I know why it's using it. My point was firstly that it's odd (though not unforgivable) that the compiler links to those procedures even though my source .bas wasn't calling any networking APIs; and secondly that the sub-domain doesn't even exist for the DNS lookup to work:

    $ whois automation.whatismyip.com | head

    Whois Server Version 2.0

    Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
    with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
    for detailed information.

    No match for "AUTOMATION.WHATISMYIP.COM".
    >>> Last update of whois database: Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:58:41 UTC <<<

I even disassembled the binary so I could see the full HTTP header just in case the domain name was a red-herring.

> My point was firstly that it's odd (though not unforgivable) that the compiler links to those procedures even though my source .bas wasn't calling any networking APIs...

It's pretty common for compilers for niche languages to statically link the runtime library by default. Many think it eases distribution.

Yes I know this (and it's not just compilers for niche languages that does this either). But again, that wasn't my point. My point was this:

1. it's statically compiling in libraries for APIs that aren't even being used (again, I know this is pretty common as well - it was more said as a side issue since I was already on the topic of it's runtime). But most importantly:

2. because automation.whatismyip.com DOES NOT EXIST. The API is broken because it calls a non-existent sub-domain name. The sub-domain has no DNS record. It does not ping nor curl because it's completely imaginary....and so on. (sorry for the flippancy of the post, but this is now the 3rd time I'm having to reiterate myself so I just want to be clear that everyone understands my point)

automation.whatismyip.com used to exist; it's what whatismyip.com suggested you use when making a large number of easily parseable requests. I assume since the redesign (read: monetization attempt) it's disappeared.

Honestly, I've never heard of automation.whatismyip.com until today. But after Googling around a but, it looks like they've only taken that domain offline two or three months ago. So I guess the QB64 devs haven't been made aware yet (or haven't had time to update their WAN IP library yet).