Web searches getting redirected to OpenDNS. Cannot access these websites.

Question

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.

Answer 1

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