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When I type an address in the address bar it gets converted to searchguide.windstream.net even thoGoogle is my dflt srch engn & keyword.enabled=false

NJRidout
NJRidout
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There are 2 things here I don't understand. 1) My default search engine as shown in the Search bar is Google search, and yet, when I type a URL in the address bar, it gets converted to searchguide.windstream.net (which today is generating a URL which is too large -: 414 Request URL Too Large

2) I followed Help instructions and typed about:config in the address bar and reset keyword.enabled to "false" but it appeared to have no effect.

If I want to search I can use Google or another search engine; if I type a URL I want it to be taken as I typed it.

Thanks.

PS: I am currently at my dad's house using his wifi which is windstream. Other than his wifi / router I have nothing to do with windstream and certainly never asked them to be my search engine

There are 2 things here I don't understand. 1) My default search engine as shown in the Search bar is Google search, and yet, when I type a URL in the address bar, it gets converted to searchguide.windstream.net (which today is generating a URL which is too large -: 414 Request URL Too Large 2) I followed Help instructions and typed about:config in the address bar and reset keyword.enabled to "false" but it appeared to have no effect. If I want to search I can use Google or another search engine; if I type a URL I want it to be taken as I typed it. Thanks. PS: I am currently at my dad's house using his wifi which is windstream. Other than his wifi / router I have nothing to do with windstream and certainly never asked them to be my search engine

All Replies (1)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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I suppose that is a "service" provided by Windstream for their users. Typically an "opt out" can be done with the ISP, but I can't find any current information for Windstream and don't want to give you old information from 6 to 7 years ago that may not be applicable 'today'.

DNS server hijacking started becoming a problem back in 2008, when many Broadband Service Providers started doing that for "incomplete searches" or domain names that couldn't be resolved.

Here's a couple of 'generic' articles, which might be helpful for you. https://hackercodex.com/guide/how-to-stop-isp-dns-server-hijacking/ https://deekayen.net/windstream-redirecting-failed-website-requests