VeriSign declares Internet healthy, vows to re-launch SiteFinder - GoFuckYourself.com

lEricPl · 10-16-2003, 07:33 PM

VeriSign declares Internet healthy, vows to re-launch SiteFinder
Posted 10/16/2003 @ 7:29 PM, by Fred "zAmboni" Locklear

Using their own research, VeriSign has concluded that SiteFinder introduced "no identified security or stability problems" with the Internet and announced they will give 30 to 60 days notice before the service is re-launched. During a meeting organized by ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee, VeriSign said they plan to add foreign language support for SiteFinder and an MX wildcard to modify how e-mail sent to nonexistent domains is handled. Many ISPs and others tried to circumvent the SiteFinder redirect by installing BIND patches, but Slashdot is reporting those patches may have made the situation worse.

According to this IDG report, while the meeting was supposedly on security and stability of the Internet, many of the questions from ICANN had to do with neither. Instead, they grilled VeriSign on how the service was launched and methodologies used for Internet user surveys. This committee will report back to the ICANN board with recommendations about SiteFinder, but it is curious the committee did not hammer VeriSign harder on the technical issues that arose when the service was launched. It may be a sign that ICANN realizes it is powerless to prevent typo redirection and is trying to embarrass VeriSign into submission. Regardless of ICANN's position, it appears VeriSign is going to fight tooth and nail to get SiteFinder back in service, they are not bound to just give up on this typo windfall.

In related news, VeriSign announced the sale of their Network Solutions domain registration business. VeriSign has gotten a bit of flak because many believed they were using the SiteFinder service to steer users to Network Solutions, but News.com reports VeriSign has been trying to unload the business for several months. Network Solutions has had a bad rep for quite some time, maybe Pivotal Private Equity can do something with the business in the increasingly competitive domain registration arena.

http://arstechnica.com/archive/news/1066350552.html

10-16-2003, 07:33 PM	#1
lEricPl Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: FL Posts: 1,062	VeriSign declares Internet healthy, vows to re-launch SiteFinder VeriSign declares Internet healthy, vows to re-launch SiteFinder Posted 10/16/2003 @ 7:29 PM, by Fred "zAmboni" Locklear Using their own research, VeriSign has concluded that SiteFinder introduced "no identified security or stability problems" with the Internet and announced they will give 30 to 60 days notice before the service is re-launched. During a meeting organized by ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee, VeriSign said they plan to add foreign language support for SiteFinder and an MX wildcard to modify how e-mail sent to nonexistent domains is handled. Many ISPs and others tried to circumvent the SiteFinder redirect by installing BIND patches, but Slashdot is reporting those patches may have made the situation worse. According to this IDG report, while the meeting was supposedly on security and stability of the Internet, many of the questions from ICANN had to do with neither. Instead, they grilled VeriSign on how the service was launched and methodologies used for Internet user surveys. This committee will report back to the ICANN board with recommendations about SiteFinder, but it is curious the committee did not hammer VeriSign harder on the technical issues that arose when the service was launched. It may be a sign that ICANN realizes it is powerless to prevent typo redirection and is trying to embarrass VeriSign into submission. Regardless of ICANN's position, it appears VeriSign is going to fight tooth and nail to get SiteFinder back in service, they are not bound to just give up on this typo windfall. In related news, VeriSign announced the sale of their Network Solutions domain registration business. VeriSign has gotten a bit of flak because many believed they were using the SiteFinder service to steer users to Network Solutions, but News.com reports VeriSign has been trying to unload the business for several months. Network Solutions has had a bad rep for quite some time, maybe Pivotal Private Equity can do something with the business in the increasingly competitive domain registration arena. http://arstechnica.com/archive/news/1066350552.html