I was browsing the web, when I was suddenly stupified with a Qwest message in my web browser. Yes, I am a Qwest subscriber, but I (purposely) didn’t install any of their software. Apparently, when an internet request can’t be resolved (the domain doesn’t exist), Qwest wants to hijack the traffic and display ‘custom’ alternatives provided by Yahoo Search. It essentially destroyed any built-in browser behavior. Both IE8 and Firefox give their own ‘custom search results’ for mistyped (or search) urls, why add the ISP to this mix as well?
This is completely preposterous — think of the implications this would have, both on the user experience and on automated scripts. I was completely confused when I reached this — I was browsing the Google App Engine apps, and clicked on a mis-linked app, and was all of a sudden on a Qwest page.
The good news is: there is an opt out. Unfortunately, it’s hidden several layers deep in the UI. I recommend if you see this error message, you call Qwest and express to them your disapproval of this ‘service’.
See the image for the search page after I had ‘opted out’, and the request was pending (which having that, in itself, is pretty lame)
5 Comments for Qwest Web.Help … Wtf?
Pissed | September 22, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Author comment by arnie | September 24, 2008 at 12:29 am
I’m honestly not sure who to call, my suggestion to you would be to get ahold of Qwest technical support, which you obviously did, but do it again! Let them know how unhappy you are, and that need to to stop this ‘service’ as it doesn’t satisfy your needs.
To opt out online, you can go to http://www.qwest.net/web.help/?confirm=1 and click on “Opt out of Qwest Web.Help”. I’m not sure if you followed those exact steps, so I’m suggesting it again.
Damian Taggart | March 24, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I had to restart my router before the opt out would take effect. So if you are having issues getting rid of this horrible asinine “service” (aka advertising scam) try restarting your router.
Qwest sucks!
Don | November 4, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Re: Qwest Redirect
Being a phone customer of Qwest for 25 years and a customer of Qwest Choice TV and VDSL for five years I was very satisfied.
Then they changed over to Direct TV, and had installers from Quest and Direct TV come to my house. Ever since their installation it has been a nightmare 24 hours a day.
Too many calls to their technical support and going around in circles with their recorded help questions finally got me to tech support, and nobody knew what they were doing.
Several calls later a Manager got on the phone and after leaving me on hold a number of times he said he would have to call me back. That was three days ago. That day I was on the phone with quest for three hours with no help.
Not only does this stupid Redirect keep coming up and gives us an “Opt Out” that doesn’t let you opt out, my IE8 browser when I use Yahoo now ads a letter in front of the “www” and a letter/number after the address that sends me to GUESS WHAT – QWEST REDIRECT.
Malware and Anti-virus software tells me my PC is OK. Restarted the router many times.
All of this Horror started after Qwest’s installation of their modem, and the install guy worked on my computer while I was dealing with Direct TV (which also stinks)
Qwest did us dirty, and will be losing my three personal accounts and one business account as soon as I can find replacements.
I just tried Qwest Support again went through their stupid recording and then was told they would connect me. I gave up after fourteen minutes of silence. I had to vent.
Thanks
Don
Author comment by arnie | November 12, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I just thought I would make this follow-up post. I finally ended my service with Qwest today because my contract expired, and switched to Comcast. They offered me a $10 discount a month, but I still said no. Like Don says, Qwest is dirty…
I can’t opt out. I get this error message when I try to opt out; “Your request to opt out of Qwest Web.Help could not be completed at this time.”
I need to get on my internal websites… that is my job. I called qwest to help with this and the customer service technician didn’t have a clue what I was asking about. He didn’t have a clue about this new Qwest Web.Net and I spent 2 hours on the phone and he kept insisting it was my company blocking me… even though the redirect page specifically said it was a new Qwest service and the FAQ questions said there may be problems with VPN connections and they provided a link to “opt out” and that is where the error message appeared.
Who do I call to get this turned off? Please a number to a person at Qwest who knows what they are using would be preferable. Is there another link? Is there a work around? Any suggestions… other than the obvious… using a new ISP?