Although location is set to block, some sites still redirect to their localized versions
I am living in Spain, and browse in English. Often when I do a search with Google, although the result is linking to a page in English, the final page is in the one for the Spanish market (es_Es).
A good example is the Seagate website. Even direct links from other forums are redirected to their Spanish version. Also, after cleaning cache for Seagate sites, restarting, AND trying it in a Private Window.
My config: macOs 10.15.4 set to UK English. Firefox Dev Edition 76.0b3, (language same as OS) with: - Privacy & Security: Enhanced Tracking Protection > Standard - Privacy & Security: Locations > "Block new requests asking to access your location" checked - about:config > geo.enabled set to false. Google Search Region Settings are set to "United States". –
Thank you!
Vahaolana nofidina
quasi Question owner said
And, is there another way for sites to get my geo-location with the settings I describe in the first post? Or is the IP the only way?
Some sites may request your "precise" location. Firefox will prompt you for permission before providing it. Well, normally, but now Firefox already knows you aren't interested in granting permission and in fact the whole feature is blocked because:
quasi said
My config: ...
- Privacy & Security: Locations > "Block new requests asking to access your location" checked - about:config > geo.enabled set to false.
So sites will use your IP address and expressed language preference if they want to customize content. If you are logged into the site, of course, they also can use information in your account.
Hamaky an'ity valiny ity @ sehatra 👍 1All Replies (8)
hi, lot of browsers reverse lookup for your ip address to give their user more local-friendly view. have you tried using a firefox container? it blocks most of the tracking services.
Novain'i LakinduK t@
LakinduK said
hi, lot of browsers reverse lookup for your ip address to give their user more local-friendly view. have you tried using a firefox container? it blocks most of the tracking services.
Thank you for your reply. As I didn't found the container tabs in Firefox Developer Edition, I went and downloaded the Add-on.
Now, when using a container tab, the problem subsists. Actually, it's even worse, because on the footer of the Google search page I can read the precise location I am. Probably because I did not changed google settings for that container. In the other hand, without a container tab, google states my location as "unknow".
On Seagate.com it's very frustrating, because, when the en_US page exists and not the es_ES you get redirected to the product page O_O
You might need to use a VPN with an "exit node" in the U.K. for sites that very stubbornly force geographic localization on you.
jscher2000 Top 10 Contributor said
You might need to use a VPN with an "exit node" in the U.K. for sites that very stubbornly force geographic localization on you.
So, I need to pay a third party to be able to be able to hide my location? The main reason I am using Firefox is because of its privacy options. For sure there must be a built-in option.
quasi Question owner said
jscher2000 Top 10 Contributor said
You might need to use a VPN with an "exit node" in the U.K. for sites that very stubbornly force geographic localization on you.So, I need to pay a third party to be able to be able to hide my location? The main reason I am using Firefox is because of its privacy options. For sure there must be a built-in option.
If the site is serving you a localized site based on the IP address assigned by your network service provider (home ISP, work ISP, coffee shop ISP) then as far as I know, there is nothing any browser can do about that.
jscher2000 Top 10 Contributor said
If the site is serving you a localized site based on the IP address assigned by your network service provider (home ISP, work ISP, coffee shop ISP) then as far as I know, there is nothing any browser can do about that.
Ok. This is highly annoying, but I guess I will have to live with it (or start to learn local languages).
And, is there another way for sites to get my geo-location with the settings I describe in the first post? Or is the IP the only way?
Thank you for your time.
Vahaolana Nofidina
quasi Question owner said
And, is there another way for sites to get my geo-location with the settings I describe in the first post? Or is the IP the only way?
Some sites may request your "precise" location. Firefox will prompt you for permission before providing it. Well, normally, but now Firefox already knows you aren't interested in granting permission and in fact the whole feature is blocked because:
quasi said
My config: ...
- Privacy & Security: Locations > "Block new requests asking to access your location" checked - about:config > geo.enabled set to false.
So sites will use your IP address and expressed language preference if they want to customize content. If you are logged into the site, of course, they also can use information in your account.
jscher2000 said
... So sites will use your IP address and expressed language preference if they want to customize content. If you are logged into the site, of course, they also can use information in your account. </blockquote>
Thank you very much for this clarification.