Forced on Google Safe Search and blocking sites

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Forced on Google Safe Search and blocking sites

krit

24 posts

Geek

#207382 21-Dec-2016 20:53

I just recently ran into this problem, whenever I use Google Search, the "safe search" option is always on, and I can not manually turn it off, I have already tried to log on different google account, using different browsers on different devices (laptop, desktop, tablet, mobile phone) the outcome are the same, for example every time I uncheck the "turn on safe search" box on the google search setting page and apply the "change", the safe search filter will back on automatically immediately.

I have also noticed there are lots of websites have been blocked suddenly, or no longer accessible from my home, not sure if it is related to google safe search issue I'm having right now but I think any VPN related websites are blocked from me at home atm, i.e. https://www.expressvpn.com .

so I did some research online, apparently there were a lot of ppl that had the same issues or used to, and according to one of the google employees on this thread (https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/websearch/QKVKcDhCdWA), that the issue(SafeSearch) is ISP related, and ppls saying I need to contact with my ISP to resolve this. So i just want to know if this is true, or if anyone is having the same issue right now, thanks in advance.

Oriphix

523 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1693499 21-Dec-2016 20:58

Just to clarify if you are on mobile and you use 3G/4G do you get the same result?
Also you have used another browser such as Internet Explorer / Firefox?

I highly doubt ISP will be blocking websites otherwise there would be more posts here with that.
Almost sounds like a parental control program or firewall blocking it.

krit

24 posts

Geek

#1693501 21-Dec-2016 21:07

Oriphix: Just to clarify if you are on mobile and you use 3G/4G do you get the same result?
Also you have used another browser such as Internet Explorer / Firefox?

I highly doubt ISP will be blocking websites otherwise there would be more posts here with that.
Almost sounds like a parental control program or firewall blocking it.

thanks for the reply, and yes I tested on my mobile phone using 4g network and it is working fine on mobile network, also as I said above I have used different browsers testing as well. I agree with you that it looks like some sort of parental control filtering program, but I don't think anyone in my home has anything like that installed : /

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1693567 21-Dec-2016 22:17

Anti-virus perhaps?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Oriphix

523 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1693572 21-Dec-2016 22:43

robjg63: Anti-virus perhaps?

Yes this also could be possible, some AV do block certain websites etc.

Perhaps post a screenshot of your installed programs, something there might stand out and we may be able to point you in the right direction. I would check with the rest of the people in the house in case they have installed anything recently.

krit

24 posts

Geek

#1693583 21-Dec-2016 23:20

robjg63: Anti-virus perhaps?

I don't actually have any AV software installed on my desktop atm, I do have this "Malwarebytes anti-Malware" tho which is not newly installed, and this issue just occurred recently(since last weekend).

krit

24 posts

Geek

#1693584 21-Dec-2016 23:29

Oriphix:
robjg63: Anti-virus perhaps?

Yes this also could be possible, some AV do block certain websites etc.

Perhaps post a screenshot of your installed programs, something there might stand out and we may be able to point you in the right direction. I would check with the rest of the people in the house in case they have installed anything recently.

the thing is my entire network at home are suffering from the same issue atm, so it not only effect my desktop I'm currently using, also my laptop, tablet, mobile phones which connected to the home wi-fi network.

sidefx

3711 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1693614 22-Dec-2016 07:36

Perhaps related?

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/websearch/QKVKcDhCdWA

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cynnicallemon

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1693625 22-Dec-2016 07:47

krit:

Oriphix:
robjg63: Anti-virus perhaps?

Yes this also could be possible, some AV do block certain websites etc.

Perhaps post a screenshot of your installed programs, something there might stand out and we may be able to point you in the right direction. I would check with the rest of the people in the house in case they have installed anything recently.

the thing is my entire network at home are suffering from the same issue atm, so it not only effect my desktop I'm currently using, also my laptop, tablet, mobile phones which connected to the home wi-fi network.

Some ISP's do run opt in content filtering systems and maybe you've been added to this by mistake. The forced safe search and blocking sounds like a content filtering system is alive on that connection. Suggest contacting your ISP about the matter to verify this.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1693627 22-Dec-2016 07:55

krit:

robjg63: Anti-virus perhaps?

I don't actually have any AV software installed on my desktop atm, I do have this "Malwarebytes anti-Malware" tho which is not newly installed, and this issue just occurred recently(since last weekend).

Do not discard as a possibility. Malwarebytes is frequently update and this could have introduced a problem. Also it does filter/scan your connections.

As mentioned some ISPs do have Parental Controls, as well as some third party DNS (OpenDNS for example).

Oriphix

523 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1693648 22-Dec-2016 08:49

To be honest you don't really lose much by logging a call with your ISP and checking.
Just get them to have a once over to make sure everything is okay on there side. (I am not sure if level 1 guys will be able to answer if they are running parental controls this could be a case for level 2 guys).

krit

24 posts

Geek

#1693670 22-Dec-2016 09:27

cynnicallemon:

krit:

Oriphix:
robjg63: Anti-virus perhaps?

Yes this also could be possible, some AV do block certain websites etc.

Perhaps post a screenshot of your installed programs, something there might stand out and we may be able to point you in the right direction. I would check with the rest of the people in the house in case they have installed anything recently.

the thing is my entire network at home are suffering from the same issue atm, so it not only effect my desktop I'm currently using, also my laptop, tablet, mobile phones which connected to the home wi-fi network.

Some ISP's do run opt in content filtering systems and maybe you've been added to this by mistake. The forced safe search and blocking sounds like a content filtering system is alive on that connection. Suggest contacting your ISP about the matter to verify this.

thanks for the suggestion, I will surely give Orcon a call today, and hopefully they will let me talk directly to their lv2 guy.

cynnicallemon

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1693734 22-Dec-2016 11:07

krit:

thanks for the suggestion, I will surely give Orcon a call today, and hopefully they will let me talk directly to their lv2 guy.

Ah Orcon, you can check this for yourself - see here. But still might pay to talk with their helpdesk - good luck.

krit

24 posts

Geek

#1694211 23-Dec-2016 10:31

cynnicallemon:

krit:

thanks for the suggestion, I will surely give Orcon a call today, and hopefully they will let me talk directly to their lv2 guy.

Ah Orcon, you can check this for yourself - see here. But still might pay to talk with their helpdesk - good luck.

haha can't believe it, you just saved my day bro :D apparently, my cousin randomly turned that family filter thingy on when she checking out our account info online last week, after turning it off this morning, everything has come back to normal. once again, thank you so very much sir, and thanks to everyone in this thread, you guys are awesome!

cynnicallemon

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1694250 23-Dec-2016 11:28

Well that's cool, thanks

Also saved you calling Orcon's helpdesk too