Eleven hours ago, Reddit user geeeeoffff went to Network Solutions, a web hosting and domain company. Probably to host a domain or something. Yet, he found out that when he checked a domain on its availability, Network Solutions automatically registered it. This is what the, probably amazed, Reddit user posted:
REDDIT GAMES: this company registers any domain name checked. Lets search for long strings of random letters and numbers!!! over 20 characters long should do it. (networksolutions.com)
You can imagine what happens next: hundreds of Reddit users started checking the weirdest and offensive domain names. You want some examples? You’ll get some! Beware, some are not suitable for your cubicle:
- Network-solutions-is-run-by-mindless-monkeys.com
- Jesusloveseverybodyincludingthegays.com
- Ifyoucouldseethesizeofthisbuttplgihaveinrightnow.com
- Networksolutionsisstaffedbyterrorists.com
- Coca-cola-offers-billion-dollar-bounty-to-kill-george-bush.com
Some are pushing it a bit far though. Yet this only shows what kind of consequences this script by Network Solutions has.
The guys from Network Solutions seem to be pretty fast, according to Geekner, who checked the domain Ipickedthisnamebecauseitiscompletelyrandomandhasnumbers2.com. “It went from available to taken by NS in less than a minute.”
What Networks Solutions probably does, is called front running. This November, Nominet published a position paper on this matter. Here’s their definition:
Domain Name Front Running (DNFR) is a technique believed to exist, but so far unproved, whereby one person monitors the activity of a second person who is planning to register a domain name and the first person then registers the domain name before the second person.
Network Solutions already reacted on the front running accusations. Jonathon Nevett, Vice President of Policy at Network Solutions rather calls it ‘a security measure to protect our customers’. Moreover, he says that they release the domains after four days.
Which means there are 3,5 days left for this domain…
“A security measure to protect our customers!” That phrase reminds me of ‘anticipatory retaliation’ – a phrase used by military/security advisers to justify blowing up anything they think might possibly be a threat – before it becomes a threat.
I wonder what will happen when they infringe a trademark?
Network Solutions has responded to this story here: http://customersupport.networksolutions.com/article.php?id=939
I once registered the domain thewithyour2bestfriendsonabiketomonacorace.com
It wasn’t a huge success :)
Weird that so little people know why it’s exactly 4 days. Read this old article by Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of GoDaddy.com and look for the words ’5 day refund’:
http://www.bobparsons.com/MayKiting.html
I remember many years ago, going to buy a domain from NS for a product we were looking at distributing in the UK, it was called the lovegetty and was selling millions in Japan (mostly to men) little device that would sound an alarm if you passed someone else who had one on the same setting, anyway, after a bit of looking about at domains on NS, I went to buy it, and it went from being available to sold. I could not believe it so i phoned NS and spoke to one of the bosses, she claimed that they had bought the domain themselves. I did not know of this practice called Domain Name Front Running, back then (only read about it here for the first time) but I swear this is what happened to me. She was very weird on the phone, would give me no information and it smelt more fishy than her vagina. I never used them again as I the stench was more than I could stomach.
I searched a few, to see if they’d take them (when I saw the post on reddit). Here’s my favorite:
http://networksolutions-is-the-worst-registrar-on-the-interweb.com/
@redwall_hp :) I love this stuff. Keep up the good work.
Wow, what lying assholes. Part of what they are doing is called “domain tasting,” I think. That four days is a “free look” or “taste” of the domain name. If it gets traffic for any reason, they keep it b/c it’s valuable for their pages full of ads. If no traffic, maybe it gets run though an algorithm and/or human (I mean monkey), who see if it meets any other criteria that may give it value. What pricks, using their customers like that. Cheers.
Doesn’t registering these domains inflict any costs on them?
Cause you could, in theory, retaliate with a script checking for the availability of completely random domain names. Not that I will do it though, or encourage anyone else to do it either.
Marek, I believe one of the Reddit users already tried using a script. I think it may cost them money, but it’s no where near what non-monkeys pay (NetSol pays more like $1).
BREAKING NEWS: The monkeys say it’s a “security feature.”
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080110-network-solutions-defends-frontrunningto-stop-frontrunners.html
Look what google just announced, an attack on Frontrunners:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080125/ap_on_hi_te/web_address_sampling;_ylt=AucDbZYhAo9Ymcqa5v2eng5k24cA
Definetly ‘Don’t do evil’ points for this