Who owns http://hackerne.ws • Hacker News Board

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#11

Post by ratsbane » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 2:20 AM UTC

PG could configure the news.ycombinator.com server to return a 301 to any request which has a HOST header that's not news.ycombinator.com - either that or hardcode the domain name in links.

I'm sure that Volida's motives are honest as he stated but this practice - buying a domain name that sounds like something popular and setting the A records to the intended site - has the potential to be used maliciously. All you'd have to do is wait for traffic to grow and then, in time, switch the DNS records to your own site. Of course, the HTTPS pages are going to show certificate problems while your A record is pointing at the original target - but many users will just go ahead and accept bad certificates.

How would a legitimate site owner defend against this sort of thing? Would the solution I described in the top paragraph be effective? Has this ever been done maliciously?

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#12

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 2:26 AM UTC

ratsbane wrote: post #11

PG could configure the news.ycombinator.com server to return a 301 to any request which has a HOST header that's not news.ycombinator.com - either that or hardcode the domain name in links. I'm sure that Volida's motives are honest as he stated but this practice - buying a domain name that sounds like something popular and setting the A records to the intended site - has the potential to be used maliciously. All you'…

[deleted]

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#13

Post by sh1mmer » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 2:27 AM UTC

helveticaman wrote: post #6

sh1mmer wrote: post #2

If the only reason is shortness of typing, why don't you use a bookmark? Even s60 browsers have those.

Sometimes you have to access something from cybercafes. I bought qwertqwert.com so I could access "Dvorak anywhere" quickly with a qwerty keyboard.

Except that you don't seem to be doing anything with it.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#14

Post by rms » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 2:28 AM UTC

sh1mmer wrote: post #2

If the only reason is shortness of typing, why don't you use a bookmark? Even s60 browsers have those.

With autocomplete, typing can be faster than a bookmark when all you have to do is type "h" then press down and ok.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#15

Post by volida » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 3:03 AM UTC

Zev wrote: post #10

snprbob86 wrote: post #7

Why not donate the domain to YCombinator?

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=84040 (found via http://searchyc.com/hackerne.ws?sort=by_date_r ) — Sounds like he's offered to do so in the past.

Like Zev pointed out, I am willing to do so.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#16

Post by simonsarris » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 3:04 AM UTC

rms wrote: post #14

sh1mmer wrote: post #2

If the only reason is shortness of typing, why don't you use a bookmark? Even s60 browsers have those.

With autocomplete, typing can be faster than a bookmark when all you have to do is type "h" then press down and ok.

Amusingly, all I do is type "n" and then press enter, and Google Chrome takes me here using the normal address.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#17

Post by chanux2 » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 3:42 AM UTC

I do not see a need of short or fancy URL for HN.

BUT

since it's out there and the owner is willing to donate, I think it's better PG getting it.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#18

Post by apotheon » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 3:48 AM UTC

simonsarris wrote: post #16

rms wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With autocomplete, typing can be faster than a bookmark when all you have to do is type "h" then press down and ok.

Amusingly, all I do is type "n" and then press enter, and Google Chrome takes me here using the normal address.

I typically get as far as "new", but then, I routinely have more than a hundred tabs open in Firefox. If Chrom(e|ium) worked on FreeBSD, I'd probably be using that instead.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#19

Post by cookiecaper » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 4:07 AM UTC

snprbob86 wrote: post #7

Why not donate the domain to YCombinator?

Why should he donate it? He should sell it. If PG decides it adds usefulness, guy should at least get the purchase price back, if not more.

Obviously it's just a convenient domain name, so he won't sell it for a lot of money, but should sell it for _something_. PG can afford a reasonably priced domain, I think.

Re: Who owns http://hackerne.ws

#20

Post by erlanger » Sat, Aug 29, 2009, 4:38 AM UTC

ratsbane wrote: post #11

PG could configure the news.ycombinator.com server to return a 301 to any request which has a HOST header that's not news.ycombinator.com - either that or hardcode the domain name in links. I'm sure that Volida's motives are honest as he stated but this practice - buying a domain name that sounds like something popular and setting the A records to the intended site - has the potential to be used maliciously. All you'…

> Of course, the HTTPS pages

What HTTPS pages?