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Comcast & OpenDNS hijack Browse By Name

  • 4 replies
  • 4 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

chattphotos
chattphotos
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This thread has more details about Google's Browse By Name https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/790755

Every now and then I support friends/family/clients that are on Comcast or were Geek Squadded into OpenDNS. I try to keep my clients on Firefox for it's robustness and security.

There is a growing problem with both services, they hijack Firefox's Browse By Name integration and insert the query into their own search engines. Its more of a hassle/nuisance, but it just doesn't sit right with me.

I found an OpenDNS thread on this issue- http://forums.opendns.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=158

Any thoughts on how to bypass the evilness when having to work on both networks?

This thread has more details about Google's Browse By Name https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/790755 Every now and then I support friends/family/clients that are on Comcast or were Geek Squadded into OpenDNS. I try to keep my clients on Firefox for it's robustness and security. There is a growing problem with both services, they hijack Firefox's Browse By Name integration and insert the query into their own search engines. Its more of a hassle/nuisance, but it just doesn't sit right with me. I found an OpenDNS thread on this issue- http://forums.opendns.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=158 Any thoughts on how to bypass the evilness when having to work on both networks?

All Replies (4)

cor-el
cor-el
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The only way to prevent such a DNS hijack is to change the DNS servers to ones that do not redirect automatically in case of a look up failure.

chattphotos
chattphotos Question owner
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It's technically not a lookup failure, I used the word hijack because it's Comcast and Opendns stealing the Google BBN searches. I've witnessed DNS hijacking of hacked websites, it's not pretty.

Depending on where I am, it may take some time to modify DNS settings on a computer, whether it be because of admin lockdown, virus, user error, or some strange unknown bug...

Sometimes I am talking to people over the phone without visual aid from Teamviewer. So it's much easier to tell them where to go in Firefox to fix the search rather than explain in detail how to change their DNS settings.

So, how do I configure the Fox to force BBN? (no matter what DNS server I'm connected to)

sebastianval
sebastianval
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If I understand you correctly, I've run into this issue myself. Fortunately, someone out there has created an add on to mitigate this situation, without altering the DNS servers:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/feeling-lucky-fixer/

cor-el
cor-el
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If the DNS servers of your ISP automatically redirect you then that extension doesn't help you because in such a case Firefox doesn't get notified that the requested URL doesn't exist and can't try other possibilities.