Sometime on February 26th, I noticed my ISP, Road Runner (Time Warner cable) started hijacking or intercepting bad DNS requests. In non-geek speak, it means when I typed in some web address that wasn’t registered, instead of seeing my browser’s default 404 page I saw this:
I’ve said in the past, when Kevin Ham did the same thing for any .cm address, that it was a brilliant idea from a business perspective. And, I think Road Runner / Time Warner cable is smart to do it with us here as well. It’s going to generate them some big bucks thanks to their partnership with Yahoo for the ads you’ll be clicking on. But, for some reason, I really hate their page. It honestly sucks.
So, I turned it off. I disabled it.
If you have the same issue and don’t like it, you can disable that setting too. Here’s how. Go to http://ww23.rr.com/prefs.php and choose “Disable” for the option labeled “Web Address Error Redirect Service: This preference allows you to opt in or out of Road Runner’s non-existing domain landing service.” Then click the “Save” button.
Voila. Done.
UPDATE: According to Jed, who commented below, Time Warner has modified this process…
TW seems to have changed the path to the options page. Just go to this link,
http://ww23.rr.com/index.php, then click on the “Opt out of this service” link on the right to get to your preferences page.
UPDATE: Now, according to Jay, who also commented below, the urls mentioned in this post are no longer working. If you find working urls, please feel free to let us know so we can update this post for the betterment of all humanity (who uses RR/Time Warner). Thanks.
Thanks so much for the new info Jed. You’re awesome.
Posted by ThePete on Feb 29, 2008 at 12:29pm
Thanks for this post, Nate!
You’re right–it’s a great strategy for making more money. However, I have issues with a company I’m already paying throwing ads in my face so they can make more money off of me. It’s like buying a movie ticket and then having to sit through 10 minutes of commercials you’ve seen on TV before you get to the trailers. Not as bad, but not dissimilar.
So, thanks for passing this tip on–I’ll be sure to reblog it, linking back here, of course. :)
Where did you find out about opting out?
Posted by nate on Feb 29, 2008 at 01:08pm
No problem Pete. I found out about it via my all knowing, always on connection to the wide world of intrawebs. Ok, so it was Slashdot.
Posted by Daniel Nicolas on Feb 29, 2008 at 01:14pm
I knew the more than double increased speeds (for both uploads and downloads) would have a catch!
It’s good that they’re letting people turn it off…but I doubt a majority of people will.
Posted by ThePete on Feb 29, 2008 at 01:25pm
Double increased speeds?? Daniel, I’m happy for you, but I’m experiencing slower downloads and even slower-than-usual uploads. :(
Posted by Brendan Picha on Mar 04, 2008 at 07:31am
I Googled ‘Road Runner 404′ specifically to find the answer you’ve just provided me with. Thank you! It is a smart move on Time Warner’s part but I can’t help but feel like they’re being slimy bastards at the same time. Disabled!
Posted by nate on Mar 04, 2008 at 09:14am
Brenda, thanks for letting me know how you found me. That’s really important for me to know. I see it’s important to you, being an SEO person also.
Glad I could be helpful. Cheers!
Posted by TW employee on Mar 12, 2008 at 06:18am
I work at TW and think it’s hugely annoying, though of course I understand why they’re (um, we’re) doing it. I’ve disabled it thanks to your tip and will be passing it along!
Posted by TW employee on Mar 12, 2008 at 06:24am
PS I also googled, using: “Road Runner can’t find website error.” Hooray for SEO!
Posted by Chris on Mar 21, 2008 at 01:17pm
It’s a fine model to get some additional revenue, but that page was coming up, very frequently, when I tried to go to perfectly valid websites. That page loaded for me when I tried to go to http://www.amazon.com and http://www.downloadsquad.com.
At that point, it goes from a reasonable way to display ads, to a potentially dishonest way to drive traffic and interrupt service. I’d hope it was just their DNS servers being flaky, but then I have to wonder why I’m giving them $50 of my money every month.
Posted by glowdark on Sep 12, 2008 at 07:33pm
I keep disabling it…. it keeps turning on.
Any one know how to KEEP it OFF?
‘call Road Runner and their tech-s ‘know nothing’
Thanks
Posted by nate on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:20am
I haven’t seen that problem, nor a solution Glowdark. Sorry. Do let us know if you find something that works though.
Posted by Chris on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:26am
Glowdark,
One solution would be to start using an alternative DNS, instead of the one RoadRunner provides. OpenDNS is one option I believe (I haven’t set one up myself yet)
Check out their site for more information: http://www.opendns.com/homenetwork/solutions
Posted by nate on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:58am
Great idea Chris. Well played. ;)
Posted by glowdark on Sep 18, 2008 at 08:06pm
Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I should have mentioned I have 3 computers on the same cable internet access but only one of the computers has this issue occur. They are all Win XP Pro same virus software etc…. So for it to happen on only one of them puzzles me. I have even tried different ports on router …(101,102…)
NOTE: I never loaded the software they-roadrunner gave me
Posted by nate on Sep 19, 2008 at 09:36am
Then the problem most likely is that you have the DNS information cached in your machine.
It would be a good idea to flush the local DNS cache so we are starting with a clean sheet.
To do this simply enter: ipconfig /flushdns in a command prompt. You will then get the following window appear confirming the flush,
Posted by Katie on Sep 30, 2008 at 09:55am
I have RoadRunner and found this thing to be horribly annoying, as it flagrantly violates the HTTP standard (and screwed up one of my Python scripts in the process). Thanks much for the tip!
Disabled!
Posted by nate on Sep 30, 2008 at 10:38am
My pleasure Katie. Glad I could help.
Posted by Chris on Oct 03, 2008 at 10:10am
Thanks Nate–didn’t even think about disabling that feature :)
Posted by Fernando on Jan 19, 2009 at 04:08am
That was good, I really needed to disable that, it creeped me out.
Posted by Entrepreneur on Mar 20, 2009 at 12:46pm
I’ve checked a few blogs that had articles about this problem with Road Runner hijacking 404 errors and any of the links to disable in your preferences are no longer working.
Does anybody know how to get rid of this once and for all without requiring opendns?
Posted by Jed on Mar 23, 2009 at 10:10am
TW seems to have changed the path to the options page. Just go to this link, http://ww23.rr.com/index.php, then click on the “Opt out of this service” link on the right to get to your preferences page.
Posted by nate on Mar 23, 2009 at 03:11pm
Jed, thanks for the update. I’ve updated the post with your instructions… You’re awesome!
Posted by John on May 13, 2009 at 09:35pm
San Diego RR — See Glowdark’s comment above
Some months ago I was experiencing more and more delays on page switches with my link-clicks in normal surfing. From other indications, it was clear that it was my ISP (RR) inserting the delays and not the destination servers.
I switched to “Open DNS” (google it – it’s free, no downloads, simple) by following their simple instructions (for WinXP, in my case, but instructions for all types) and by-passed the Road Runner domain name server altogether (It’s not necessary to use RRs domain name server).
Since then, my links and switches have been lightning fast and there, is of course, no problems with RR’s domain “landing service” or their lame DNS at all.
Now that the words getting out, you all will probably crowd it up and drag it down but, what the hey, I’ve learned a lot from you too – happy surfing.
BTW, RR service in SD is seriously deteriorating over the last several months with slower download speeds, more and more drop outs during the day, and a several hour outage last Sunday.
Posted by jay on Jun 10, 2009 at 01:59pm
Thanks for the ipconfig/flushdns recommendation by Nate. This road runner shit hihacked my home page settings and even when I changed it back it wouldnt let me get back to my preferred home page when launching IE. What a piece of #$%^&*(, . took an HOUR out of my day the Mother #$%^&*,
FYI the url sites at the beginning of this blog no longer work.
I HATE Road RUNNER and if I ever met the F##K who scripted this execution He/She whould need a dentist
Posted by nate on Jun 10, 2009 at 02:30pm
Hmm.. if anyone finds out what the new urls are (if they do have new urls), please say so and I’ll update the post.
Thanks for letting us know Jay.
Posted by Grim on Jun 15, 2009 at 03:17pm
now you just have to go to http://ww23.rr.com/index.php and on the very top, to the right of the yahoo logo, it says “Why am I here?” click that and then the description will pop up, and in that click preferences.
Posted by Taximes on Jun 29, 2009 at 05:54pm
Nice, I’ve hated that page for awhile now but didn’t realize it could be disabled.
Posted by bigghands on Jul 18, 2009 at 11:51pm
Geez, where do I start. I went thru the same issues with browser redirection to the ISP (cash cow) Search page so many times I can’t count.
Earthlink does it !
Verizon does it !
Road Runner does it !
and yes….
Freakin’ OpenDNS does the same damn thing !
Simple solution. (learned thru very, very, much intelligent searching). Use alternative free DNS servers (they are available, believe it or not) You can spend hours and hours scouring the net like I did….or just input the fastest free ones I found:
Level 3 DNS Servers:
4.2.2.1
4.2.2.2
4.2.2.3
4.2.2.4
4.2.2.5
4.2.2.6
Just do a quick search on google on how to manually change your DNS Server settings to any two of the previous settings above (if I can do it, it aint that hard !).
If this helps just one person not have to deal with Road Runner BS, than it was worth it.
Cheers !
bigghands
Posted by Mash on Aug 06, 2009 at 10:54am
The new url is http://ww23.rr.com/index.php?view=prefs
Posted by Jade on Sep 12, 2009 at 02:58am
thank you SO MUCH!! i just got road runner a few weeks ago and that was driving me crazy!! plus i was so used to just typing in urls without .com because my old isp automatically added it so i would get that non-existing page 90% of the time. the prefs fixed both of those problems!!
Posted by Anonymous on Oct 03, 2009 at 08:48am
Actually, you dont need a secret link. At the bottom of the redirect page there is an “opt in or out of this service” link that takes you directly to the page.
see http://naterocks.com/2008/04/17/opt-out-of-the-new-roadrunner-web-error-redirection-service/
Posted by ozc on Oct 17, 2009 at 09:21pm
Jade you can get .com by pressing ctrl+enter after you typed the site name.
shift+enter gives you .net
I forget the .org shortcut… Either way RR can kiss it.
Posted by Jeff on Nov 17, 2009 at 12:49am
I’m having the same problem Chris did last March. It’s happening even when I type in perfectly fine urls. INCLUDING when I simply type something into my firefox google search bar. I really hate to think Time Warner is taking advantage but I have also noticed them downgrading certain elements of my cable service and have already suggested to friends they are trying to cut costs. Times are tough, but bad service is a certain road to demise.
Posted by Javier Rodriguez on Dec 05, 2009 at 05:46pm
This link worked for me:
http://ww23.rr.com/index.php?view=prefs
Posted by Alanna on Feb 06, 2010 at 08:04pm
None of the links provided worked for me, however, the “Opt in or out of this service” link all the way at the bottom right did.
Thank you, Jed and Anonymous! And thank you Nate for posting this to get the comments. Drives me crazy!
Posted by Anonymous on Feb 12, 2010 at 11:33pm
http://ww23.rr.com/index.php?view=prefs
Posted by Joey2250 on Feb 19, 2010 at 03:55pm
The correct address for RoadRunner’s Preferences is
http://ww23.rr.com/index.php?view=prefs
verified working as of 2/19/10