how to change your DNS (and why)

If your ISP (like mine) is redirecting your searches to their own websites (with their sponsors) the problem is that your DNS is given by the ISP.

This is very easy to change, all you have to do is figure out if you are you using a router.

If the answer is yes, then you will need the router's password and username. Once obtained open a browser and type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar, this should prompt for username and password; enter your credentials and go to "Basic settings" or such and look for "Domain Name Server (DNS) Address", Enter 4.2.2.2 in the primary DNS box and save the settings.

You now have a general purpose DNS (easy to remember IP) and will not redirect to unwanted web sites.

If on the other hand you are connected directly to the internet using your PC, and you are using Windows then do the following:

"Start">"Control Panel">"Network Connections"> find the active interface and right-click "Properties"> double-click on "Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)" then go click on "Use the following DNS address" enter 4.2.2.2 into the "Prefered DNS server" box click OK to accept all the settings.

Otherwise you may be using Linux or Mac; in this case the configuration will be different:

Get to a shell prompt (command line interface) and edit the file /etc/resolve.conf remove the contents and add the following line:
nameserver 4.2.2.2