Can I disable the sending of my IP address to Google?
It says in Mozilla documentation: "By default, Firefox uses Google Location Services to determine your location by sending: your computer’s IP address" https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/does-firefox-share-my-location-websites
I do not want Google to know where I am and collect a dossier on my browsing history. I'm not talking about doing this on a smartphone where location is important; this is on a PC.
I did not see it in Preferences, but can it be disabled by entering about:config and changing one of the listed preferences?
Chosen solution
yes you can disable geo location.
type about:config in address bar and hit enter and accept the warning, and search for geo.enabled and double click on it to change it to false.
and thats it.
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Chosen Solution
yes you can disable geo location.
type about:config in address bar and hit enter and accept the warning, and search for geo.enabled and double click on it to change it to false.
and thats it.
A laptop would have GeoLocation abilities and uses, but a desktop that is "plugged into" the internet connection you use doesn't have any need for GeoLocation features and don't have the capabilities.
Block the IP address and you "break the internet". The IP address may "point towards" your actual physical location, but not within a 1/4 mile almost all the time.
There is a location setting in Options/Preferences.
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Permissions: Location
- Tools -> Page Info -> Permissions: Access your Location
Note that websites can always do a reverse DNS lookup of your IP to get information including your location. When a website uses Geo location then Firefox will always ask for permission (there is a special icon at the left end of the location bar).
This might help (a little) :
When you're on the Gmail page, click on the 'i' in a circle, next to the padlock at the left side of the address bar. That will take you to 'Page Info'. Then click on the little black arrow on the dropdown and then on 'More Information'. Click on the 'Permissions' tab and scroll down to 'Access Your Location'. Uncheck 'Use Default' and check 'Block'.
Note that this isn't about Google websites, but about using a specific Geo location service (in this case the Google API).
Thanks to everyone for responding so quickly, on a Saturday no less! And thanks for the links.
I should have mentioned that this particular application is a desktop PC using wired Internet, as it would have been a strange question if I was asking about a laptop being used in Starbucks.
geo.enabled was the setting I was trying to remember. It also works in Waterfox and probably Seamonkey and Pale Moon.
In case it matters, I was asking because Youtube, a/k/a Google, remembers my specific searches.
Note that some websites might be broken if you disable Geo location via the pref (geo.enabled) because the JavaScript that is used doesn't handle this case properly.