Since the beginning of the Internet, DNS (the protocol that converts domain names into IP addresses) has always been a sacred service. It is low cost, and mission critical. Blocking any DNS packets was always used as a last resort, only after all other options were exhausted, for fear of the consequences of what might happen. When you block DNS, you effectively block the web, E-mail, FTP, IM… just about everything.
Now that GoDaddy is a near monopoly (larger than the next 8 closest registrar competitors combined1), and just got bought out on July 1, 20112, they have decided they can defy the sacred. Customers be damned.
Less than a month after the new owners came on board, GoDaddy implemented a "Selective DNS Blackout" policy for all domains using their DNS hosting (roughly 32 million domains3). With this policy, they are choosing to allow their DNS servers to be underprovisioned4 (meaning that their servers are unable to gracefully handle their normal load). To prevent slow DNS, which would generate complaints quickly, they decided to block 100% of packets from hand-picked DNS servers based on volume and visibility. This reduces load somewhat, while making it difficult for customers to pinpoint GoDaddy as the problem.
A GoDaddy employee (who prefers to remain anonymous) confirmed that they have a policy in place to block DNS queries5, but their Advanced Technical Support Team refused to provide any details on the policy. The GoDaddy PR department declined to comment, but did not deny that the policy exists (they went silent after saying they would be happy to look into it). Perhaps the PR department realized that it will be a very controversial policy.
via RScott.org – GoDaddy’s New “Selective DNS Blackouts” Policy. As if you needed another reason to not use GoDaddy.