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why does google have my location on its web page
Hello, A couple of days ago, a new column appeared on the google web page in IE 8. It contains, amongst other things, my location:i.e.city and postcode. Google claims that it can't be removed but it can be changed to show just your country. This doesn't work. Google also seems to be saying that it can be disabled if you go to google maps and perform certain procedures. This doesn't work for me either. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thanks, Bert
Tags:
software
31st Oct 2010
Answers (2)
0
Votes
IP address "geocode" and cookies
Google (like any other website you visit) will, by necessity, see your ip-address when you request a page.
This address can, at least, be traced back to your ISP and country. But in most cases one can deduct the region, city or even particular suburbs. You can find many sites on the internet that match IP addresses to location, but I believe Google now has the biggest database (and thus best granularity).
As I wrote above, the other side needs to see your IP address. Otherwise you can't communicate. So, when Google offers you to "disable" something, they need to write a cookie to your computer. Now, if your settings are such that you don't keep cookies from different sites, then this "disable flag" won't be kept.
If you're concerned about this, then you look up things like "public vpn servers", "TOR - The Onion Router" (these are two techniques to hide your ip address).
You can also look up different solutions for "google anonymizer", where, at least, your cookies will be scrambled, but, possibly, your requests to google servers will be tunneled via a third party, so that google won't see your ip address.
This address can, at least, be traced back to your ISP and country. But in most cases one can deduct the region, city or even particular suburbs. You can find many sites on the internet that match IP addresses to location, but I believe Google now has the biggest database (and thus best granularity).
As I wrote above, the other side needs to see your IP address. Otherwise you can't communicate. So, when Google offers you to "disable" something, they need to write a cookie to your computer. Now, if your settings are such that you don't keep cookies from different sites, then this "disable flag" won't be kept.
If you're concerned about this, then you look up things like "public vpn servers", "TOR - The Onion Router" (these are two techniques to hide your ip address).
You can also look up different solutions for "google anonymizer", where, at least, your cookies will be scrambled, but, possibly, your requests to google servers will be tunneled via a third party, so that google won't see your ip address.
31st Oct 2010
0
Votes
RE: A couple of days ago, a new column appeared
Or you could just uninstall the new Google Toolbar.
This only started when I installed it recently. I'm assuming that is what you mean here.
But as said above to have the proper communication you need to have the other end see your IP Address which does this. I suppose if you logged on using a proxy server in another Country the Google listed Location may be different but that's not really piratical is it?
Col
This only started when I installed it recently. I'm assuming that is what you mean here.
But as said above to have the proper communication you need to have the other end see your IP Address which does this. I suppose if you logged on using a proxy server in another Country the Google listed Location may be different but that's not really piratical is it?
Col
31st Oct 2010
