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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Sep 5th 2001 2:54pm





Microsoft Hijacks Page Not Founds

from the they-want-everything,-don't-they? dept

I had noticed this at some point last week when I had tried to get to a server that was down while using IE. Instead of a normal page not found error message, I was sent to a page that had an MSN search box with the domain I was trying to go to. I didn't think much of it at the time, but this article points out why it's a little scary for Microsoft to be able to do that. They also point out why it could be useful, but I can't think of the last time I wanted to do an MSN search when I got a "page not found". It's unclear if they're hijacking all 404s or just ones on servers that are down or don't exist - but it wouldn't surprise me to see them creep into more and more aspects of the web. Any mistake you make and you're delivered into their waiting arms. Won't that be fun?

5 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Scott, Sep 5th, 2001 @ 3:58pm

    I don't believe it is hijacking. It seems to be a redesigned page that would allow you to try a different spelling or do a search. It will only work with IE and not the other browsers. I think it is much better than the meaningless Error 404 page you used to get.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    alternatives(), Sep 5th, 2001 @ 9:38pm

    Bullshit. There is nothing MEANLESS about a 404 error. A 404 error means the exact "page" you tried to access no longer exists. That is what a 404 error means. That is useful information. Getting a Microsoft page does not convey the same information.

    Giving a page that said "this page no longer exists", click here to search for similar pages would be far better. But that is not the Microsoft way, now is it?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    BNL, Sep 6th, 2001 @ 7:29am

    Microsoft has 'controled' error messages for a long time.

    Guess they are just changing the output.

    HINT - Turn off 'Friendly Error Messages' in the advanced internet options and this stops.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    BNL, Sep 6th, 2001 @ 7:37am

    Doh. Guess I should try things before I post them.

    That doesn't stop this.

    Why does this happen for www.microsoft.con but not www.aggafgadfgadfgafgrawg.com?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 6th, 2001 @ 7:41am

    You will NOT get this if you go to a valid website but an invalid *page*.

    They are not changing 404s. To get a 404 there has to be a server to send the 404. If that is the case, you won't see this page.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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