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Default Search Hijacked by Windstream

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  • Last reply by user633449

frankenstein0
frankenstein0
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Once upon a time I could simply type in [example] 'facebook' into the url bar and it would take me to facebook. I'm pretty sure this was Google's 'I'm Feeling Lucky'. But, now I can no longer do that. A few months ago I moved and got a new internet provider, Windstream. Along with it, it changed that. And now it comes up with Windstream's search engine. I tried to tolerate it but now I am sick of it.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled firefox. I already did the 'Reset Firefox' and I already tried to about:config stuff. Its all default but still I have the stupid windstream search. Please help. I really like firefox but if this goes on, I am going to switch to Chrome or something. I'm sick of it.

Once upon a time I could simply type in [example] 'facebook' into the url bar and it would take me to facebook. I'm pretty sure this was Google's 'I'm Feeling Lucky'. But, now I can no longer do that. A few months ago I moved and got a new internet provider, Windstream. Along with it, it changed that. And now it comes up with Windstream's search engine. I tried to tolerate it but now I am sick of it. I have uninstalled and reinstalled firefox. I already did the 'Reset Firefox' and I already tried to about:config stuff. Its all default but still I have the stupid windstream search. Please help. I really like firefox but if this goes on, I am going to switch to Chrome or something. I'm sick of it.

All Replies (1)

user633449
user633449
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This is most likely a Windstream service provided to it's customers to redirect invalid URLs to a "Helpful" page. Centurylink, Comcast, and many other ISPs do this. You need to contact them and ask them to turn it off for you.

Then, to reneable the URL searching and auto-redirect, install https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/browse-by-name