“VeriSign Inc., which oversees the popular ”.com” Internet domain, has ignited a digital firestorm with its new method for dealing with mistyped Internet addresses. Experts say it will lead to a surge in spam, or unwanted e-mail, and that Verisign has no right to impose the system on millions of Internet users.” Boston Globe

In fact, some ISPs say the predicted increase in spam is already being seen. In redirecting mistyped internet addresses ending in ‘.com’ to a search engine (for which hits VeriSign is paid) rather than generating an error message, VeriSign is crippling many spam filters which work by recognizing the error messages associated with spam that originates from nonexistent domains.

”You can actually make a mail connection to nonexistent domains now,” said Lauren Weinstein, cofounder of People for Internet Responsibility. ”This is the kiss of death for ISPs.”

VeriSign says it is “working to address the problem”… as unilaterally as they instituted the new scheme in the first place.