domain probing?

referrer is a search for variation on domain name

[Finder]

This started showing up in the logs a couple of months ago and it's driving me crazy. The referal is always auto.search.msn.com and the search string is a variation on my domain name.

Instead of "foo.com" the search term is "lafoo.com" or "lefoo.com" or "fooo.com" or "froo.com". And all they do is load that page, plus the css file (not the image).

It comes up regularly from a variety of IPs around the world. Any clue as to who this is and what they are trying to do?

[jmccormac]

It may be the DNSERR option which I think is a search recommendation of an alternate in the case that the origianl search term is not found. I think that most of the useragents will be Microsoft IE of some sort.

Regards...jmcc

[Finder]

Yes, "DNSERR" is right there in the referrer string, and I've tried the queries myself. Nothing comes up for the search and a set of alternates is displayed, including my own domain. Maybe it's just a coincidence that it happens so regularly.