Karoo Hijack Your Mistyped URLs for Profit

[Dylan]

I've just noticed that KC have started hijacking mistyped URLs and are redirecting them to the ask.com search engine.

To test this, try a url that doesn't exist. For example http://www.sdfas23df.com/

Notice the ask.com search page. KC will get a kick-back from ask.com for sending you to them, or if you click on an paid link.

This is really bad. KC should allow you to opt in to the advertised service in return for a reduction in your bill. Instead they seem to be forcing you into it without asking your consent first and reaping the profits from you.

Hijacking DNS like this can cause problems for users, has been tried by other companies with bad results, and is against internet standards.

I compel you to write to karoo at help@karoo.co.uk and ask them to stop this now!

The main pointers are:

1.) It's dishonest
2.) We should have a choice to opt in or out
3.) It breaks certain services (which can include certain spam blocker and email functions).
4.) It costs you more bandwidth (an error page is much smaller than an advert page from ask.com)
5.) Causes problems with non-English speaking users

And the list goes on and on and on....

So get in touch with them and tell us what they say ;-)

[lefty]

Hello.

Im not impressed at all with KC selling my data even if I have mistyped it first. Ive written them an email telling them Im not happy and I want them to knock it off. I told them "If you want to sell my mistakes then ask me first." 

[mrX]

Just spotted this on the karoo help pages.

http://www.karoo.co.uk/helpandsupport/dnsoptout/

[pdwright2k]

Followed the help page and set my prefered and alternate DNS on my router as discribed but my mistyped url's are still going to ask.com 

[stormy]

Yup, even after:

ipconfig /flushdns

It still doesnt work, dirty cheating karoo, just typical of KC imo. If I use those DNS servers, my net dies completely.

Try these instead:

http://www.opendns.com/

Change your DNS ips to:

208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.

That keeps Karoo's grubby mits off you. The mistyped URLs then go back to OpenDNS (and Google) and at least they make the commission and rightly so for providing free DNS servers, we bloody pay for Krapoos!

Mike

[miken]

I stopped using Karoo DNS ages ago to slow!

http://www.opendns.com/ seems to work much better for me

[stormy]

I have emailed a strongly worded complaint to Karoo and also wrote to theregister.

Mike

[Adrian]

The alternate 212.50.160.38 and 213.249.130.101 now work...

[commandergc]

Evil buggers I wouldn't have minded the DNS hijack if they had at least announced that they where going to do it and at least made it clear how to opt-out. Infact they should have made it an opt-in system but KC knows that the majority of it's uses are clueless and wouldn't even notice.

Isn't this technically illegal? after all they are sharing information about your misspelt URLs without tell you their doing it.

[Hobbisbang]

To be honest most user won’t see any benefit or disruption from this. And only the tech savvy will bitch about it but then we should be sufficiently clever to re point our DNS.

I would like to see all revenue from this act of piracy go to improving services or charity. Not into some marketing pot for another advert about Karoo broadband,
 we all know that if we require broadband we have to go to Karoo so stop rubbing it in and spend the money more wisely
 

[stormy]

Now on the Register:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/25/kraoo_nds_typo_hjakin/

and Thinkbroadband:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3471-karoo-users-redirected-to-ask-com-for-failed-dns-lookups.html

As both point out, it should be an Opt-in service, not Opt-out.

These forums even get a mention in both links. (hopefully due to my email)

Some of the comments on theregister are funny, "OpenDNS have done this for ages" <-- well duh! Its a free service, so its quite understandable. We pay for the Karoo services.

Next stop Phorm on Karoo?

Mike

[Dylan]

Now on the Register:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/25/kraoo_nds_typo_hjakin/

and Thinkbroadband:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3471-karoo-users-redirected-to-ask-com-for-failed-dns-lookups.html

These forums even get a mention in both links. (hopefully due to my email)



Mike

Nice one Mike 

[KromaZone]

This really does narc me off....they just want to make as much money out of us as possible

[Fastethernet]

Profiteering from their monopoly once again 

Well if this is how they treat their customers then I'm off! Oh no, I can't choose another ISP 

Fundamentally Joe public won't know or understand what is going on, they will continue to fill KCOM pockets and KCOM will continue failing to invest their profits in the creaking infrastructure.

[The Dominator]

A repeat of the story here:
http://www.thetelecom.co.uk/20080330/karoo-users-redirected-to-askcom-for-unsuccessful-dns-lookups/