ignore them. Time to start looking for a new ISP--- oh wait, it's them or Rogers. Why hasn't anyone entered this market? (Rhetoric) Why can't some Googley company run some fibre to the curb and give me an internet I deserve! Arrrgh.Turns out some other nerds like me figured this out a week ago...
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