News

Microsoft Tool Blocks Typo Domains

By Nate Mook | Published April 10, 2006, 12:31 PM

Microsoft Research has released a new tool as part of its Strider project, which reveals third party domains that are being contacted in the background of a Web site. Called Strider URL Tracer, the Internet Explorer add-on also scans and blocks URLs that try to capitalize on misspellings, known as typo domains.

Many cybersquatters will register these typo domains and fill them with adult advertising or other inappropriate content. In turn, Strider URL Tracer will enable parents to proactively block such domains. The tool -- an extension of Microsoft Research's HoneyMonkey project -- generates a list of potential typos using five methods.

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

yohimbe9
Apr 10, 2006 - 3:32 PM

My test machines are all on IE7 so I can't play with this but I do have to say that although MS Research has kicked out some pretty neat stuff they suck at documenting and/or explaining it. I know they're just researchers, but still. I went to the screenshot section on the site and I'm not really sure what I saw.

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
zee7
Apr 10, 2006 - 7:54 PM

No kidding, yohimbe. What a mess! Do they seriously think the average Joe Blow is going to have the patience to wade through all of those links. Come on, Microsoft ... hire some decent website designers for a change. I've seen Linux pages that looked better than that.

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
shy_one
Apr 10, 2006 - 2:30 PM

How long before someone sues Microsoft because their porn/spyware typo based sites been blocked.

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
excelon2005
Apr 10, 2006 - 12:54 PM

Yeah... I really hate those typo domains... especially those that lead to spyware/porn-laced sites!

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
dvferret
Apr 10, 2006 - 5:52 PM

yah, seriously.

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
Straspey
Apr 12, 2006 - 11:11 AM edited

You mean like BetaNudes.com ? ;P

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
challgren
Apr 10, 2006 - 12:46 PM

Seems like a great tool but doesn't work with IE 7.

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
Das mod
Apr 10, 2006 - 1:02 PM

yeah, maybe because this tool is for current IE users ..... not for people using betas

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
frankwick
Apr 10, 2006 - 2:00 PM

My guess is that it will be native to IE7 in the next beta.

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
dork0900
Apr 10, 2006 - 3:43 PM

I really wish my browser would automatically take me to www.domain.com when I accidentally type www.domain.cmo or some other typo =/

Score: 0

|
Post Reply
modicr
Apr 11, 2006 - 6:13 AM edited

Hello!

But I don't want that tool changes http://www.domai.com to http://www.domain.com

Cheers, Roman

Score: 0

|
Post Reply

A real beta process at work: Mozilla fires up Firefox 3.6 Beta 2

In the clearest sign yet that public input really does help the development process, a flurry of bug detections provoked Mozilla to release Beta 2 of the next Firefox.

Kindle for PC opens in beta, underwhelms

Amazon has opened the beta of Kindle for PC, a companion to the Kindle, but little else.

European ministers approve watered-down 'neutral net' language

The latest provision in the EU's telecoms regulatory framework would let businesses cancel individuals' Internet access, if they go to court first.

Snow Leopard and Windows 7 still can't crack the netbook problem

Apple has killed Atom support in OS X 10.6.2 and Windows 7 Starter Edition is stripped of "basic" functionality.

Bing vs. Google rematch on video search

After Microsoft folds some old MSN Video features back into Bing, do they add to the search engine's functionality or take away?

HP to acquire 3Com for $2.7 B in cash, focus on China

A long and uncertain comeback trail comes to an end for the one-time network equipment giant.

Bing gets geekier with new Wolfram Alpha integration

Microsoft's Bing is now teamed up with Wolfram Alpha for computational search results.

Universities reject Kindle DX as a textbook replacement

Two universities running Kindle DX pilot programs have rejected the device.

New EU telecoms framework mandates user consent before getting cookies

Do you want a cookie? No. Do you want a cookie? No. Do you want a cookie? No. Do you want...Are you annoyed yet? That's a preview of 2011.

The Samsung Intrepid: A nice phone, if you can accept Windows Mobile

Samsung appears to have built solid enough hardware, but it's the software that seems uncomfortable and unintuitive.

It's the US vs. the EU over Oracle+Sun and the meaning of 'open source'

Now that the EU is a virtual country, the US Justice Dept. is taking a stand in favor of its view -- and against the EC's -- that MySQL will survive under Oracle.