Search Again: Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? From: Adam Dennis Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 Time: 7:37:34 pm Hello All - if you feel strongly about Verisign/Network Solutions recent attempt to hijack all non-existant domains in .com and .net name spaces perhaps you might like to write something akin to the following: (with thanks to Stefan, Bruce and the CommunigatePro list and to PIFR http://www.pfir.org/statements/vs-domain-abuse ) To: comments@icann.org, icann@icann.org, antitrust@ftc.gov, dnssales@verisign.com Subject: Verisign/NSI Domain Scam Hello, I'd just like to express my opinion on the latest Verisign move to add a wildcard A record to the .com and .net zones. The DNS system is supposed to return a "no match found" response if you try looking up the address of a non-existent domain. Verisign have changed this so that it instead returns the address of their search website. Now, apart from the fact that they are abusing the DNS system (and their position as a Domain Name Registrar) to promote themselves, they are breaking systems which check to see if a domain is valid or not before granting access to their services. This is unacceptable and would only further again strengthen Verisign's monopoly while making troubleshooting much harder and breaking basic mechanisms in existing software. One example is a feature our mail server supports which is the verifying of a return-path. This feature is essential and now breaks because verisign returns an IP for non existent domain names. Spammers often use fake domain names when sending out unsolicited email. It was possible to reject mail that claims to originate from a fake domain - thanks to verisign this is no longer the case. This Verisign hijacking will increase the amount of spam messages that have to be filtered by spam elimination software, since fake domains are no longer going to be rejected. In another example, suppose one of your staff/customers makes a typo when sending an e-mail and puts in an invalid domain. Previously your mail system would simply bounce it back to them and say "No such domain". Now it will try sending the mail to Verisign. They have set up a mail responder which then rejects the mail but all our mail systems are now dependent on that responder to behave plus there will be an increase in unnecessary internet traffic. This change was made without consultation - they didn't even explain themselves till people complained about it - and breaks more than one important Internet service. This is not ethical behaviour - especially from an Internet Registrar - no one has the right to "own" all unregistered and misspelt domain names. Thank You Adam Dennis Core Technology Aust Pty Ltd.

Messages In This Thread: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Stonewall Ballard on Sep 16, 2003 at 10:49:39 am Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Mia''s Virtual Post Office on Sep 16, 2003 at 11:27:16 am Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Joe D''Andrea on Sep 16, 2003 at 4:25:26 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Mia''s Virtual Post Office on Sep 16, 2003 at 4:35:43 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Joe D''Andrea on Sep 16, 2003 at 4:56:54 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Mia''s Virtual Post Office on Sep 16, 2003 at 5:02:23 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Men & Mice Support on Sep 16, 2003 at 5:13:54 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Mia''s Virtual Post Office on Sep 16, 2003 at 5:18:49 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Stonewall Ballard on Sep 16, 2003 at 6:17:43 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Men & Mice Support on Sep 16, 2003 at 6:29:19 pm Re: Working around Verisign power-grab? by Adam Dennis on Sep 16, 2003 at 7:37:34 pm