How to Disable the Rogers Search Page
Since Rogers decided to invade their customers computers with unwanted ads I’ve received a lot of traffic resulting from search engine queries such as disable rogers search page, rogers dns hijack, and rogers hijacked my browser. I did post a solution to this in a previous post that required editing a Windows system core file. While that method was definitely successful it does have its drawbacks. It simply redirects all requests for *.rogers.com to your own machine essentially blocking out all of Rogers. While this is successful it still does not give you full control over your DNS again.
I have found a very simple way to regain the control you previously had before Rogers implemented DNS hijacking. This method does not require any technical knowledge and needs only a few clicks in your Windows control panel and you are done.
I have found two free DNS servers that anyone is able to use. One is called OpenDNS and the other are two DNS addresses provided by vnsc-pri.sys.gtei.net. To begin using these servers follow these instructions or click on the thumbnail gallery below to just watch a demonstration.
- Click your Windows Start Button and then your Control Panel
- Find Network Connections in your Control Panel
- Right click on the icon that represents your internet connection and select Properties. If you are on a wireless it will likely be labeled as Wireless Internet Connection
- Scroll through the list until you find Internet Protocol , highlight it and select Properties
- In the section labeled Use the Following DNS server addresses enter the following IP addresses but make sure you write down the current number if there already is one in case you need to change it back: 4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2 for vnsc-pri which will give you your old way of browsing back or use 208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220 for OpenDNS. OpenDNS will still redirect you to a search page but it is not a sponsored ad page. With OpenDNS you can also create an account and customize the way your DNS is handled. I will get in to that a bit later.
- Click OK
Here are the instructions in image format. Click each image for a larger size. There is a set of pictures for Windows and thanks to a reader named Phil for reminding me to post instructions for Mac users as well. He has provided the steps and I’ve added the images to the set.
- Go to System Preferences
- Click on Network
- Select Built In Ethernet and click Advanced
- Select the DNS tab and add 4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2 or 208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220 in place of any current DNS servers.
- Click OK
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- Mac OSX
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- Mac OSX
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- Mac OSX
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- Mac OSX
Using the above instructions will give you back your old DNS control. Using the first set of IP addresses will give you the exact same control as before. Using OpenDNS will give you a customized set of DNS handling that you have full control over. If you go with OpenDNS IP’s then visit their forum for instructions on how to disable their search redirection and restore your default settings unlike the Rogers fake opt-out.
Has this post helped you get back to your normal browsing experience? I’d love to hear about it.
brilliant!
for mac users: network prefs > advanced > DNS
Just wondering how to get this to work on mac os x 10.4…the above instructions appear to be for leopard. :S
I think this link has the instructions for it. If it works for you let me know and i’ll include them in the post.
https://www.opendns.com/start?device=apple-os9
Dear Sir: You are a Freaking Genius.!I voted for you on BOB. Well done you just saved many from Doom!! The Net need more folks like you!!
Wallys last blog post..9/11 US Currency Conspiracy?
Great job. Thanks.
Not only did it resolve the problem caused by those slime balls at Rogers, it also resolved a Kolmic hijack I was experiencing previously when searching from the address bar if I only entered one word and did not click on ’search for “xxxxx”‘ in the drop down.
If only we could recuperate some of the money based on the time spent trying to dodge these idiots. It’s now 11:10 and I can finally start doing some real work.
I will put a link to you from my business site.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
Frank Sheffield
Hi Frank.
I am just glad to help. This was a nasty wake-up for me a few weeks ago .. for someone who spends 15 hours a day on the computer I noticed this almost right away.. the rogers people had the nerve to tell me to scan my computer for viruses and spyware… their own customer service reps didn’t know what this was until a few days later.
The sad thing is most internet users won’t care either way. I was visiting my parents the other day and asked my mom if she thought it was annoying and wanted me to remove it…. she said she actually liked it and wanted to keep it..
arg!! those people like my mom are the reason Rogers has done this.. the small 1% of us who will try to beat it make the whole sleazy tactic worth it for them.
booo to rogers
Dan FYI,
In response to my nasty compaint, Rogers has sent me DNS solutions for both XP and Vista and Home Networking Gateway. As you suggested in your solution, *(4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2) work quite nicely. I have inserted them in brackets below where required.)
…read on…
“Dear Frank Sheffield,
Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we appreciate your use of online customer service.
We would be more that happy to assist you with your concerns with the Supported Search Results feature.
If you do not wish to receive this service, you can opt out by changing your DNS settings within your computer or (if present) your Home Networking gateway:
Opt-Out by Changing Your DNS Settings
Choose this method of opting out if you have an advanced knowledge of your operating system, and if you want a more permanent way of opting out.
NOTE: Rogers will provide technical support when the option ?Obtain DNS server address automatically? is selected. Other DNS server addresses will not be supported.
FOR WINDOWS XP
1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
2. In Category View, click Network and Internet Connections.
3. Click Network Connections.
4. From the Network Connections window, right-click Local Area
Connection and select Properties.
5. From the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click
Properties.
a. From the General tab, click Use the following DNS server addresses.
b. Enter the IP address of the DNS server of your choosing into the Preferred DNS Server Address field. *(4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2)
c. Click OK.
6. Click Close to close the Local Area Connection Properties window.
FOR WINDOWS VISTA
1. From the Start menu, right-click Network, then click Properties
2. Under Tasks located on the left-hand side of the window, click Manage
network connections.
a. Right-click on the correct Local Area Connection, then click
Properties.
b. Click Continue to open the Local Area Connection Properties window.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click
Properties.
a. From the General tab, click Use the following DNS server addresses.
b. Enter the IP address of the DNS server of your choosing into the Preferred DNS Server Address field. *(4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2)
c. Click OK.
Opt-Out with Your Rogers Home Networking gateway
Choose this method of opting out if you are connected via the Rogers Home Networking gateway (SMC 8014 WG), and if you have multiple computers in your household. Instead of changing the DNS server settings on each individual computer, this will apply to all computers connected to the Home Networking gateway,
1. On a computer connected to the Rogers Home Networking gateway, launch an internet browser window
2. In the Address bar, enter 192.168.0.1 then press the Enter key
3. Enter login information into the Login Screen
For Rogers Home Networking gateways acquired before Feb.1/08, please use the following login information:
Username: mso
Password: msopassword
For Rogers Home Networking gateways acquired after Feb.1/08, please use the following login information:
Username: mso
Password: csf1rst
4. Click LOGIN
5. On the left sidebar, click on WAN
6. On the WAN screen, click Yes for ?Do you want to assign your own DNS address??
7. Enter the IP address of the DNS server of your choosing into the Primary DNS boxes provided. *(4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2)
8. Click the Apply button on the bottom right corner of the screen.
9. Your changes are now saved. You can log out by clicking the Logout button at the top right corner of the screen.
… contact us by phone at 1-888-288-4663.”
That’s the Rogers number above, not mine.
Kind Regards,
Frank Sheffield
hey frank. thanks for the update.
im surprised they actually gave out the real workaround through technical support. When i contacted them they would not provide any workaround. I had to find this on my own.
At one point the staff at Rogers were even advised that they would be disciplined for giving out any other wolution other than the official rogers opt-out.
maybe they now realize how stupid this is and they cant keep their own customers prisoner on the internet.
does that login info work on your router anyway? I thought the default login info for a router was username “admin” and no password
If I had a choice Id ditch rogers!
Hi,
Someone at http://trevoro.ca/blog/2008/07/21/rogers-dns-hijacking-a-summary-so-far/ gave info about some alternate dns server from Rogers itself:
altdns.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com
64.71.255.202
I don’t know if it works as I’m personally using Shaw atm (but moving to ON so switching to Rogers… hence my interest)
Hi Dea and thanks for stopping by. Ive found a few different alternative ways around this but i stick by my guns when it comes to using the rogers dns servers.
in my opinion people should stay far away from using any rogers dns servers. their dns is the reason we are all in this mess.
If i had a choice to change isp’s i would too.
If you want to use alternate dns use 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 as they are free public dns not affiliated with rogers.
I just cant stand the fact that we pay for our internet and its not cheap.. and they sneak this crap in on a weekend and expect everyone to just take it.
Thanks for the great tips - I was afraid I was going to damage my keyboard trying to click and type and get past the Rogers Search screen umpteen times per day!
however, I’m a Mac user - I’ve gone into my network settings and added the two new DNS server numbers but the original Rogers one is grayed out and the (-) minus sign is grayed out as well.
So the net result is that the Rogers DNS is still at the top of the list.
I’m wondering if that’s because there’s still a cookie there or something.
Have any of you run into that? It’s like the ghost of Rogers won’t go away.
I’m not sure about the Mac but I think Rogers would give you instructions if you bark loud enough. I logged in to their web site and sent a very blunt complaint to their support team and they sent me everything I needed except for the DNS addresses, which are 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2.
I do see some mac references in the graphic instructions at the top of this page but I don’t know if they work because I can’t try them.
Sheff
@Paul: to get rid of the rogers dns settings do the following:
1. delete the 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 you entered.
2. turn your modem off (you can still leave the ethernet cable attached)
3. your network settings should now tell you that your ethernet is not connected
4. make sure you are not connected to the internet in any other fashion (i.e., wirelessly)
5. click on your ethernet setting and click advanced (as per the original instructions)
6. you should now see no rogers DNS entry (or any other entry).
7. add the 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 DNS entries
8. click ok to get back to the main network screen
9. if ethernet is selected, you should see 4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2 in the DNS Server box (on the right)
10. the search domain will show the rogers address (phub.net.cble.rogers.com), but you can verify that it is not working by typing in a bad address in safari (abc123.digg.com)
11. if it still doesn’t work, reply to this message