Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 22

Thread: DNS error - some sort of clash?

  1. #1
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    DNS error - some sort of clash?

    So this is a really rare one but I've seen it happen a few times over the years. Type in the name of a common website and get directed to something completely different, but with the same URL. And no, this is not because of a typo, but that would be my first reaction too.

    So, any ideas how that would happen? Depending how it happens I imagine it could have some security implications.

    Edit: I did post an example but it was due to a typo but pretty sure I've had it happen in the past where I've literally just pressed F5 and it's gone to the correct page.

  2. #2
    root Member DanceswithUnix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    In the middle of a core dump
    Posts
    12,978
    Thanks
    778
    Thanked
    1,586 times in 1,341 posts
    • DanceswithUnix's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus X470-PRO
      • CPU:
      • 5900X
      • Memory:
      • 32GB 3200MHz ECC
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Linux, 2TB Games (Win 10)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix RX Vega 56
      • PSU:
      • 650W Corsair TX
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Fedora 39 + Win 10 Pro 64 (yuk)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Benq XL2730Z 1440p + Iiyama 27" 1440p
      • Internet:
      • Zen 900Mb/900Mb (CityFibre FttP)

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    It can just be stale DNS or config entries as the internet adjusts to some poorly implemented config change. Web servers can serve lots of websites, and someone having a moment with a config file can send you to the wrong one.

    Probably wouldn't happen to you, but the thing to look out for is malware redirecting you. I've seen machines that implement all sorts of dns redirection and url skimming to eg point you at ads they make revenue from. Last machine I saw like that I just booted from a Linux DVD (because that sucker is read only) to wipe the disk and start again. Damned machine was like something from the exorcist

  3. #3
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Yeah I've seen it happen on the "can you have a look at my laptop please" systems which are obviously malware redirects, but this is something different I've seen. It is extremely rare though.

    It didn't actually happen this time of course, it just reminded me. Come to think of it I've not seen it happen for years now.

    It wasn't even a case of being sent a completely different page, rather the 'wrong' page even had the same title. I'll give you one example from many years ago, and it happened multiple times so stuck in my mind. I was aiming for runescape.com (don't judge me, it was a long time ago) and ended up on a website called run escape. I can only guess there used to be a website called 'run escape' and the URL was purchased for Runescape and somehow I was being served that page.

  4. #4
    Senior Member AGTDenton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Bracknell
    Posts
    2,698
    Thanks
    984
    Thanked
    826 times in 542 posts
    • AGTDenton's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
      • CPU:
      • AMD 5950x
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Corsair something or the other
      • Storage:
      • 1x 512GB nvme, 1x 2TB nvme, 2x 8TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS 3080 Ti TuF
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM850x
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Torrent White
      • Operating System:
      • 11 Pro x64
      • Internet:
      • Fibre

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    I had this a while back when I was still on ADSL, I forget who the provider was at the time.

    Who's DNS server are you using?

    I've actively been moving away from Google, I don't like that the default DNS on my ASUS router is Googles

    I've been experimenting with a couple of Malware blocking DNS servers:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1.1.1.1


    When my health is restored I'm aiming to build my own DNS server

  5. #5
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    It can be ISP controlled too. One of the annoyances I found out about my recent provider is they don't allow users to chose a DNS server, I have to use the ISP's.

  6. #6
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    It was most likely Virgin's own resolvers. I have flicked between a few DNS providers over the years but Virgin's are generally fine (and fast) as long as you disable the silly redirects for typos. You also get the benefit of getting generally optimal routing to closer CDNs which third-party DNS can sometimes break.

    @Kalniel: Is that one of the major providers? Seems like an odd requirement.

  7. #7
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Quote Originally Posted by watercooled View Post
    It was most likely Virgin's own resolvers. I have flicked between a few DNS providers over the years but Virgin's are generally fine (and fast) as long as you disable the silly redirects for typos. You also get the benefit of getting generally optimal routing to closer CDNs which third-party DNS can sometimes break.

    @Kalniel: Is that one of the major providers? Seems like an odd requirement.
    It's Virgin in fact - you can set anything you like and it'll still route through their DNS servers.

  8. #8
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    How do you mean, because that's not the case for me? If I set 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, that's what I get. I even get markedly different results, hence my comment about the CDNs.

  9. #9
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Quote Originally Posted by watercooled View Post
    How do you mean, because that's not the case for me? If I set 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, that's what I get. I even get markedly different results, hence my comment about the CDNs.
    I'm probably mistaken then! Do you manage to avoid Virgin DNS appearing at all on an extended dnsleak test? https://www.dnsleaktest.com/

  10. #10
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    If I set 1.1.1.1 it just shows Cloudflare? I did take a screenshot but Imgur complaining about being overloaded or something.

  11. #11
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    I believe you I'm clearly mistaken.

  12. #12
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Were you setting it through DHCP or directly on the computers?

  13. #13
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Quote Originally Posted by watercooled View Post
    Were you setting it through DHCP or directly on the computers?
    Via window's network adaptor settings, which I am absolutely not an expert on. What's the proper way?

  14. #14
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    That should be it. DHCP should be fine too but I wondered if VM's router might be interfering with that somehow, but I don't think it even allows you to change in on their own router, come to think of it.

    Under IPv4 properties, just put the IPs for your preferred primary and secondary DNS servers. That should be respected and a quick way to test is on a command prompt; type nslookup, then see what it says about the default server. You can then type domain names to see how the server responds.

  15. Received thanks from:

    kalniel (13-01-2021)

  16. #15
    Fetchez la vache!
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Dorset
    Posts
    537
    Thanks
    59
    Thanked
    50 times in 38 posts
    • dannyboy75's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 5800X
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4 3200MHz
      • Storage:
      • Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 500GB, Samsung 840 SSD 500Gb, WD 1TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 3080 Founders Edition
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM850x
      • Case:
      • Falcon GameMax
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 11 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VG27AQ G-Sync 165 Hz IPS
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 200/20 FTTP

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Quote Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix View Post
    I just booted from a Linux DVD (because that sucker is read only)
    Takes me back around 10 years ago when I was doing support for the UK office of an antivirus company. I spent about 90 minutes on the phone to a guy who, having had a minor adware/scareware infection, reformatted but was convinced that it had infiltrated his read-only Windows installation CD's/DVD's. It was the most frustrating and mentally exhausting 90 minutes of my (18 years and counting) IT career, trying to reason with someone who thought they were quite knowledgeable and wouldn't listen to a word I said. I vowed from that day to never take another job dealing with Joe Public.

    Also, watercooled, unless I'm missing something, wouldn't it better still to configure these DNS servers on your router? I'm also with VM and use Cloudflare's DNS servers (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) - though admittedly I only use the VM router in bridge/modem mode, as I use my own Asus router.

    Ah, soz. As I type this, just noticed you say it's not possible to change DNS servers on VM's router. Makes sense.

  17. Received thanks from:

    DanceswithUnix (14-01-2021)

  18. #16
    root Member DanceswithUnix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    In the middle of a core dump
    Posts
    12,978
    Thanks
    778
    Thanked
    1,586 times in 1,341 posts
    • DanceswithUnix's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus X470-PRO
      • CPU:
      • 5900X
      • Memory:
      • 32GB 3200MHz ECC
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Linux, 2TB Games (Win 10)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix RX Vega 56
      • PSU:
      • 650W Corsair TX
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Fedora 39 + Win 10 Pro 64 (yuk)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Benq XL2730Z 1440p + Iiyama 27" 1440p
      • Internet:
      • Zen 900Mb/900Mb (CityFibre FttP)

    Re: DNS error - some sort of clash?

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    I believe you I'm clearly mistaken.
    AIUI with Virgin you could both be right, as it is still a mess of small companies that were bought up by NTL over a period of years and never fully integrated into a coherent single system. So in a different town, different rules could apply.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •