Hundreds of domain names were listed incorrectly, allowing creation of addresses nearly identical to known Web sites, at the turn of the year.
The mistake involved the software's failure to disqualify Web addresses which included trailing dashes, letting companies create and register names like www.abc-.com, www.Boston-.com, and www.microsoft-.com, according to CNN and ComputerWorld.
Network Solutions estimated 845 names were listed improperly with the hyphens. Spokesman Don Telage told ComputerWorld the registry does not allow addresses to be listed with trailing dashes because some protocols, like file transfer protocol, do not recognize them.
Telage said five registrars did not implement filtering software rejecting incorrect domain names properly. Network Solutions found the problem on New Year's Eve, ComputerWorld says, but waited until after the Y2K turnover to fix it.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers says registrars can revoke any addresses which do not meet its standards, the magazine says. ICANN is a nonprofit which oversees Web domain registration.
