Why is Google detecting a wrong IP address in Firefox and how can I fix it?
Hi there.
I recently got myself into a little bit of trouble by downloading a file containing a ton of malware. While I've managed to get rid of the majority of it some things still aren't right, such as Google detecting a wrong IP address. However, I can't find a malware program that can detect anything that's wrong and I've exhausted trying to detect anything manually.
Now before you start sending me packing to a malware specialist, the reason I come here is because this problem is only happening in Firefox AND it's only affecting Google. When I search using Internet Explorer, it gives me correct IP / location information, but in Firefox, Google detects me from several rotating locations; San Jose CA, Ashburn VA, and Boardman OR. There may be others, but those are the ones I've noticed. Going to another IP detection website gives me the same IP / location detected in IE.
Is there anyone that can tell me where I might go looking in Firefox's data to eliminate this problem?
Thanks so much
WW.
Chosen solution
You can check the connection settings.
- Tools > Options > Advanced > Network : Connection > Settings
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Options+window+-+Advanced+panel
If you do not need to use a proxy to connect to internet then try to select "No Proxy" if "Use the system proxy settings" or one of the others do not work properly.
See "Firefox connection settings":
Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml - SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Windows Defender:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender - Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
All Replies (4)
Are you using Proxy or VPN software with Firefox?
In Firefox look to Options > Advanced -> Network --> Connection - Settings... button
What is set there?
Try using No proxy.
Hi Edmeister,
Thanks for the reply. While Firefox was set to "Use system settings" I tried restarting it using "No proxy" to no effect.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Chosen Solution
You can check the connection settings.
- Tools > Options > Advanced > Network : Connection > Settings
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Options+window+-+Advanced+panel
If you do not need to use a proxy to connect to internet then try to select "No Proxy" if "Use the system proxy settings" or one of the others do not work properly.
See "Firefox connection settings":
Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml - SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Windows Defender:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender - Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
Hi Cor-el,
Thanks so much for letting me know about AdwCleaner, this one did the trick.
I'd already ran TDSS, Malwarebytes (the full, paid-for version), Search & Destroy and Windows Malicious Software Removal Kit, and also tried using HiJack This! and Process Explorer to try and identify the problem, but none of them were able to detect or help me detect the issue.
While no files were found that I knew could be removed (they were all created much earlier than the root of the problem, and upon investigation were harmless i.e. GearDif, I allowed it to clear my registry.
I suppose this is a step I could take manually next time, but it was nice to have this do it for me.
Thanks so much,
WW.