I spent a couple months trying to resolve the "no internet" warning on my Windows 10 computer. I had blacklisted the URL because it was showing up so frequently in the Pi-hole log. I hadn't considered the blacklisted URL was the problem. When I whitelisted the URL, the "no internet" warning disappeared.
Correct. Domains come and go from lists and I didn't want anybody reading the thread to come to the conclusion that since this domain was removed from a specific list that it wouldn't exist on another list.
Interesting thread. I found the offending nvram entries on my Merlin/Asus RT-N66U (Updated to 380.70). I guess Merlin just copied much of the nvram over from the factory Asus/WRT. The firmware is Linux and I run Linux exclusively on this connection so WTF! It is probably present in all Asus routers.
If using Telnet isn't your thing, you can configure this via the GUI.
It'll likely be different for each router, but if you enable DNS Query and then clear the fields and apply, then disable DNS Query and apply again, you will find that the queries to dns.msftcsi.com will stop.
On my Asus router, this is found under Administration > System > Basic Config > Network Monitoring. Check boxes are for DNS Query and Ping.
Select the check box for DNS Query and then clear the fields for Resolve hostname and Resolved IP Addresses, then click Apply. Once the config has saved, clear the check box for DNS Query and click Apply again... problem solved.
Thank you very much! It was exactly as you said on my Asus RT-AC57U v2 router. It was polling that domain every 10 seconds, and after following your algorithm the DNS spamming stopped.
Thanks Brian for the tip above. It works getting rid of these queries. The problem when I disable it either via telnet or brian's technique is that the internet connection is shown as dead on the color indicator on top of the router (even though its not). Any way to fix this? Its a RT-AX82U.
I think I could even live with these DNS queries if it went to something like quad9 instead of microsoft.
I have RT-AX86U and with older firmware (before 08/2021), the solution above work.
However, with newer firmware (after 08/2021), ASUS will check the DNS probe to dns.msftncsi.com and if it's disabled, then the ASUS will mark the router as having no Internet connection.
I tested this with older firmware and it worked. As soon as I upgrade to the latest version, same problem above.
I think it's crap that ASUS now forced the router to send these DNS probes.
I've actually found out about this after setting up dual WAN on my ASUS GT-AC5300. If you enable dual WAN, the setting is configurable. I've set it to DNS probe every minute, instead of every 5sec.
By default the router will DNS query every 5sec, and failover after 12 consecutive fails (1min). (I believe this is the default for non DUAL WAN also, to check connectivity status.)
This seemed excessive to me, so I've changed it to DNS query every minute, and failover after 1 failed attempt (DNS queries shouldn't fail on a stable internet connection). So the failover time shouldn't' change, only the (excessive) queries.
Also, on my router the setting is configurable to use eighter DNS or PING, or both (ASUS has a table on their FAQ, why you should use one or the other, or both [Wireless Router] How to configure the Auto Network Detection while enabling the Dual WAN? | Official Support | ASUS Global).