Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2020 July 29

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July 29

Browser suggestions

When I start typing "http://en.wikipedia..." into Google Chrome's address bar, whatever machine I am using, wherever I am, it always comes up with the suggestion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sql_injection (see contribution record). Why does this happen? I have never looked at the article and I have no idea what "SQL injection" may be. 87.74.53.154 (talk) 10:48, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

Are you logged in to a Google account?

Wikipedia uses https and not http. What do you get if you begin with "https://en.wikipedia"? Elizium23 (talk) 13:11, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

In 2005, your IP address made this edit to the SQL injection article, so that may have something to do with it. I don't know how much "wherever you are, whatever machine you are using" varies in your case. Elizium23 (talk) 13:17, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

Using "http" I get korowai_people in addition to sql_injection. korowai_people also comes up regularly wherever I access this website from. "https" brings up an unfamiliar name. At another location earlier this afternoon "http" brought up sql_injection, korowai_people and some unfamiliar names. "https" brought up korowai_people and some unfamiliar names. I do not have a Google account. 87.74.53.154 (talk) 14:47, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

If this bothers you, you could clear your browsing history data. Elizium23 (talk) 15:06, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

Thanks. It doesn't bother me, I just wondered how browsers select the suggestions they present. Do they use an algorithm? I wouldn't have a clue how to "clear my browsing history data". The IP has changed but the suggestions haven't, so the fact that somebody edited an article 15 years ago using an IP which was allocated to me 15 years later wouldn't affect it. 87.75.42.198 (talk) 09:44, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

Chrome may be using a prediction service to give you those suggestions. You can delete the ones you do not want. Elizium23 (talk) 09:58, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

The 87's in this section are emanating from a banned user. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:25, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

WP:LTA/VXFC --Guy Macon (talk) 14:36, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

If you're logging in on Chrome, then they're rummaging thru your browsing history which they've tied to your Google account to guess what you wanna read. If you're not logged in, then that's a good reason to switch browsers... 93.136.9.200 (talk) 17:49, 31 July 2020 (UTC)

Not Yahoo search engine

I have two identical Toshiba Satellite PC laptops. I run Firefox and Google Chrome on each. I like Google as my default search engine, however one of the PCs defaults to the Yahoo search engine every time I type something into the Google search box. I don't like the Yahoo seach engine and want to go back where Google is again my default search engine used (just like my other Toshiba laptop is). Apparently somewhere along the way I clicked on a button that designated that the Yahoo search engine be used as the default on this particular Toshiba PC. How can I get the Yahoo seach engine out and have as my default search engine just Google? I know that can be done since one of my Toshiba PCs does that and always uses Google as the search engine. Is there a fix on this in Firefox or Chrome, where it can be set to use JUST the Google search engine. Thanks for help on this. --Doug Coldwell (talk) 12:26, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

You will find the Chrome setting at "Settings | Search Engine | Search engine used in the address bar", and the Firefox setting is at "Preferences | Search | Default Search Engine".

What I would recommend is creating accounts with Firefox and/or Google so that you can sync your preferences. Then they will be consistent across all your devices, including new ones as you set them up. Elizium23 (talk) 13:03, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

Thanks for help - however, where EXACTLY do I fine the Chrome or Firefox settings. I have looked on my browser, but can't fine a place where it says "Settings" or "Preferences" anywhere. Can you give me a clue where these are to be found, from this screenshot. --Doug Coldwell (talk) 14:02, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

I have also looked at the "Open menu" button, but those Settings are not there. Can you give me a clue where I should look for those Settings and Preferences you are talking about in Chrome and Firefox. Presently I don't have a clue where to look. I have already looked everywhere imaginable, but apparently have overlooked something obvious. Thanks for help on this.--Doug Coldwell (talk) 14:52, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

Doug Coldwell, in your Firefox it is called "Options".

In Chrome you can go to chrome://settings/ Elizium23 (talk) 14:56, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

YUP. I see what you are saying, however I don't seem to understand the part called "Options" as I can NOT find THAT anywhere. Where exactly is THAT and where exactly is this you say of go to chrome://settings/. Here is the funny part of all this - here I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about computers, but apparently the technology has gotten away from me. If I had a clue of where to find these items I would be glad to set them to Google for my search engine - but at the moment I am completely stumped where to go get these places you speak of. Pretend like I am an old 75 year old that has lost it as far as this new technology terms is concerned = yup, that's me!!!--Doug Coldwell (talk) 15:23, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

I have no trouble creating 500 Did You Know articles and over 50 Good Articles (so far this year) - but for the life of me I have NOT A CLUE where to go look at Firefox for that you call "Options" and on Chrome of that you say, chrome://settings/ . Can you give me some guidence here as apparently I need a little extra help to find these places you speak of. It's easy to you, since obviously you are a techie type - but at the moment impossible for me to find these places you speak of in Firefox and Chrome. Now here is what is funnier = I sit in front of three PCs all day long seven days a week and have been creating Wikipedia articles for some 14 years. But this new technology terms you speak of has got me lost. Thanks for any additional help you can provide for me. Maybe I can pay back someday with my writing skills I do have. A couple of my latest articles I created as Did You knows are John Jonathon Pratt and William Austin Burt. I have even done a 16-in-1 Did You Know hook line. But finding Firefox "options" and chrome://settings/ is completely beyond my ability presently. Can you give me a couple of further clues where these are to be found EXACTLY. Thanks. --Doug Coldwell (talk) 16:04, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

That place in Chrome that you might call a "search bar"... Type "chrome://settings" in there. By "go to", he is using the same verbage he would use if he said "go to http://example.com". As long as you are not running a dirt-old version of Chrome, the settings will have a search bar at the top. Type "default" in there and look through the results that come up. Do you see "Search engine used in teh address bar"? That is the setting that sets which search engine Chrome uses by default when you type something into the address bar (which people tend to call the search bar). 97.82.165.112 (talk) 17:25, 29 July 2020 (UTC)

On Firefox click on Tools on the top bar, and options appears in the dropdown. You can also type alt T O to open the options screen. If the menu bar is invisible, right click on the top bar, and then click next to menu bar. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 00:26, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

In Chrome you can also access settings by clicking on the icon at the far top right of your Chrome screen. I agree this is not obvious.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:46, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

• Thanks to all the techie gurus - you all have been a great inspiration to solving problems for me. What I ultimately did to solve the issue of Firefox always defaulting to the Yahoo search engine (which I didn't want) was to "refresh" the Firefox installation. It then reverted back to the factory settings with no add-ons = solving the issue at hand. Thanks again guys, as ya'all inspired me figure out the solution I wanted. By default I learned a lot about Firefox and Chrome.--Doug Coldwell (talk) 10:55, 30 July 2020 (UTC)