DSLReports
{{Short description|Telecommunications information service}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox website
| name = DSLReports
| logo = DSLReports logo.png
| logocaption =
| screenshot = DSLReports_website_screenshot.png
| caption = Screenshot of DSLReports as of December 22, 2015.
| url = https://www.dslreports.com/
| commercial = Yes
| type = Consumer advocacy
| registration = Optional
| language = English
| num_users = 1.8 million
| editor = Karl Bode (2001–2018){{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-15-fi-lazarus15-story.html | title = Tiered pricing seems like a plan to Net extra cash | date= April 15, 2009 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | author = David Lazarus }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/142097|title=Karl Bode – home page news from the beginning {{!}} DSLReports, ISP Information|last=EST|first=justinMonday July 2, 2018, 21:50|website=DSL Reports|access-date=December 9, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Bode |first1=Karl |title=Laid Off |url=https://twitter.com/KarlBode/status/1088850305708507136 |website=Twitter |access-date=January 25, 2019}}
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1999|5|28}}{{cite web|url=http://whois.domaintools.com/dslreports.com|title=DSLReports.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info – DomainTools|work=WHOIS|date= |access-date=April 17, 2018}}
| current_status = Offline as of January 2025. "On vacation" since January 26, 2025. Homepage-only since February 1, 2025 pending transition to read-only mode. Entirely offline as of March 26, 2025.
}}
DSLReports was a (see "Online Status"{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Brad |date=2025-01-20 |title=Long-running tech forum DSL Reports goes offline |url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2025/01/20/long-running-tech-forum-dsl-reports-goes-offline/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=MobileSyrup |language=en}}) North American-oriented broadband information and review site based in New York City.{{cite news | url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/cyber/bonus/1101/consumer.htm | title = Service gripes can be tough to untangle | date= November 8, 2001 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = USA Today | author =Andrew Backover}} The site's main focus was on internet, phone, cable TV, fiber optics, and wireless services in the United States and Canada, as well as other countries (United Kingdom and Australia).{{cite news | url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/cyber/ccarch/2001-05-07-komando.htm | title = A guide to Mother's Day on the Web | date= March 11, 2002 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = USA Today | author = Kim Komando }}{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/technology/18broadband.html?ex=1321506000&en=588e1690532b1cc7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | title = Not Always Full Speed Ahead | date= November 18, 2006 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = The New York Times | author = MATT RICHTEL and KEN BELSON }}
DSLReports was created by Justin Beech in June 1999.{{cite magazine | url = http://www.infoworld.com/article/2676822/application-development/a-one-man-e-commerce-site-that-pays-off-well.html | title = A one-man e-commerce site that pays off well | date= February 19, 2002 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | magazine = InfoWorld | author = Brian Livingston }} According to Alexa's page ranking system and the WHOIS, dslreports.com's domain URL was registered on May 28, 1999. The site appeared to go mostly offline without notice in mid-January 2025.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Brad |date=2025-01-20 |title=Long-running tech forum DSL Reports goes offline |url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2025/01/20/long-running-tech-forum-dsl-reports-goes-offline/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=MobileSyrup |language=en}} The site went fully offline on March 26, 2025.
History
= "Broadband Reports" =
In the 2000s, DSLReports was concurrently branded as "BroadbandReports.com," a domain that now redirects to dslreports.com.{{cite news | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/journal-gets-it-wrong-net_b_151076.html | title = WSJ Gets It Wrong: Net Neutrality Still in the Front Seat | date= December 15, 2008| access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = Huffington Post | author = Timothy Karr }}{{cite magazine | url = https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1555416,00.asp | title = Top 100 Classics | date= April 20, 2004 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | magazine = PC Magazine }}
= 2011 SQL Injection attack =
Over a four-hour period on April 27, 2011, an automated SQL Injection attack occurred on the DSLReports website. The attack was able to extract 8% of the site's username/password pairs, which amounted to approximately 8,000 of the 9,000 active accounts and 90,000 old or inactive accounts created during the site's 10-year history.{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20058471-245.html|title=DSLReports says member information stolen|publisher= Cnet News |date=April 28, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201117/7127/DSLReports-com-breach-exposed-more-than-100-000-accounts|title=DSLReports.com breach exposed more than 100,000 accounts|publisher=The Tech Herald|date=April 29, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430234009/http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201117/7127/DSLReports-com-breach-exposed-more-than-100-000-accounts|archive-date=April 30, 2011}} Once the intrusion was detected, stopped and the extent of the compromised accounts had been assessed, passwords for those accounts were automatically reset.{{cite web | url = https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2011/04/29/dsl-reports-intrusion-compromises-over-9000-accounts/ | title = DSL Reports intrusion compromises over 9000 accounts | date= April 9, 2011 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | publisher = Helpnet Security | author = Zeljka Zorz }}
Content
DSLReports rated and reviewed cable, DSL and fiber optic internet services from providers all over North America. The site also ran support and discussion forums and offers online tools for testing internet connection.{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/technology/01askk.html?_r=2&ref=technology&oref=slogin&oref=slogin | title = Staying Updated On Security | date= February 1, 2007 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = The New York Times | author = J. D. BIERSDORFER }}
= Reviews =
DSLReports allowed its users to submit reviews of their Internet service provider (ISP), Web hosting service, digital phone service (VOIP), and more.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dslreports.com/reviews/|title = Reviews Finder | DSLReports, ISP Information}} Users may also read reviews written by others.{{cite news | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010902/ptmrsh02/dsl-could-solve-your-domain-name-woes | title = DSL could solve your domain name woes | date= September 1, 2001 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = Seattle Times | author = Patrick Marhsall }} Many large ISPs had over a thousand reviews on the site. Reviews could be filtered for the user's location and/or connectivity preference.
= News =
The site was a source of internet related news and opinion, and occasionally breaks stories about broadband internet service providers, such as Time Warner Cable's 2008 decision to test consumption-based billing with subscribers.{{cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/timewarner-internet-idUSN1721882120080117 | title = RPT-Time Warner to test Internet billing based on usage | date= January 17, 2008 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = Reuters | author = Yinka Adegoke }} That same year, when Charter Communications began sending letters to high-speed internet customers regarding a new website tracking policy, reports of the letters first appeared on DSLReports.{{cite web | url = https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/charter-will-monitor-customers-web-surfing-to-target-ads/ | title = Charter Will Monitor Customers' Web Surfing to Target Ads | date= May 14, 2008 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = The New York Times | author = Saul Hansell }} DSLReport's editors posted Internet-related news and opinion items on the site's front page throughout the day. Common topics of news items and features included wireless technologies, peer-to-peer file sharing, upgrades and new offerings from ISPs, legal issues, regulatory issues, and security issues.{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/12/05/DI2008120501026.html | title = Security Fix Live | date= December 5, 2008 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = The Washington Post | author = Brian Krebbs }} However, since July 2, 2018, the site had not published new articles, as its main editor, Karl Bode, was laid off due to funding.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/142097|title=Karl Bode – home page news from the beginning {{!}} DSLReports, ISP Information|last=EST|first=justinMonday July 2, 2018, 21:50|website=DSL Reports|access-date=December 9, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Bode |first1=Karl |title=Laid Off |url=https://twitter.com/KarlBode/status/1088850305708507136 |website=Twitter |access-date=January 25, 2019}} However, compilations of links to articles on other sites were published every weekday.
= Tools =
DSLReports was reported to have the most comprehensive package of internet and connection testing tools available.{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/30/AR2006083000543.html | title = Tools for Geeks | date= August 30, 2006 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = The Washington Post | author = Steve Bass }}
== Speed tests ==
The DSLReports speed test claimed to be the best speed test and the first popular speed test.{{Cite web|title = Speed test – how fast is your internet? {{!}} DSLReports, ISP Information|url = https://www.dslreports.com/speedtest|website = DSL Reports|access-date = November 9, 2015}} The speed test used HTML5.
== Ping tests ==
== Other tests and tools ==
Other tools included stream tests, line monitoring, tweak testing, packet loss testing, and many other tools.{{Cite web|title = Speed tests, ping tests and bandwidth tools {{!}} DSLReports, ISP Information|url = https://www.dslreports.com/tools|website = DSL Reports|access-date = November 9, 2015}}{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/technology/personaltech/21basics.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | title = How to Travel at a Million Files a Minute | date= August 20, 2008 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = The New York Times | author = AZADEH ENSHA }}{{cite web | url = http://www.thenakedpc.com/articles/v03/08/0308-02.html | title = DSL: Improve Your Speed, Part 3 – The Naked PC Newsletter (#3.08) | access-date = February 3, 2017 | publisher = TNPC News | author = Lee Hudspeth }} Some of these services were provided free of charge, but others require the user to purchase "tool points", which were approximately $1.
Online Status
File:DSL Reports "on vacation" page..png
On January 15, 2025, the site went offline with a gateway timeout error. While there was speculation that the site is permanently offline, there had been no official confirmation.{{Cite web |title=Reddit - Dive into anything |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/dslreports/?rdt=43059 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=www.reddit.com}} In an attempt to recreate the site, some users migrated to alternate forums.{{Cite web |title=Broadband Bulletin Forum |url=https://broadbandbulletin.com/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=broadbandbulletin.com}} On January 26, a new page appeared saying that the site was "on vacation." On February 1, the homepage of the site was made available, containing a notice reading "NEWS: The site will be switching to read-only shortly. While that is being arranged, only the home page is available". On February 2, the site was updated to say "NEWS: The full site corpus is only available (in readonly form) for 5 minutes past each hour, for members and guests." However, the site was not allowing the 5 minutes access since February 27. {{Cite web |title=ISP discussion forums {{!}} DSLReports, ISP Information |url=https://www.dslreports.com/forums/all |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250202200443/http://www.dslreports.com/forums/all |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=DSL Reports}} The site went fully offline on March 26, 2025.
Community
DSLReports operated over 200 forums, many of which focused on Internet and computer-related topics.{{Cite web|title = ISP discussion forums {{!}} DSLReports, ISP Information|url = https://www.dslreports.com/forums/all/|website = DSL Reports|access-date = November 9, 2015}} Other forums were dedicated to general conversation, political discussions, do-it-yourself projects or regional discussions. There were over 1.8 million total registered users on the DSLReports forums.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dslreports.com/who/|title = Who's Who | DSLReports, ISP Information}} A discussion forum was automatically created for every news and opinion article posted on the front page, which allowed members to discuss the article in question. Although membership was free, the forum community allows for anonymous posting so the information or source in [anonymous] posts may be questionable as compared to posts made by actual frequent members of the site. There were also well-hidden private invitation and very controversial forums such as the "meatlocker" which can be seen by adding the /forums/meatlocker suffix to the website address. It is said this private area is for nude and pornographic material submitted by the moderators and special guests.
Robb Topolski, a software tester whose findings and subsequent political activities has contributed to the movement for net neutrality has contributed to the site.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/2009/01/mf-brianroberts/ | title = The Dark Lord of Broadband Tries to Fix Comcast's Image | access-date = February 3, 2017 | magazine = Wired | author = Daniel Roth }}
Influence
DSLReports had been written about or had their reports featured in CNN, USA Today, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, The New York Times and Ars Technica, among others.{{cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9910/13/dsl.arrives.idg/ | title = Opinion: Move over, cable – DSL has arrived | date= October 19, 1999 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | publisher = CNN.com | author = Steve Bass }}{{cite news | url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/cyber/ccarch/2001-02-13-raskin.htm | title = How to move to high-speed Net access | date= February 6, 2002 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = USA Today | author = Robin Raskin }}{{cite magazine | url = https://www.forbes.com/asap/2001/0910/050_print.html | title = Why Is Broadband So Narrow? | date= September 10, 2001 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | magazine = Forbes | author = Stephen P. Pizzo }}{{cite web | url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7150531 | title = Feds probe mysterious credit card charges | date= March 10, 2005 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = NBC News | author = Bob Sullivan }}{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56223-2005Apr15.html | title = Comcast Net Outages Tied To Upgrades | date= April 16, 2005 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = Washington Post | author = Brian Krebs }}{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/08/technology/08askk.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin | title = Updating Devices for Daylight Saving | date= March 8, 2007 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = The New York Times | author = J. D. BIERSDORFER }}{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2008/12/sorry-beaumont-att-brings-bandwidth-caps-to-texas/ | title = Sorry, Beaumont! AT&T brings (more) bandwidth caps to Texas | date= December 2, 2008 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | website = Ars Technica | author = John Timmer }}
The site had been described by The Washington Post as a "comprehensive reference" for internet services.{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121201871.html | title = Nice View, but How's the WiFi? | date= December 13, 2008 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | newspaper = The Washington Post | author = Gabe Goldberg }} Discussion topics on the DSLReports frequently generated thousands of comments.{{cite web | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/comcast-limits-broadband-usage/ | title = Comcast Limits Broadband Usage | date= January 30, 2004 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | work = CBS News | author = Bootie Cosgrove-Mather }} The Associated Press reported that over 5,000 messages were posted to forum discussing a potential data cap imposed upon Comcast Corp. customers in 2003.{{cite web | url = http://www.securityfocus.com/news/7940 | title = Comcast targets Internet 'abusers' but won't reveal limits | date= January 29, 2004 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | publisher = Associated Press | author = Matthew Fordahl }}
CNN had rated DSLReports as one of the best free online services.{{cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/02/13/free.hof.idg/index.html | title = Best free stuff online: Hall of fame | date= February 14, 2002 | access-date = February 3, 2017 | publisher = CNN | author = Kim Zetter }}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20250114222859/http://www.dslreports.com/|name=DSLReports official website (from Internet Archive)}}
Category:American review websites
Category:Defunct American websites
Category:Companies based in New York City
Category:Internet properties established in 1999
Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2025