Web searches getting redirected to OpenDNS. Cannot access these websites.
This problem just started. Every time I try to load a page (in this case Gamefaqs), I get redirected to this search provider called openDNS saying the site is unavailable. It has links to the website and each time I click on it, it redirects me back to that OpenDNS thing.
I have tried loading the page with the default chrome browser on that phone as well as my laptop using both firefox and chrome and have not experienced that problem. Yet, the problem persists when trying to access the website through firefox mobile.
I have tried clearing the cache, uninstall and reinstalling, yet the problem isn't resolved. I have done a virus scan, thinking it might be some form of malware that is hijacking my search engine. That all comes back clean.
I have never heard of OpenDNS, nor have I authorized it to become my search engine. When I go to the search engine settings, it doesn't even show up, yet it manages to keep hijacking my google searches and redirecting me from sites that normally work.
Please help me.
Chosen solution
Hi SuperRup91, I was able to replicate this problem on Firefox Mobile on a wi-fi network that uses OpenDNS. One word queries for nonexistent domains + tapping the go arrow returned an OpenDNS results page. Tapping a search suggestion next to the Google icon for the one word, or using a multi-word query, returned Google results. Unless you can change to another DNS provider, I think you may be stuck with those options.
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I restarted my phone and the problem stopped. Still very confused as to what happened in the first place.
The issue has arisen once again. I still am not sure what triggers the problem.
OpenDNS provides name server or DNS services. This translates between domain names and numeric IP addresses. I don't know why OpenDNS is involved with your mobile device, unless you are on wi-fi.
How are you doing your search in Firefox for Android? If you press Enter or click the Go button, Firefox may look up a single word as a possible host name (for example, companies sometimes have internal servers with one word names like intranet). You might want to tap the Google line that appears below the address bar to search in Google, or submit it using a different search plugin.
The problem only arises when I connect my wifi at home. I type something in the search bar and have both tried just hitting enter as well as selecting the search suggestions option that appear next to the blue google logo just below the bar . In both cases, my search gets redirected to opendns. Since the problem doesn't happen on alternate browsers on my mobile device or my laptop, I feel it has to be some setting on firefox itself that is causing the issue. Yet, I cannot figure out how to change it.
Modified by SuperRup91
I dont have much idea about mobile device, still I will try to give you few suggestions. Firstly try to see if you have some unknown/suspicious Addo-on enabled which might be redirecting you to openDNS. Also try to see whether same issue occurs in Private window.
Hi SuperRup91, you may have OpenDNS set as your DNS service in your router, or your ISP may be using it. If it were set in your phone, you would expect to have the same issue on mobile networks as well as wi-fi.
There is a classic "one word search" problem on desktop Firefox that could be on display here. If your query has no spaces, then Firefox will first check whether it is a host (server) name. Could you test what happens when you add a space and a second word -- for example, " a" -- to your query?
Hi SuperRup91:
As the fantastic jscher2000 wrote: "you may have OpenDNS set as your DNS service in your router, or your ISP may be using it."
And you may not have been aware that OpenDNS was set in your WiFi router.
Whoever controls the network that your WiFi hooks into can change google searches or anything you browse or in this case change "404 page not found errors" to go to OpenDNS. And there are two place where your network is controlled: i) your wifi router and ii) your ISP.
Two examples:
1. Here in Vancouver, Canada where I live, if you connect to a Shaw WiFi hotspot, then Shaw changes your searches by adding Shaw specific stuff. Not a great situation :-) but Shaw does that. (one could argue that this means Shaw is "breaking the internet")
2. By default Verizon configures the WiFi routers they supply with something called "DNS assistance" which changes DNS and again one could argue that this too "breaks the internet"
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/975069#answer-493363
- https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/fiosinternet/troubleshooting/network/questionsone/99147.htm
Therefore, I recommend you check your WiFi router and see if it has OpenDNS configured. You may have to consult your ISP's technical support to remove OpenDNS; this is most certainly not a Firefox problem; we can't help with WiFi router configuration unfortunately.
Hope that helps!
Happy Holidays!
...Roland
Chosen Solution
Hi SuperRup91, I was able to replicate this problem on Firefox Mobile on a wi-fi network that uses OpenDNS. One word queries for nonexistent domains + tapping the go arrow returned an OpenDNS results page. Tapping a search suggestion next to the Google icon for the one word, or using a multi-word query, returned Google results. Unless you can change to another DNS provider, I think you may be stuck with those options.