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DNS servers - help needed please.
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ktj
Posts: 272 Forumite


in Techie Stuff
Hi, I would be very grateful if anyone who understands techie stuff can give me some advice.
I have not knowingly changed any of my computer settings, but lately, when trying to surf the web I've suddenly started to get the following message ;-
"You are seeing this page because you are using a BT service which requires the use of BT DNS Servers and it appears that you are attempting to connect using a DNS server outside of our network.
Our BT Protect and BT Parental Controls services both require the use of our BT DNS to keep you safe online."
You may have selected a different server in your network settings or installed an application that uses an alternative service."
I don't really understand if this problem has serious implications. Do I need to be worried or can I just ignore it?
Do I need to try to try to change my servers, if so which servers should I choose and how do I do it !!!!!!!!!
As I am not very techie I would be very grateful for any advice anyone is kind enough to give.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. kje.
I have not knowingly changed any of my computer settings, but lately, when trying to surf the web I've suddenly started to get the following message ;-
"You are seeing this page because you are using a BT service which requires the use of BT DNS Servers and it appears that you are attempting to connect using a DNS server outside of our network.
Our BT Protect and BT Parental Controls services both require the use of our BT DNS to keep you safe online."
You may have selected a different server in your network settings or installed an application that uses an alternative service."
I don't really understand if this problem has serious implications. Do I need to be worried or can I just ignore it?
Do I need to try to try to change my servers, if so which servers should I choose and how do I do it !!!!!!!!!
As I am not very techie I would be very grateful for any advice anyone is kind enough to give.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. kje.
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Comments
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Login to your BT account and disable parental controls: http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/46768#turnoff
It sounds like you've enabled BT parental controls (at some point) and have then changed the DNS servers on your network config to not use BT's which would then appear to BT as an attempt to circumvent their parental controls.
Alternatively you can go into your network settings (assuming you're using Windows) and make sure that the option for "Obtain DNS server address automatically" is selected: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/change-tcp-ip-settings#1TC=windows-70 -
If you google this message then there seems to be a range of causes.
If it's suddenly started then you could have a virus on malware on your PC.0 -
If you're using a Homehub then it is next to impossible that you've changed the DNS settings in the hub. Therefore the only place they could have changed is in your PC.
You could also try a CMD prompt (press the Windows key, type in CMD and press Enter) and type in ipconfig /all (and press Enter) ... the DNS server you are using will be shown against the network adaptor.0 -
Also if you open a command prompt and type in "nslookup" it will tell you your DNS server. Type exit to quit and then exit again to close the command prompt.
It could mean your DNS server settings have been hijacked by some malware, so run a scan using the usual programs like Malware Bytes and Spybot Search and Destroy.Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0 -
I'm with BT, I used Google DNS, never seen that message........ BUT even though I have parental controls turned off, there are some legit websites I can no longer access through BT without using a 3rd party paid for VPN service. With these websites I get no error message, just a blank screen.
Unfortunately, short of moving to Virgin media, there is no way to avoid the BT hardware.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
<><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/0 -
Many thanks for such speedy replies! I will run a security scan and them try to implement the suggested solutions tomorrow.
Thanks again. kje.0 -
You have malware on your machine .
Download and run malwarebytes from here :- https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/
Choose the free trial and choose to not trial the pro version..
Then come back and tell us how many infections it found0 -
Strider590 wrote: »I'm with BT, I used Google DNS, never seen that message........ BUT even though I have parental controls turned off, there are some legit websites I can no longer access through BT without using a 3rd party paid for VPN service. With these websites I get no error message, just a blank screen.
Unfortunately, short of moving to Virgin media, there is no way to avoid the BT hardware.
I'm intrigued by this. There are a few reasons for blocking:
Parental controls (you are not using)
Court order (specific named torrent / newsgroup indexing sites)
IWF "Cleanfeed" system, which BT Internet use (and some other ISPs as well). Was responsible for many UK internet users losing edit abilities on wikipedia for a while a few years ago (but not the ability to read the site) due to the way it operates. If your ISP uses this you cannot disable it.
None of those should affect legitimate sites, though Cleanfeed potentially can for limited periods, as in the wikipedia case. I use an ISP service that runs over BT 21CN for backhaul, so can you inform us of one of these sites that I might see if I'm affected?Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 20230 -
Neither do you have to use the Home Hub for BT broadband .0
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The real question is why are the default DNS servers not in use - always assuming they aren't and the message isn't appearing in error for some reason and post #5 shows how to check that.
If it isn't BT nameservers and the OP definitely didn't change them either at the router or on the PC and doesn't have children who may have been trying to circumvent parental controls then the conclusion has to be that it may be malware as mentioned first in post #3
If there are teenagers in the house I know where my suspicions would fall but it's still worth a scan as mentioned in post #80
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