Tag: DNS

Cellular Modem common problem — DNS LOOKUP

Paul2 Replies

With Cellular Modems being used more and more, the common problem is:

Address not Found Address not Found

This is something that comes with any ISP the DNS lookup problem. In which your connection acts like a VPN connection, it connects to a cell tower and then gets transported to the nears server and then goes on the internet. The Server does the DNS lookup for you and send you to the right page. There seems to be a problem with my Cellular DNS server because it doesn’t have a complete list and if it doesn’t know where you to go you get that screen.

[ad#cricket-right-ez]So I found an easy way to fix this problem. I have been using my Host file to tell my computer the IP of the server that I am having the problem. So how do I find out the Ip of the server? This can be a problem to an extent.

I found that visiting the OpenDns.com Cache check will tell me the internet protocol of the server for the time but it could change. I just edit the host file manually and insert the need information by hand. Like I said the IP may change from time to time depending on where you are going or if it is a big server. The servers ip will rotate to help the bandwidth and keep it even on all servers, so this only works with servers that have a Static IP.

There is a program that will help you manage your host file it’s called Hostman and this does makes editing your Host file a little more easily. I have used this and I haven’t found anything that does do anywhere better than this. If you have a suggestion on a good Host Manager, please tell people in the Forums or leave a comment. I’d love to hear some good programs to help update the Host file more easily.

Crafty little Trojan:W32/DNSChanger.ARNF

Paul

Saw this post and couldn’t resist talking about it.   This was talked about on F-secure.    It looks like they use a program call “Homeview Installer” and after you install it you get the Trojan:W32/DNSChanger.ARNF.   So how do you get that off your system?  Before we talk about that, let’s talk about what it does.  According to F-secure:

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This malware is dropped onto the system by Trojan-Dropper:W32/Agent.FLN. It is used to change the DNS settings on a system so that information such as passwords and credit card details can be retrieved.

[Via F-secure]

What you need to do to get rid of this of this Trojan is to scan your system.   You will also need to understand that this is a really good Trojan, it sees to modify your DNS and also your Registry.   Once you located and destroyed it you will then want to remove all your restore points.  After that you will want to check my other resources to better protect yourself.   You are the only one to prevent a virus from getting on your system.   If you like this one check out my other post as well.

Is IPv6 a Problem or is it still in Beta?

Paul


Due to the high volume of people, I have thought of how best to go about describing my issue with my DSL router and why I”ve disabled IPv6!!!   First off, I have a VISTA Premium System, with an OEM license.  That isn’t nothing new.  The problem is that if I use IPv6, I would constantly get no internet.  I would always get local but not Internet.  I didn’t know why until recently, and that was IPv6.  It isn’t to say I don’t stop getting this.  I still do but it is less of the problem.  I could re-install the system and see if that fixes the problem.

Would that fix the problem?

Yes it probably would if it is a driver issue.  I say it isn’t because if it was a driver issue I could just downgrade to an earlier driver, which there is none.  I am going to guess that no one has done any new drivers for the IPv6 Since Vista came out.  I don’t know why but with my DSL it has been an issue when I was on my cable.  I recently switched, I had no problems.

Could it be my DSL Provider?

It is also a probability.  I do know like any DNS providers with the latest scare.  Is your DNS Safe?  I talked about DNS cache Poisoning and how to fix it. I talked about OpenDNS.  I have been using OpenDNS since I’ve gotten DSL and if it was an DNS issue, I’ve read reports that Open DNS has never had this type of issue.  So it can’t be my DNS although, there is always a chance the DSL provider could be having problems with the IPv6 Protocol.  Check out Failing to plan is planning to fail post about this same type of issue.

Could I have a bad DSL Modem?

Let’s just say this, If it is the modem then that would be a problem.  You try telling you provider that you are having problems with IPv6.  I am sure they would be scratching there heads like what is that and how do you know?  So I would love to flash the DSL modem with the latest software but for some reason I can’t find any updates.  It’s a Westell 325W and I looked and can’t find anything!!  I could see if I couldn’t find a Linux distro to flash into but I am not that good at this stuff.  So If you know how to fix that problem.  By all means tell me.

Could I use a AYIYA tunnel to fix this?

The only problem I see with this that it would slow me down even more.  I only have so much bandwitdth to worry about.   Having to Tunnel this through a service would hinder me.  So I can’t think of any reason why I would want to slow me down.  I am really not concerned with IPv6 because when they do go into being required, they should have this fixed.  Will they fix the problem soon, I hope but I hold no definite answers on that one!!

Does your DNS still have flaws?

Paul

Late the week, I’ve had some concern with the DNS flaws with my ISP.  So I’ve change to another DNS.  So I went and did a test at:

Doxpara

So what does this mean when it says I might be at risk?

Very simple, your DNS provider is not randomizing the ports.  I’ll get to that in a bit.

What is DNS?

The DNS is like a big Phonebook to where you tell it who you want to call, in this case go, and it finds the numbers and takes you there.  It’s like telling a cab driver where you want to visit, just like telling the cab driver to come to my site.  When you enter http://www.paulstechtalk.com into your browser, your telling DNS to go fetch the ip and direct your connection to this site.

So how can I fix this flaw?

Simple, You will need to direct yourself to OpenDNS.  Has Fixed the flaw to help protect you.  How do you use it?  You will tell your system to direct all the DNS queries through that then your ISP DNS.

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So by using the openDNS, you will be bypassing the DNS flaws that you might of have. If you want to use that DNS server go to there website and it tells you step by step on how to do it with your own system.

The Nice thing about OpenDNS is they have so many features,  You can prevent phishing, adult sites, Domain blocking, and much more.  If you use this, you can prevent you kids from getting on the sites that you don’t want them to get on.  It lets you have control over what you want to do.  I recommend people to use OpenDNS.

What’s the DNS flaw?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNS_cache_poisoning

I can’t explain it but maybe this can.  If you want to diqus this in the community you can go to:

Technology Community Page


Use OpenDNS


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Possilbe DNS Redirect

Paul

According to a recent report by PCWorld, research teams working out of Google and the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered a series of open-recursive DNS servers that were classified as behaving “suspiciously.” Open-recursive DNS servers are DNS servers that will answer any lookup request, no matter where it originates. So long as the DNS servers return accurate information—and the vast, vast, majority do—everything is kosher. When open DNS servers don’t return valid information, however, they open the door to an entire world of problems.

This method of poisoning would also allow for cross-site scripting exploits. If a user’s computer is set to allow all JavaScript and cookies from, say, MySpace, the fake MySpace web site would be able to run code as if it was the real web site. This opens the door to all sorts of further exploits and general bad things, all of which might go undetected by the user for quite some time. This type of attack could also be used to build an effective botnet—and more botnets are something we really don’t need.

[Via Arstechnica]

I am really concerned with this little development. Go read the full article and let me know what you think.