My broadband provider (Talk Talk UK) hijacked my keyword.url remotely
Today, when I entered an incorrect text string in the address bar, I was redirected to a page set by my broadband provider (Talk Talk UK) with suggestions/sponsored links.
I should be redirected to a Google search page as my keyword.url setting is http://www.google.com/search?q=.
The keyword.url setting was still showing as Google, eventhough I was now being redirected to a Talk Talk advert.
This is apparently the Talk Talk Error Replacement Service & to "opt out" I was instructed to reboot my router.
My concern is that I do not think this service was installed through my Mozilla as I am quite fastidious about cookies/scripts & have not installed any software from Talk Talk, as far as I know.
Also, the Mozilla keyword.url setting was still showing as "Google".
Finally, the fact that I had to reboot my router to opt out sound fishy too.
I am exceedingly suspicious that Talk Talk have modified my browser settings without my permission/knowledge.
This has only just happened now, as the page has always redirected to Google previously and I've been with Talk Talk for ages.
Wouldn't like to think this company were meddling with our Mozilla.
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When you enter a single word in the address bar and press Enter, Firefox may "try" a standard fix-up such as:
www. + yourword + .com
If that doesn't exist, your ISP may intercept the request and return a search page to you.
However, I think Firefox should use the keyword.URL for all multi-word strings, since they are obviously not legal domain names, unless something has changed.
Can you confirm that the feature is enabled?
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the filter box, type or paste keyword and pause while the list is filtered
(3) If keyword.enabled is false, double-click it to reset it to true.
If it's already true, hmmm, strange... do you have any toolbars or other add-ons that might override the built-in feature?
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Valgt løsning
When you enter a single word in the address bar and press Enter, Firefox may "try" a standard fix-up such as:
www. + yourword + .com
If that doesn't exist, your ISP may intercept the request and return a search page to you.
However, I think Firefox should use the keyword.URL for all multi-word strings, since they are obviously not legal domain names, unless something has changed.
Can you confirm that the feature is enabled?
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the filter box, type or paste keyword and pause while the list is filtered
(3) If keyword.enabled is false, double-click it to reset it to true.
If it's already true, hmmm, strange... do you have any toolbars or other add-ons that might override the built-in feature?
I doubt of TalkTalk is modifying Firefox remotely, more than likely they are doing a DNS redirect for mistyped URL's from their servers, as many USA broadband providers have been doing for the last 3 to 5 years now. I have never needed to do a router reset after setting the "opt-out" for my service provider, but that is a fairly standard bit of advice by broadband providers. I can't see that doing a router reset would cause you any harm, and on their system it may be needed.
thankyou jscher,
The only add ons I have are collusion 0.16.3, downloadhelper 4.9.9 & no script 2.5.3. And I do not have any additional toolbars.
had a look at keyword.enabled & it is already true.
When I first noticed the Talk Talk page, I only tried two incorrect addresses (single word strings both times) before "opting out" & rebooting the router. Now things are back to normal so I can't test if the same would have happened with multi word strings, which would've been interesting.
I think maybe it is as you (& Edmeister below) say, that the ISP provider has intercepted the request. Cheers for the 'heads up'.
Not come across this before, & not overly comfortable with it - although obviously not an issue for me now.
Would've been nice of them to ask before launching their own content on my screen, especially as this seems to be a new development.....
aha, just found out that the company is only now introducing this program:
thanks again for your help
Cheers Edmeister,
good to know me Mozilla's not been fiddled with, although I'm a bit miffed that their redirect over rode the keyword.url that I set in Firefox.
haven't come across this 'redirect' before, seems that it's a new thing over here (UK), or at least it is with this company.
I've done me reboot & all back to normal now.
thankyou again Edmeister,
You can try different DNS servers if you can't opt-out with your ISP.