Dell + Google Toolbar… profit??!?!
Andrew Hay writes:
Dell & Google Secretly Installing Software to Make Money Off Your Typos - Those….bastards….how is this business practice not illegal?
New Dell machines that include the Google toolbar as part of a marketing agreement also include a secret program that redirects non-url information typed into a browser window to a Dell-branded page filled with ads. For example if you type in dogfood.cim, instead of getting a browser error message, the secret Google Address Redirector redirects the query to an ad-filled page of search results.
They’re simply redirecting invalid DNS requests to their own page. When you use OpenDNS, they redirect mistyped queries to their own page as well. OpenDNS is having a fit because it’s competing with their revenue stream, powered by Yahoo!
To remove all installed software, leaving you with a clean system and for those who don’t wish to reformat their new computer, run PC Decrapifier.
Verisign (or ICANN or someone) tried this once globally only to get lambasted (redirecting invalid DNS requests). My ISP does this and it pisses me off to no end. It’s not surprising Google+Dell want to do that.
This is why I advocate a full reinstall whenever I purchase something from Dell. First thing? Make sure it works…then format.
I hope the standard of DNS invalid responses holds up, but I fear it won’t.
“They’re simply redirecting invalid DNS requests to their own page. When you use OpenDNS, they redirect mistyped queries to their own page as well. OpenDNS is having a fit because it’s competing with their revenue stream, powered by Yahoo!”
That’s true. The reason the Dell/Google thing bugs me is because they format their page so that only the sponsored links are above the fold. Also, OpenDNS is a voluntary service. The Dell thing is voluntary because they bought the machine, but it is such a pain to remove that it is almost involuntary. If you buy a Dell, it is something to live with. Thanks for the PC Decrapifier tip.