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Verisign Plans to Revive SiteFinder Advertising 'Service'

Posted by michael on from the think-of-the-consumers dept.

kiddailey writes "Claiming that their own independent examination of their controversial redirection service has found 'no security or stability problems', and that 'Internet users consider the service a helpful tool to navigate the web', Verisign has announced that it will give a 30- to 60-day notice before resuming the SiteFinder 'feature' that it voluntarily shut-down a couple of weeks ago."

4 of 370 comments (clear)

  1. WWW != Internet by ericspinder · · Score: 5, Informative

    Repeat after me, the World Wide Web is not the entire Internet. Now many applications will resolve a screwed up domain name and try to make a connection to Verisign's site. Instead of getting a "unknown host" programs will get a "service not found" which is a very different error. Or at least that is how I see it, I am only moderately knowledgable about DNS issues.

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    The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
  2. Re:Microsoft Already Does It by dougmc · · Score: 4, Informative
    For probably a majority of desktop users (those using IE), they already have this "functionality" in the form of a redirect to search.msn.com.
    Yes and no. Yes, to somebody using a browser, the two `services' seem pretty similar.

    However, there are some very important differences --

    The IE feature only affects web browsing. It doesn't break email, for example. Verisign's change does. This is by far the biggest issue.

    The IE feature probably doesn't remember `incorrect' URLs in the browser history

    The IE feature can be turned off, either in IE or by not using IE. To turn off Verisign, you need to patch your name server.

  3. Re:OTher Registrars? by wintermute740 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've had good luck with GoDaddy.com for my domains.

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    www.nitemarecafe.com
  4. Sitefinder TOS by scovetta · · Score: 3, Informative

    I find it odd that no one has been discussing the Sitefinder TOS. Specifically, paragraph 6, which states:
    6. Modification by VeriSign.
    At any time VeriSign may modify or terminate these terms of use, its websites and the VeriSign Services and may at any time discontinue your use of the VeriSign Services without any notice to you, and without liability to you, any other user or any third party. Please review these Terms of Use from time to time so that you will be aware of any changes. Your continued use of the VeriSign Services constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.

    So I can be found to a "Terms of Use" agreement simply by mistyping a domain name? How is this legal? And are there any situations where a user could be caught in violation of this "agreement"?

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    Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. --Nietzsche