I think that most people wouldn't pay for a browser anyways. And won't pay even for an extra service as VPN etc. So mostly even alternative browsers are still funded by Google in a way like Firefox or Opera by setting Google as the default search engine.

I disagree. I pay for a VPN, because I can't find a decent free one. Many people pay for a small utility Startallback, just to correct the nonsense in the start menu. A browser should attract more money than a simple utility (which also has the free alternative openshell).

@hucker Opera allows users, if they want, to block ads on webpages, including the ones from Opera.

I was referring to the "ads" from that redirected search engine.

And since it stopped being a paid software, Opera uses ads to get part of their revenue.

I wasn't aware it ever was, I've used it from the start for free.

And since it stopped being a paid software, Opera uses ads to get part of their revenue.

I don't pay for either, but I know many people do.

Opera could probably collect more more from M$ themselves. Bing is the most advert ridden piece of crap I've ever seen. Finding an actual result is almost impossible.

So we still have the original problem, searches beginning with a letter use a non-default search engine. I can't think of a single person who uses more than one search engine. This feature is ridiculous.

@sadscribbler Those entries were put there by Opera. They're not malware.

From Opera Security Team: https://www.reddit.com/r/operabrowser/comments/17i3mng/comment/k7ia1wp/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Hi. Thanks for bringing this to our attention - we had the team investigate this and yes, this was a safe implementation. However, it has now been discontinued and Bing results should be showing up normally now.

@hucker said in [How to remove link textother search engines?](/post/331077):

Every time I want strikethrough textto search for something beginning with a single letter, eg. "b c d circuit breaker curves", instead of searching for what I asked, it used bing to s Flink text

Search for what I asked minus the first letter. How do I stop this nonsense. I use only one search engine, duckduckgo.

I looked in the settings and all I can do is change the defaults. There must be an ini file somewhere I can remove or at least change the shortcut for the others? But I don't even know where those ini files are, or does it use the registry?

Juste be used microsoft you just let felded in other apps .then and then you could be posible to change theme egs. Or remove all fortune your selfe. It's juste Microsoft software fixin outcare by your owne time(s)

You could asking Azure softeware noledges ,to helpe you recording your System or m'y Last choice Relowde The System Of Softe Ware!!

I wesh u could find wath your possibillity_,b c d circuit breker curves" if possible changes or remove egouik iopossibillitys.
Was Kuy* bord eg. To suarch u could Finded : "letter before G after S".

To personnal user alone
Abylink text ja123

You just crashed Google translate.

I too use the /hosts file on my Windows machines so that I can access my own local webserver so this isn't a problem.

Thank you too, for constructive guidance and not the biassed responses that some seem to think is acceptable.

Every time I want strikethrough textto search for something beginning with a single letter, eg. "b c d circuit breaker curves", instead of searching for what I asked, it used bing to s Flink text

Search for what I asked minus the first letter. How do I stop this nonsense. I use only one search engine, duckduckgo.

I looked in the settings and all I can do is change the defaults. There must be an ini file somewhere I can remove or at least change the shortcut for the others? But I don't even know where those ini files are, or does it use the registry?

Juste be used microsoft you just let felded in other apps .then and then you could be posible to change theme egs. Or remove all fortune your selfe. It's juste Microsoft software fixin outcare by your owne time(s)

You could asking Azure softeware noledges ,to helpe you recording your System or m'y Last choice Relowde The System Of Softe Ware!!

I wesh u could find wath your possibillity_,b c d circuit breker curves" if possible changes or remove egouik iopossibillitys.
Was Kuy* bord eg. To suarch u could Finded : "letter before G after S".

To personnal user alone
Abylink text ja123

Anyways as far as I understand Opera‘s need to monetize, such behavior isn‘t helpful to maintain the trust of its users, is it? I mean, you always read about this China thing and about selling user data.

Google is the biggest seller of user data. At least Opera blocks all it's ads

If you don't like the site's privacy policy and don't want your Bing searches shared with that site, then yes, it's a concern. If you trust Opera and trust that they fully vetted the company and the site, then you don't need to worry.

I'm not using Bing anyways.

Neither am I, I trust MS less than anything else. Bing is useless anyway, 90% ads, 10% results.

If you did want to use Bing but without the redirect, you can goto the URL opera://settings/searchEngines, click "Add" under the
"Site Search" section, name it Bing (Direct), set its keyword to bd and set its URL to https://www.bing.com/search?q=%s. Then, whenever you want to search Bing, type bd and a space in the address field before you type your search terms.

We should be able to change the letters.

But why should there be a redirect, when you use a certain search engine?

Ideally, there shouldn't. But, to make money, Opera has all kinds of partners and shares things. See https://legal.opera.com/privacy/ for example.

I don't understand how I can get 5% off everything from AliExpress. Who is paying? £11 off a laser engraver was nice. Anyone want an engraved mahogany house sign?

Ideally, there shouldn't. But, to make money, Opera has all kinds of partners and shares things. See https://legal.opera.com/privacy/ for example.

Sorry I can't read that, I only speak English.

@burnout426 Do you think, this is a matter for concern?

If you don't like the site's privacy policy and don't want your Bing searches shared with that site, then yes, it's a concern. If you trust Opera and trust that they fully vetted the company and the site, then you don't need to worry.

I'm not using Bing anyways.

Then you're all good either way. It's only with the default Bing search. I don't use Bing either.

If you did want to use Bing but without the redirect, you can goto the URL opera://settings/searchEngines, click "Add" under the
"Site Search" section, name it Bing (Direct), set its keyword to bd and set its URL to https://www.bing.com/search?q=%s. Then, whenever you want to search Bing, type bd and a space in the address field before you type your search terms.

But why should there be a redirect, when you use a certain search engine?

Ideally, there shouldn't. But, to make money, Opera has all kinds of partners and shares things. See https://legal.opera.com/privacy/ for example.

Ultimately, this is the easiest and most reasonable. Of course it means you'll have to apply this change to all machines you have Opera on. This easy fix will help those who are concerned with this.

So on all OSes, there is a config file named: "hosts". On Unix style OSes (like Linux), it's path is:
/etc/hosts

On Windows OSes, the path is:
c:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

You have to be the root user to edit it. Open the file in your favorite text editor, and append this line:
0.0.0.0 ysrcunow.com

Basically, your browsers and such need to resolve the spelled-out-website-name into an IP numerical address, and then it reaches out to the website using that value. The first thing it does is look in the "hosts" file for the numerical address - if found, it uses it ... otherwise, it reaches out to the your DNS server (like a phonebook of the Internet) for the translation.

Basically, the address "0.0.0.0" is a dead address, ie, it resolves to "nothing", so your browser will NOT be directed to the actual website.

That's it. Good luck to all. I will post this here, and to another thread regarding this concern. The user leocg will probably comment, but doesn't matter. I've also seen this person posting out to a Reddit thread (with a slightly different username, but similar pattern: gomesleo).

(Sidenote: FWIW, I'm a software engineer with 35+ years experience (now retired ... I'm also a published author of four computer books), and spent quite a while with the security team. This is very questionable. After I'm done posting, I will be gone from this forum, and will uninstall Opera from all four of my machines, and will pass on the info to many others).

It seems the developers of Opera don't want persons to be able to edits the search engine list - now perhaps we know why.

It does beg the question, how trustworthy are other aspects of the browser? Unconscionable and outrageous conduct.