Anyway, won't be my problem much longer.
http://connectivity-check.ubuntu.com/, https://nmcheck.gnome.org/check_network_status.txt, http://captive.apple.com/hotspot-detect.html, http://connectivitycheck.gstatic.com/generate_204, http://www.archlinux.org/check_network_status.txt, http://networkcheck.kde.org/
You can disable the checks if you want. Any application that uses the operating system API/DBus to evaluate network connectivity rather than building its own bespoke online check will probably break if you do, though.
Because all of these have to use HTTP, you can also easily override the standard network addresses in your hosts file and pick your own server if that's what you prefer.
Anyway, won't be a trouble for me much longer. Retiring all my Windows instances, had enough.
Micro$oft is trying to define what is and is not 'internet' access, eg. they turn the definition of 'internet' to mean unfettered access to the micro$oft servers is and you're ability to send personal information over to them.
The Redmond you’re thinking of is in Washington, BTW.
Disagree.