I have told the software not to give out my location yet sights think I am in Albuquerque, NM. How do I become hidden?
When I go to a sight that sells something and has a location in Albuquerque, NM it then assumes I am there! How do I stop this and I have set preferences to not give out any location information.
All Replies (8)
There's two types of "location information".
1. Geo-location info can be disabled in the web browser. That type of information is typically very accurate, right to the street address of the WiFi connection most of the time. (Mobile phones use geo-location and also laptops; typically not used for desktop computers without a WiFi card being installed.) https://whatismyipaddress.com/geolocation-accuracy https://whatismyipaddress.com/geolocation
2. The IP address of the connection can't be controlled by the web browser. Accuracy isn't good, typically the community where the computer is being used.
If your question pertains to your location not being accurate for your true physical location, your internet service provider could be supplying the wrong location for the IP address that your computer is using. Or the database that keeps track of IP addresses relative to the true location could be reporting inaccurate location.
Let me tell you what I use, no WIFI in use just good old network cables and a modem connected to a phone line. From the modem 10-baseT connection it goes to a firewall server that protects my inside network with hard coded addresses. The address from the modem is also hard coded so there is no auto addressing. My network provider as far as they tell me is not providing and location information eater yet I will try again to verify this information. If anyone has more suggestions I am open to all.
Hello drleephd,
Maybe you would consider using a VPN :
https://thedroidguy.com/2018/09/5-best-free-vpn-for-firefox-in-2019-1089675
But most good things come with a price ......
Also see these search results ......
It may solv my problem but I refuse to pay by the month! Ask Microsoft if you do nit think I have this notion!
drleephd said
... a modem connected to a phone line.
In that case, the IP address which is used and "seen" on the internet would be one "assigned" to your connection by the phone company each time you "dial-up". And that can't be hidden or 'spoofed', you would never receive any data from the internet - the packets need to know where to send the data.
I am curious what the issue is with a website assuming that you are in Albuquerque, NM. Too close to your "real" location? Or too far away? And you would like better accuracy?
To see what public databases have for your IP address, you can check a site like:
For low volume usage, the TunnelBear VPN is free up to 500MB/month:
The suggestion to see what the public databases says is great and one says Rio Rancho and the other says Albuquerque. I will try rebooting the modem and then maybe my IP will change, If not I will have the phone company change it on their end. The IP on my delegated connection (No Dial up) should be reassigned when it is rebooted. Thanks to all
See the 2nd thread about this topic which is now locked. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1256494
There are a variety of different databases out there which "match" the IP Address to a physical location and some databases are more accurate than other databases.
Sorry, but I have no further suggestions except to say that I have encounter similar issues with IP Address location services from time to time over the last 15 years (or so) with Comcast / Xfinity Cable internet where my location "changed" daily or weekly as Comcast was rearranging their connections to the internet fiber optic lines. I saw minor changes where I seemed to "float" among various locales around the west suburban Chicago area, and for a time I would see my perceived location shift to Virginia - sometimes changing with every new website that I opened.
drleephd said
I will try rebooting the modem and then maybe my IP will change, If not I will have the phone company change it on their end. The IP on my delegated connection (No Dial up) should be reassigned when it is rebooted. Thanks to all
Perhaps your internet service provider (ISP) is using DHCP - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Host_Configuration_Protocol - to assign the IP Address to your connection to their system?
With DHCP, the user retains the same IP Address until there is a reason for it to be reassigned; either by user choice, IOW, when you reboot your connection, or the "lease" times out. For me the "lease" is for 72 hours / 3 days with Comcast / Xfinity Cable, and the "lease" automatically renews itself just by using the internet (regains the 72 hour time period). When I am away from home for 3 days or more, usually I will get a different a different IP Address for my connection, but not always.