What is MOREnet Blackhole Domain Name Service?

In an effort to protect users from malware and phishing scams, Missouri S&T Information Technology (IT) has implemented an additional layer of protection against malware.  The service implemented, Blackhole Domain Name Service, was developed by researchers at MOREnet to defend users against the ever-growing number of malicious websites. This service redirects traffic away from sites known to be hosting malware toward a designated safe site.

How it Works

The service works by redirecting traffic for sites that are known to be hosting malware. Malware is frequently hidden in advertisements and legitimate web pages, and users aren't aware they are at risk of infection. When users attempt to browse to a blacklisted site, the Blackhole Domain Name Service servers return the Internet Protocol address of a MOREnet hosted web server.

• If the requested domain leads to a web page, the user will see this message:  “The requested page or advertisement has been blocked in accordance with local policies to prevent malware infection. If you feel this domain has been blocked in error, please contact your network administrator.”

• If the requested domain leads to a graphic, the user will see an image stating:  “This image not available.”

Service Issues

As long as you are viewing appropriate content online, there should not be issues with blocked content. However, if you feel a site has been wrongfully blocked, you can submit a Help Desk Ticket to the IT Help Desk at 573-341-4357 (HELP) about the problem. You may be asked to provide information including the browser and computer type, the site in question, and date/time accessed in order to find a solution.