Network Solutions exposed
Dodgy deeds done dirt cheap
DOMAIN Registrar, Network Solutions has been accused of registering names automatically whenever someone searches for them.
The move means that punters who then want the name have to approach Network Solutions for the domain name rather than any other registrar.
DomainState.com claims that a random domain which DNN searches whoranovermybadger.com is suddenly made unavailable to register at other registrars. At Network Solutions it can still be bought.
The theory is that when you do a search, the domain is 'purchased' by Network Solutions and held for the grace people of five days and then handed back. This does not cost Network Solutions a bean.
It apparently also owns a few trademark doman names such as microsoft-dell.com and ibm-microsoft-dell.com.
It does not appear in breach of the domain name rules although it might be considered a bit dodgy and falls under the 'not very nice' category.
More here. µ
Comments
Scum-Of-The-Earth.com
Not only do they hold it I checked around, once it's held it costs more to boot. There fire sale price is much more expensive than anyone else I could find.They should loose there status as a seller, It's only fair. Send a clear message that it is not acceptable to conduct one self in such a low handed way.
Network Solutions Speak
I see that Network Solutions have commented and said that it's a "security measure" desgined to protect a customer who "searches for an available domain name at our website, but decides not to purchase the name immediately after conducting the search"If that's the case why is the domain available to anyone who tries to register it through Network Solutions rather than being restricted to the user who performed the original search which "reserved" the domain.
This IMHO has nothing to do with security and everything to do with preventing users from going to alternative registrars
those bastids!
http://www.iwhois.com/index.php?domain=networksolutionssuckcock&tld=com&lookup=Lookup&clean=1and lo:
http://sedo.com/broker/index.php4?tracked=&partnerid=15801&language=us&domain=networksolutionssuckcock.com
Seen on slashdot, tried and...
Yep. Check e.g. on godaddy , domain avail. Go to network solutions check, then go back to godaddy. domain is no longer available but godaddy says that the registry whois didn't respond. For other domains (already registered) I get the whois record. Hmm.Same behaviour at godaddy after a couple of hours.. (Wonder how long it stays unavailable?).
A Shame.
I've had this happen 3 times with domain names. Really ridiculous names like "everybodysucksbutme" and "hummersofwv" were snatched up an hour after I searched for them.I actually went to Network Solutions because I wanted to avoid crap like this. It's a shame that one of the most respected registrars, is a squatter.
Normal NetSol service is resumed
This is not news. My stepbrother tried looking up a name several years ago, found it was free, but upon returning the next day found it had magically been registered to someone else, who demanded an $800 ransom to release it. The squatter was apparently located in the UK, but the coincidence stank on ice.Network Solutions are scum. Always have been, always will be.
The solution is easy...
GoDaddyFederal Racketeering Charges
Netsol appears to be in violation of Federal Racketeering Laws:See here:
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cri18.htm
Although the law is more focused towards organized crime, it seems to apply to the terms related to commerce both foreign and domestic as well as extortion.
Of course, I'm not a lawyer, just someone who is currently being extorted by Netsol to pay for their registration services instead of being allowed the registrar of my choice.
Go Daddy
Go Daddy did a similar thing to me. I actually purchased a domain name at Mad Dog (the sale was completed), then Go Daddy said it was unavailable. I went to network solutions and the name had been bought by WildWestDomains... owned by Go Daddy.So far they've not returned my email and have not returned my money either.
I'm currently seeking legal advice.
Re: Normal NetSol service is resumed
froggeek wrote:"My stepbrother tried looking up a name several years ago, found it was free, but upon returning the next day found it had magically been registered to someone else, who demanded an $800 ransom to release it."
What is happening now is related but slightly different.
For a long time many domain registrars have sold their search logs to "interested parties". This is how your stepbrother was hijacked.
They are now using the situation they created to justify this "security measure".
The only way to really solve the problem would be to stop the domain registrars selling their search logs.
The best tip I've heard so far is to use "digg" or "nslookup" from the command line to check whether a dns record exists. This isn't a guarantee that it's available but is a good pointer.
European Sites Down
What about the fact that since Friday morning, about 10,000 European Network Solutions companies have been unable to view their websites due to a US upgrade.