Microsoft tries to get No-IP back online

Microsoft is trying to get the DNS provider No-IP, which it had taken offline because domains from No-IP were used in spreading malware, back online. According to No-IP, the software giant has not yet succeeded in doing so.

On Monday night it was announced that Microsoft had taken 23 domains of No-IP, a widely used dynamic DNS provider, offline because they were allegedly used in the distribution of malware. The company was granted court approval to become the DNS authority of the 23 No-IP domains.

The head of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit told ComputerWorld that on Tuesday afternoon, Microsoft began forwarding all traffic to No-IP, except traffic used to distribute malware.

According to a spokesperson for No-IP, Microsoft does indeed try to forward the DNS traffic, but the company does not succeed. “It looks like they’re trying to take corrective action, but DNS is tricky, and it doesn’t seem like they’re very good at it,” the spokesperson said in an email to ComputerWorld.

Meanwhile, Microsoft admits that the move has also led to systems that were not used for the distribution of malware to be taken offline. No-IP previously said it was outraged by the action, because it says it always cooperates well in fighting crime.