Want mistyped urls to stay unchanged in he URL field.

[micky]

My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
field.

Years ago, I would get a 404 or something, but the text in the URL line
was unchanged, so I could very often easily correct it by retyping one
character maybe, instead of needing to type the whole thing.

IIUC there is some number that can be changed so I will get the previous
response, but I don't know what the number is called, how to get to it,
or what number I should put there.

Any help would be apreciated. I can probably figure out how to get to
it.

[Paul in Houston, TX]

Try a different DNS server.
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-dns-server

[Jeff Barnett]

I have a similar but different problem: If I enter a bad URL (format or
nothing on the other end) I want to get some sort of diagnostic (e.g.,
no such target). Instead the offending URL is passed to my selected
search engine (Google or DuckDuckGo) which has never produced an iota of
intelligent information or help. How do I stop this idiotic behavior?
--
Jeff Barnett

[Paul in Houston, TX]

[Mark Lloyd]

That's really annoying. I try to get ""grc.com" and accidentally type
"grc.cok". It would be easy to correct that (it's just the last letter
wrong), but it (in the address bar) is replaced by some long string of
garbage I don't want and a page that looks like a search engine but is
really just junk.

It's the result of an erroneous DNS that returns ads instead of an error
response.

[EnDeeGee]

Hmmm....???

FF68.4.2esr (64bit)
When I type grc.cok in the url bar I get:

<start quote>
Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site.
We can’t connect to the server at www.grc.cok.
If that address is correct, here are three other things you can try:
Try again later.
Check your network connection.
If you are connected but behind a firewall, check that Firefox has
permission to access the Web.
<end quote>

and the only thing I see in the url bar is: www.grc.cok

[Jeff Barnett]

What on earth does my issue have to do with the DNS server? I've
mistyped a URL and some local mechanism decides to toss that mistake to
a search engine rather than giving me a diagnostic. (Recall it's my
selected search engine, not one selected by the DNS server.) I WANT the
diagnostic and the opportunity to edit the incorrect URL as I typed it.
--
Jeff Barnett

[Jeremy Nicoll]

On Wed, 22 Jan 2020, at 19:23, Jeff Barnett wrote:

> What on earth does my issue have to do with the DNS server? I've
> mistyped a URL and some local mechanism decides to toss that mistake to
> a search engine rather than giving me a diagnostic. (Recall it's my
> selected search engine, not one selected by the DNS server.) I WANT the
> diagnostic and the opportunity to edit the incorrect URL as I typed it.

I don't see why you think a mistyped URL in your browser's URL
bar is a search-engine issue.

The DNS server is probably one provided by your ISP.

It fails to find an IP address for what you typed, so instead returns
the IP address of a webserver that they own, and when your browser
then requests the page you wanted (from the bad sitename at the
IP address returned by the DNS server), their webserver returns their
"helpful" page of suggestions.

--
Jeremy Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

[Andy Burns]

Jeff Barnett wrote:

> What on earth does my issue have to do with the DNS server? I've
> mistyped a URL and some local mechanism decides to toss that mistake to
> a search engine

No, most likely the ISP's DNS server is the thing deciding to toss the
type to a search engine, rather than return an NXDOMAIN. Some big UK
ISPs did that sort of shit a few years ago, got slated for it, and stopped.

[Andy Burns]

Andy Burns wrote:

> No, most likely the ISP's DNS server is the thing deciding to toss the
> type

^^^^
oh the irony!

[WaltS48]

On 1/21/20 11:55 PM, micky wrote:

My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
field. 

Have you tried safe mode? Use Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If that doesn't help try a test profile using Help > Troubleshooting Information > about:profiles, or just type about:profiles into the address bar.

When I mistype an address Firefox returns an error page with this message:

"Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site.

We can’t connect to the server at firims.mosillazine.com.

If that address is correct, here are three other things you can try:

    Try again later.
    Check your network connection.
    If you are connected but behind a firewall, check that Firefox has permission to access the Web."

The URL in the address bar doesn't change and is still firims.mosillazine.com.

-- 
OS: Ubuntu Linux 18.04LTS - Gnome Desktop
https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/get-involved/

[Jeff Barnett]

Once again it ISN'T the DNS server. It is tossed to my default search
engine - the one that I get using the upper right hand in FF. If I
change the engine I'm using, the catcher of the bad URL changes too. I'm
quite sure that it's an FF cock up and I'd like to return to behavior
that we had for the first 20(?) years of the Netscape sequence.

So does anyone have an idea if there is a setting or about:config option
that controls this nonsense?
--
Jeff Barnett

[Jeff Barnett]

Jeremy Nicoll wrote on 1/22/2020 12:45 PM:
> On Wed, 22 Jan 2020, at 19:23, Jeff Barnett wrote:
>
>> What on earth does my issue have to do with the DNS server? I've
>> mistyped a URL and some local mechanism decides to toss that mistake to
>> a search engine rather than giving me a diagnostic. (Recall it's my
>> selected search engine, not one selected by the DNS server.) I WANT the
>> diagnostic and the opportunity to edit the incorrect URL as I typed it.
>
> I don't see why you think a mistyped URL in your browser's URL
> bar is a search-engine issue.

It is - the bad URL is passed to my default search engine. Is that
enough reason to think that FF has decided to pass the bad URL there? If
I change the default search engine, it's passed to the new selection.
Got any ideas why?

> The DNS server is probably one provided by your ISP.
>
> It fails to find an IP address for what you typed, so instead returns
> the IP address of a webserver that they own, and when your browser
> then requests the page you wanted (from the bad sitename at the
> IP address returned by the DNS server), their webserver returns their
> "helpful" page of suggestions.
>

Actually, the choice of what to do is made LOCALLY. I don't know how
much more evidence you needed to concluded it isn't anything to do with
my ISP or the DNS.
--
Jeff Barnett

[Andy Burns]

Jeff Barnett wrote:

> Actually, the choice of what to do is made LOCALLY. I don't know how
> much more evidence you needed to concluded it isn't anything to do with
> my ISP or the DNS.

The browser will depend on the DNS server's result, perhaps the DNS
server isn't hijacking mistyped domains, but are you certain it is
returning NXDOMAIN for such typos?

e.g. in a CMD.EXE window, what happens if you type

nslookup something.that.doesnt.exist

?

[Jim Price]

I think what is going on here is the OP doesn't want the awesomebar
behaviour of defaulting to a search with the default search engine if
the domain is not valid. Theres a setting for that in:
about:preferences#search
"Use the address bar for search and navigation"
is default,
"Add search bar in toolbar"
is the alternative to it, but there is probably more fine grained
control somewhere in about:config so you can separately disable search
from the awesomebar if you don't want a separate search bar (or you
could move it somewhere invisible).

[Jim Price]

The about:config setting is the all too obvious:
keyword.enabled
set to false. If what you typed didn't have www. or .com those may get
added, which is also probably modifiable, but someone else can take over
at the coalface of this rabbit hole now.

[Andy Burns]

Jim Price wrote:

> I think what is going on here is the OP doesn't want the awesomebar
> behaviour of defaulting to a search with the default search engine if
> the domain is not valid.

It doesn't do that for me, if I type jbkjkjg.iggig.ighihgihg in the
awesomebar, it fails to load, retries with a www. prefix and when that
fails it gives up.

[Andy Burns]

Jim Price wrote:

> The about:config setting is the all too obvious:
> keyword.enabled

for me the keyword search only kicks in if I have several words
separated by a space in the address bar, it never triggers on
host/domain names separated just by fullstops.

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

i believe this is known as "address error redirect service" and is
controlled by your ISP.for example here is how to opt out from redirect
on comcast:
https://www.watchingthenet.com/stop-comcast-dns-redirection-after-mistype-website-address.html
verizon may be using redirect, this 2007 article says you can't opt out.
maybe things have changed since then. contact verizon.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-DNS-Redirection-Service-Spreads-89137

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/22/2020 1:48 PM, WaltS48 wrote:
> On 1/21/20 11:55 PM, micky wrote:
>> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
>> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
>> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
>> field.
>>
>>

[eisneun]

On 1/22/2020 1:48 PM, WaltS48 wrote:

> On 1/21/20 11:55 PM, micky wrote:
>> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
>> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
>> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
>> field.
>>
>>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

> Years ago, I would get a 404 or something, but the text in the URL line
> was unchanged, so I could very often easily correct it by retyping one
> character maybe, instead of needing to type the whole thing.
>
> IIUC there is some number that can be changed so I will get the previous
> response, but I don't know what the number is called, how to get to it,
> or what number I should put there.
>
> Any help would be apreciated. I can probably figure out how to get to
> it.
>

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>
> Years ago, I would get a 404 or something, but the text in the URL line
> was unchanged, so I could very often easily correct it by retyping one
> character maybe, instead of needing to type the whole thing.
>
> IIUC there is some number that can be changed so I will get the previous
> response, but I don't know what the number is called, how to get to it,
> or what number I should put there.
>
> Any help would be apreciated. I can probably figure out how to get to
> it.
>
i believe this is known as "address error redirect service" and is
controlled by your ISP.for example here is how to opt out from

redirecton comcast:

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

> Years ago, I would get a 404 or something, but the text in the URL line
> was unchanged, so I could very often easily correct it by retyping one
> character maybe, instead of needing to type the whole thing.
>
> IIUC there is some number that can be changed so I will get the previous
> response, but I don't know what the number is called, how to get to it,
> or what number I should put there.
>
> Any help would be apreciated. I can probably figure out how to get to
> it.
>

i believe this is known as "address error redirect service" and is
controlled by your ISP.for example here is how to opt out from

redirecton comcast:

[eisneun]

On 1/21/2020 8:55 PM, micky wrote:
> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
> field.
>

[eisneun]

[Jim Price]

That's the same behaviour as here for your example domain above, both in
my usual profile and a fresh one, so the OP needs to try that in a fresh
profile on his machine, thus at least determining if it is something in
his setup causing the effect. Actually, I say the OP, but the OP is
conspicuous by his absence.

[Jeff Barnett]

My question is: Why does my default search engine get invoked?
--
Jeff Barnett

[Jeff Barnett]

The Comcast article was written over 10 yrs ago and says the what it
suggest will change in 2011.
--
Jeff Barnett

[Andy Burns]

Jeff Barnett wrote:

> My question is: Why does my default search engine get invoked?

an question to my question might have helped you decide the answer to
your question ...

[Mark Lloyd]

On 1/22/20 12:54 PM, EnDeeGee wrote:

[snip]

> Hmmm....???
>
> FF68.4.2esr (64bit)
> When I type grc.cok in the url bar I get:
>
> <start quote>
> Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site.
> We can’t connect to the server at www.grc.cok.
> If that address is correct, here are three other things you can try:
>     Try again later.
>     Check your network connection.
>     If you are connected but behind a firewall, check that Firefox has
> permission to access the Web.
> <end quote>
>
> and the only thing I see in the url bar is:  www.grc.cok

That's as it should be (although at times I've wished FF wouldn't add
that www, but it is usually OK). The address bar mangling I've gotten on
some systems appears to be from an ad site some bad DNS is returning
instead of the error (that leads to the Hmmm).

[Mark Lloyd]

On 1/22/20 1:23 PM, Jeff Barnett wrote:

[snip]

> What on earth does my issue have to do with the DNS server? I've
> mistyped a URL and some local mechanism decides to toss that mistake to
> a search engine rather than giving me a diagnostic. (Recall it's my
> selected search engine, not one selected by the DNS server.) I WANT the
> diagnostic and the opportunity to edit the incorrect URL as I typed it.

When you enter a URL, FF first sends it to your DNS server. That server
should return the IP of that site (which FF then accesses) or an error
if there is no such site. A bad server doesn't send the error but the IP
of a site that looks like a search engine but is really ADVERTISING.

[Mark Lloyd]

On 1/22/20 1:45 PM, Jeremy Nicoll wrote:

[snip]

> I don't see why you think a mistyped URL in your browser's URL
> bar is a search-engine issue.
>
> The DNS server is probably one provided by your ISP.
>
> It fails to find an IP address for what you typed, so instead returns
> the IP address of a webserver that they own, and when your browser
> then requests the page you wanted (from the bad sitename at the
> IP address returned by the DNS server), their webserver returns their
> "helpful" page of suggestions.

I've never found those to be very helpful.

[Mark Lloyd]

On 1/22/20 2:09 PM, Andy Burns wrote:
> Andy Burns wrote:
>
>> No, most likely the ISP's DNS server is the thing deciding to toss the
>> type
>
>   ^^^^
> oh the irony!
>
>> to a search engine, rather than return an NXDOMAIN.  Some big UK ISPs
>> did that sort of shit a few years ago, got slated for it, and stopped.

My ISP's DNS server does that *****, so I changed to one that doesn't.

[Jeff Barnett]

So how does it know to use MY DEFAULT SEARCH ENGINE?
--
Jeff Barnett

[Jeff Barnett]

Andy Burns wrote on 1/23/2020 2:08 AM:
> Jeff Barnett wrote:
>
>> Actually, the choice of what to do is made LOCALLY. I don't know how
>> much more evidence you needed to concluded it isn't anything to do
>> with my ISP or the DNS.
>
> The browser will depend on the DNS server's result, perhaps the DNS
> server isn't hijacking mistyped domains, but are you certain it is
> returning NXDOMAIN for such typos?
>
> e.g. in a CMD.EXE window, what happens if you type
>
> nslookup something.that.doesnt.exist
>

I have no idea of what it is returning. I only know what I see on the
monitor.
--
Jeff Barnett

[Mark Lloyd]

Are you sure it does? They make an advertising site that LOOKS like a
search engine.

[Wolf K]

On 2020-01-24 15:34, Jeff Barnett wrote:
> Mark Lloyd wrote on 1/24/2020 7:46 AM:
>> On 1/22/20 1:23 PM, Jeff Barnett wrote:
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>>> What on earth does my issue have to do with the DNS server? I've
>>> mistyped a URL and some local mechanism decides to toss that mistake
>>> to a search engine rather than giving me a diagnostic. (Recall it's
>>> my selected search engine, not one selected by the DNS server.) I
>>> WANT the diagnostic and the opportunity to edit the incorrect URL as
>>> I typed it.

The search engine can't know whether or not you've mistyped a URL. Only
the DNS server can tell whether or not that URL exists. But if the
mistyped URL exists, the DNS can't know that you don't want it.

Eg, SomesiteHere.com vs SomesiteThere.com. Suppose both exist. The DNS
can't tell which one you want. The search engine can't tell either, it
knows only the string you actually typed.

>> When you enter a URL, FF first sends it to your DNS server. That
>> server should return the IP of that site (which FF then accesses) or
>> an error if there is no such site. A bad server doesn't send the error
>> but the IP of a site that looks like a search engine but is really
>> ADVERTISING.
>
> So how does it know to use MY DEFAULT SEARCH ENGINE?

The search engine runs on its own server. Once you've connected to it,
it connects to whatever other servers it needs to provide the results
you've requested. When you type a URL, the first request goes to the
DNS. There is no other way to find out whether the URL exists or not.

Best,

--
Wolf K
kirkwood40.blogspot.com
I thought math was useless until I realised decimals had a point

[Jeff Barnett]

But think for a minute: The DNS can only do one of four things: 1)
return proper info for a proper (syntax and defined) pointer, 2) it can
return improper information for a proper URL (high jacking), 3) can
return proper diagnostic for an improper URL, or 4) perform a high jack
for an improper pointer. What it can not do is return a high jack that
takes me to my FF default search engine - how does it consistently know
what it is?????? That is unless FF is abetting the high jack.
--
Jeff Barnett

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Wed, 22 Jan 2020 12:45:42 -0600, Mark
Lloyd <n...@mail.invalid> wrote:

>On 1/21/20 10:55 PM, micky wrote:
>> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
>> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
>> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
>> field.
>>

>> Years ago, I would get a 404 or something, but the text in the URL line
>> was unchanged, so I could very often easily correct it by retyping one
>> character maybe, instead of needing to type the whole thing.
>>
>> IIUC there is some number that can be changed so I will get the previous
>> response, but I don't know what the number is called, how to get to it,
>> or what number I should put there.
>>
>> Any help would be apreciated. I can probably figure out how to get to
>> it.
>

>That's really annoying. I try to get ""grc.com" and accidentally type
>"grc.cok". It would be easy to correct that (it's just the last letter
>wrong), but it (in the address bar) is replaced by some long string of
>garbage I don't want

This is exactly the problem I'm referring to above. In my test
tonight, I got:
https://searchassist.verizon.com/main?ParticipantID=euekiz39ksg8nwp7iqj2fp5wzfwi5q76&FailedURI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adfadfaasde.com%2F&FailureMode=1&Implementation=&AddInType=4&Version=pywr1.0&ClientLocation=us

> and a page that looks like a search engine but is
>really just junk.
>
>It's the result of an erroneous DNS that returns ads instead of an error
>response.

Based on tonight's test, in my case, Verizon, I wouldn't just call them
advertising. As you can see in another post of mine, I entered
www.adfadfaasde.com and all the results had adfa or dfa in them. So
Verizon is trying. But I do remember prior occasions, where yes,
nothing but vendors for whatever product I seemed to refer to.
Advertising. Maybe adfadfaasde or any part of it like dfa it didn't
look like anything they had advertising for.

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:37:17 -0700, Jeff

I haven't changed my dns yet, because the link offered to me gave
choices, and I want to compare the choices for a while, so my computer,
in a cmd windows, using nslookup, using the same DNS I had complained
about, gives

Server: Fios_Quantum_Gateway.fios-router.home
Address: 192.168.1.1

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.adfadfaasde.com
Address: 92.242.140.21
--------------

What is 92.242.140.21 ? What would be an authoritative answer? When I
search for it in FF, I get DNS error!

When I put the same url www.adfadfaasde.com in the browser, I get all
this:

[a logo of Verizon]

Sorry... www.adfadfaasde.com could not be found.

It may be unavailable or may not exist. Try using the suggestions or
related links below, or search again using our web search.
Search results for 'www.adfadfaasde.com'

dfa online - Print or Fill Out Online
www.getgovforms.com/dfa_online

dfa online. Blank Forms, PDF Forms, Printable Forms, Fillable Forms.
dfa online. Easily Download & Print Forms From.
Over 168M Active Shoppers - Adfa Sold Direct
www.ebay.com

eBay Is Here For You with Money Back Guarantee and Easy Return. Get
Your Adfa Today! Get Adfa With Fast and Free Shipping on eBay.
Shop Dfa Records: Amazon - Amazon.com Official Site
www.amazon.com/mp3-downloads/dance-dj

Find Deals on Dfa Records in Dance MP3s on Amazon.

About Us - Arkansas
adfa.arkansas.gov/about-us

ADFA is the exclusive issuer of bonds for state agencies. Neither
ADFA nor ASLA is a regulatory or licensing agency. ADFA (including ASLA)
is governed by a 14-member board of directors, consisting of the
Director of DFA, the Treasurer of the State, eleven public members
appointed by the Governor, and the President of the Authority
(non-voting).

-----------------

So all of the first bunch have adfa or dfa in them. What more can
verizon do? Well it could just leave the location bar unchanged.


Of course it displays what is above in Firefox. I was using Firefox to
begin with. But it's the Verizon, search engine, I guess, even though
they are not known for having a search engine. Huh? ???????

When I search for adfadfaasde in Google, not as a url but just the
middle part, I get very little, just:

Your search - adfadfaasde - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:
Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
Try different keywords.
Try more general keywords.
----------------------

Is that what you mean by diagnostics. Actually, I don't think you mean
that.

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:47:23 -0600, Mark

Me neither.

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Thu, 23 Jan 2020 10:58:45 +0000, Jim
Price <d1ve...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>On 23/01/2020 09:08, Andy Burns wrote:
>> Jeff Barnett wrote:
>>
>>> Actually, the choice of what to do is made LOCALLY. I don't know how
>>> much more evidence you needed to concluded it isn't anything to do
>>> with my ISP or the DNS.
>>
>> The browser will depend on the DNS server's result, perhaps the DNS
>> server isn't hijacking mistyped domains, but are you certain it is
>> returning NXDOMAIN for such typos?
>>
>> e.g. in a CMD.EXE window, what happens if you type
>>
>> nslookup something.that.doesnt.exist
>>

>> ?

>
>I think what is going on here is the OP doesn't want the awesomebar
>behaviour of defaulting to a search with the default search engine if
>the domain is not valid.

Now you're talking about me, the OP.

I don't care what is displayed in the large window. What I want is that
the url I typed in the location box remain unchanged. That happened
when I first got a computer and a web browswer, but then several years
ago it changed. Maybe I should say that I asked this question years
ago, got the same answer, changed my dns server as suggested, and got
the result I wanted. (Something has made the same problem return, and I
was embarrassed to admit I coudn't remember the solution and couldn't
find my prior thread.)

OTOH, 5 people have told you that you are misunderstanding your
situation, and that you too should change your dns server, and you just
argue with them. Why not change your server as suggested and see what
happens.

You say "But think for a minute: The DNS can only do one of four things:

1) return proper info for a proper (syntax and defined) pointer, 2) it
can return improper information for a proper URL (high jacking), 3) can
return proper diagnostic for an improper URL, or 4) perform a high jack
for an improper pointer. "

Where do you get number 3? I don't remember ever seeing 3, plus you
yourself said that either the format is wrong or the url doesn't exist.
You can re-examine the format visually and if it's not wrong, then the
url doesn't exist. Why do you need diagnostics from the DNS?

Then Jeremy says:
> I don't see why you think a mistyped URL in your browser's URL
> bar is a search-engine issue.

And you say:
>It is - the bad URL is passed to my default search engine. Is that
>enough reason to think that FF has decided to pass the bad URL there? If
>I change the default search engine, it's passed to the new selection.
>Got any ideas why?

I don't know how to explain it but your assumption there, "It is", is
wrong too.





> Theres a setting for that in:
>about:preferences#search
>"Use the address bar for search and navigation"
>is default,
>"Add search bar in toolbar"
>is the alternative to it, but there is probably more fine grained
>control somewhere in about:config so you can separately disable search
>from the awesomebar if you don't want a separate search bar (or you
>could move it somewhere invisible).

I like the way my search preferences are set. They are not my problem.

Nor do I need a new profile.

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Tue, 21 Jan 2020 23:23:39 -0600, "Paul in

Houston, TX" <Pa...@Houston.Texas> wrote:

>micky wrote:
>> My internet provider is Verizon, and when I enter a bad url name, or I
>> make a typing mistake, Verizon returns the same error page every time,
>> listing in the text of the page what I had mistyped, but not in the URL
>> field.
>>
>> Years ago, I would get a 404 or something, but the text in the URL line
>> was unchanged, so I could very often easily correct it by retyping one
>> character maybe, instead of needing to type the whole thing.
>>
>> IIUC there is some number that can be changed so I will get the previous
>> response, but I don't know what the number is called, how to get to it,
>> or what number I should put there.
>>
>> Any help would be apreciated. I can probably figure out how to get to
>> it.
>

>Try a different DNS server.
>https://www.techradar.com/news/best-dns-server

Thank you. I haven't done it yet, because there are several choices,
but I'm sure this is the answer.

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Wed, 29 Jan 2020 04:10:52 -0500, micky

<travNOS...@mm.st> wrote:

>
>>That's really annoying. I try to get ""grc.com" and accidentally type
>>"grc.cok". It would be easy to correct that (it's just the last letter
>>wrong), but it (in the address bar) is replaced by some long string of
>>garbage I don't want
>
>This is exactly the problem I'm referring to above. In my test
>tonight, I got:
>https://searchassist.verizon.com/main?ParticipantID=euekiz39ksg8nwp7iqj2fp5wzfwi5q76&FailedURI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adfadfaasde.com%2F&FailureMode=1&Implementation=&AddInType=4&Version=pywr1.0&ClientLocation=us

==================

Actually, I learned something good tonight, that what I wrote originally
is still there (not too surprisingly) if I'm willing to delete all the
junk before and after.

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Wed, 29 Jan 2020 04:16:16 -0500, micky

I thought I was replying to Jeff in this whole post, but it was Jim.
Below it matters that when I say "you", I didn't mean Jim, but Jeff.

[Andy Burns]

micky wrote:

> This is exactly the problem I'm referring to above. In my test
> tonight, I got:
> https://searchassist.verizon.com/main?ParticipantID=euekiz39ksg8nwp7iqj2fp5wzfwi5q76&FailedURI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adfadfaasde.com%2F&FailureMode=1&Implementation=&AddInType=4&Version=pywr1.0&ClientLocation=us

That's because verizon *is* doing the slimeball interception of typos.

When you type a non-existent domain name, a decent ISP will tell your
browser "that doesn't exist" and the browser can tell you that, but
verizon is pretending that the typo does exist, and is telling your
browser to take you to their search engine ... I doubt complaining will
get you far, your choice is change to a different DNS server, or change
to a different ISP

<https://forums.verizon.com/t5/High-Speed-Internet/how-to-disable-search-assist-without-toolbar/td-p/324587>

[Andy Burns]

micky wrote:

> I haven't changed my dns yet, because the link offered to me gave
> choices, and I want to compare the choices for a while, so my computer,
> in a cmd windows, using nslookup, using the same DNS I had complained
> about, gives
>
> Server: Fios_Quantum_Gateway.fios-router.home
> Address: 192.168.1.1

your PC is using your router as its DNS server, the router in turn is
using verizons DNS servers which are badly configured to lie about what
exists and hat doesn't exist

> Non-authoritative answer:
> Name:www.adfadfaasde.com
> Address: 92.242.140.21
> --------------
>
> What is 92.242.140.21 ?

Verizon's search assist server

> What would be an authoritative answer?

That's just the result of your PC asking your router, and the router
asking an upstream DNS server, the router doesn't *know* what the answer
is so the "non-authoritative" is just it saying "I didn't know, so I
asked somewhere else and it told me this"

Rather than chainging the DNS setting on your each of your PCs and other
devices, see if you can change it within your router itself
(http://192.168.1.1)

[Andy Burns]

Andy Burns wrote:

> I doubt complaining will get you far, your choice is change to a
> different DNS server, or change to a different ISP

Actually, verizon do provide instructions on how to turn it off on the
router

<https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/home-network/settings/opt-out-of-dns-assist>

[Ken Whiton]

*-* On Wed, 29 Jan 2020, at 04:15:16 -0500,
*-* In Article
<mailman.846.158028932...@lists.mozilla.org>,
*-* micky wrote
*-* About Re: Want mistyped urls to stay unchanged in he URL field.

> In mozilla.support.firefox, on Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:37:17 -0700, Jeff
> Barnett <jbb...@comcast.net> wrote:

>> Andy Burns wrote on 1/23/2020 2:08 AM:

[ ... ]

>>> e.g. in a CMD.EXE window, what happens if you type

>>> nslookup something.that.doesnt.exist

>> I have no idea of what it is returning. I only know what I see on
>> the monitor.

> I haven't changed my dns yet, because the link offered to me gave
> choices, and I want to compare the choices for a while, so my
> computer, in a cmd windows, using nslookup, using the same DNS I had
> complained about, gives

> Server: Fios_Quantum_Gateway.fios-router.home
> Address: 192.168.1.1

> Non-authoritative answer:
> Name: www.adfadfaasde.com
> Address: 92.242.140.21
> --------------

> What is 92.242.140.21 ?

IP: 92.242.140.21
Decimal: 1559399445
Hostname: unallocated.barefruit.co.uk
ASN: 45028
ISP: Barefruit Ltd.
Organization: Barefruit Ltd.
Services: None detected
Type: Broadband
Assignment: Likely Static IP
Blacklist:
Continent: Europe
Country: United Kingdom

Here's what I get with nslookup and your test string.

C:\
Yes Boss?>nslookup http://www.adfadfaasde.com
*** Can't find server name for address 192.168.1.1: Non-existent domain
Server: resolver1.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.222.222

*** resolver1.opendns.com can't find http://www.adfadfaasde.com:
Non-existent domain

Ken Whiton
--
FIDO: 1:132/152
InterNet: kenw...@surfglobal.net.INVAL (remove the obvious to reply)

[PietB]

Andy Burns wrote:
> When you type a non-existent domain name, a decent ISP will tell your
> browser "that doesn't exist" and the browser can tell you that

But often doesn't and instead calls upon the default search engine,
Without there being a possibility to set the latter to "none". But
then, it's often called "address/search bar".
Using a decently behaving DNS server, I've tested it with 2 browsers
on my pc and 3 on my "smart"phone:
- When typing "dunno" into the address bar, all of them call upon
the default search engine.
- When typing "dunno.dun", all but one of them treat it as a domain
name, query DNS, and give a "Server not found" or similar message.

-p

[Andy Burns]

Ken Whiton wrote:

> micky wrote

>
>> What is  92.242.140.21 ?
>
>           IP: 92.242.140.21

>     Hostname: unallocated.barefruit.co.uk

inetnum: 92.242.140.0 - 92.242.140.255
netname: BARE FRUIT-ERRORHANDLING
descr: BAREFRUIT-US-ANYCAST-A

sounds like verizon outsource the sneaky search website ...

"The Barefruit Solution
Generating highly targeted traffic by replacing DNS and HTTP errors with
relevant advertising"

>      Here's what I get with nslookup and your test string.
>
> C:\
> Yes Boss?>nslookup http://www.adfadfaasde.com
> *** Can't find server name for address 192.168.1.1: Non-existent domain

Yep, a decent response from DNS

[Andy Burns]

PietB wrote:

> Andy Burns wrote:
>
>> When you type a non-existent domain name, a decent ISP will tell your
>> browser "that doesn't exist" and the browser can tell you that
>
> But often doesn't and instead calls upon the default search engine,

IME browsers only resort to search engines if the typo includes a space
making it look like several keywords, rather than a URL.

Which browser does otherwise?

[Tanstaafl]

On Wed Jan 29 2020 04:17:00 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time), micky

My preferred for free is:

1. 9.9.9.9
2. 1.1.1.1
3. 8.8.8.8

If you use OpenDNS, you need to create an account and disable their
hijacking option.

[Jean-David Beyer]

On 1/31/20 10:08 AM, Tanstaafl wrote:
> On Wed Jan 29 2020 04:17:00 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time), micky
> <travNOS...@mm.st> wrote:
>> In mozilla.support.firefox, on Tue, 21 Jan 2020 23:23:39 -0600, "Paul in
>> Houston, TX" <Pa...@Houston.Texas> wrote:
>>> Try a different DNS server.

I do that: I run my own DNS server on my own machine.

bind-9.8.2-0.68.rc1.el6_10.3.x86_64




--
.~. Jean-David Beyer
/V\ PGP-Key:166D840A 0C610C8B
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey
^^-^^ 12:15:01 up 2 days, 17:57, 2 users, load average: 4.85, 4.66, 4.69

[micky]

In mozilla.support.firefox, on Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:05:19 +0000, Andy

This is great.

I wouldn't have known that such a page exists, or known the search words
to find it.

No time to do this tonight, but will soon.

Thanks Andy and thanks everyone.