RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Technology Corner: Why websites should NOT use your location.

RV Blog

  |  

RV Sales

  |  

Campgrounds

  |  

RV Parks

  |  

RV Club

  |  

RV Buyers Guide

  |  

Roadside Assistance

  |  

Extended Service Plan

  |  

RV Travel Assistance

  |  

RV Credit Card

  |  

RV Loans

Open Roads Forum Already a member? Login here.   If not, Register Today!  |  Help

Newest  |  Active  |  Popular  |  RVing FAQ Forum Rules  |  Forum Help and Support  |  Contact

Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Technology Corner

Open Roads Forum  >  Technology Corner

 > Why websites should NOT use your location.

Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 5  
Prev  |  Next
Sponsored By:
lwmuddy

So.carolina

Senior Member

Joined: 04/07/2002

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 08/06/12 07:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I block all tracking cookies with "Ghostery".
I also have Ad-Block Plus and No-Script.

When it comes to Tracking Cookies, if I open Wunderground Weather for instance it shoes blocking up to 18 Tracking cookies. Included in most of the blocked trackers is of course Google Analitics.
My spam on emails has dropped dramatically also.

I also run "Ccleaner" after every computer session.

pulsar

Lewisville, NC

Senior Member

Joined: 12/30/2001

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member


Posted: 08/06/12 07:58pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

rockhillmanor wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Websites do not "ping" you to determine your approximate location. They just run your IP (Internet Protocol) address through a (usually third-party)......


That is what is disturbing.
My IP address should show up to be Wisconsin all the time period.

They are accessing my broad band provider somehow and pinging what tower it's hitting off of in real time. This I believe is NOT legal. As I travel it sure as hell shows up where I am within a couple of miles, the only way they can achieve that is to access what towers my broadband is using.

I first noticed it on Google off on a side bar. It asks if this is your location underneath it. I click no and put a city and state 3,000 miles away and the next day it changes back to the location I am parked.


I'm certainly not going to spontaneously combust over this but I thought only the cops could get into your phone/broadband to find out what towers you are using. Don't think the internet should ever have access to this.


Why is that? Are you confusing cell phone number with IP address?

We used an air card as we traveled around the country this summer, 10 states from NC, to WI, to MT. My IP address constantly changed. I didn't do any whois look-ups to get the location, but I'm sure they were from my home town.

Tom

rockhillmanor

On the Road

Senior Member

Joined: 12/06/2003

View Profile



Posted: 08/06/12 09:18pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

pulsar wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Websites do not "ping" you to determine your approximate location. They just run your IP (Internet Protocol) address through a (usually third-party)......


That is what is disturbing.
My IP address should show up to be Wisconsin all the time period.

They are accessing my broad band provider somehow and pinging what tower it's hitting off of in real time. This I believe is NOT legal. As I travel it sure as hell shows up where I am within a couple of miles, the only way they can achieve that is to access what towers my broadband is using.

I first noticed it on Google off on a side bar. It asks if this is your location underneath it. I click no and put a city and state 3,000 miles away and the next day it changes back to the location I am parked.


I'm certainly not going to spontaneously combust over this but I thought only the cops could get into your phone/broadband to find out what towers you are using. Don't think the internet should ever have access to this.


Why is that? Are you confusing cell phone number with IP address?

We used an air card as we traveled around the country this summer, 10 states from NC, to WI, to MT. My IP address constantly changed. I didn't do any whois look-ups to get the location, but I'm sure they were from my home town.Tom

My sprint usb internet I use on the road IS a phone number. And it is a Wisconsin phone number. So theoretically it should show up always as Wisconsin for the IP. When traveling of course it uses the tower closest to where you are at. And that is what they are accessing. Don't know how tracking cookies should know what tower you are using?


"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".


Fulltimers

Anywhere, USA

Senior Member

Joined: 07/16/2004

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 08/06/12 09:24pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If you are using IE9, click on Tools, Internet options, Privacy, and put a check mark in “Never allow websites to request your physical location” in the Location section. Then click "Clear Sites" and click "OK" at the bottom. May work in other versions also. Hopefully this will do the trick.


Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog
2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2001 Saturn SC2 (Mr. Toad)
Photos



TGarrett

TN/SC

Senior Member

Joined: 06/26/2012

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 08/06/12 09:41pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If you have a mobile IP address such as a MyFi or Cell Phone with broadcast capabilities there are methods of determining your loacation other than what tower you are on. Iphones are notorious for this as are many other devices look up the term "Crowd Sourcing Via Google" or with Crowd Sourcing Via Apple. I'm not saying that they can't pull a cell phone IP address from the tower I'm just saying its not the only source of info they have availible. As for the ability to block it or hid it, it is not something your browser can block. The only way to get around it is to go through a remote server that gives you a random IP address and will broadcast you being elsewhere, some you might be able to pick your location it's been a few years since I did any major hide and seek style games on the net avoiding detection.

If I am wrong and there is a browser add on that will hide your IP, this is new tech that I have never encountered. A way to test this would be to install it and go to google and type "what is my IP" if it spits back your IP type it in www.my-ip-address-is.com/ip/xxxxxx where the xx's are and then place that in your browser. It will return either your address or your ISP's address if it is not blocked. If it is blocked it will tell you that it can't be found.

As for the OP's original issue I hate this too as it keeps me from watching a lot of BBC shows that I used to watch when I lived in Europe because it says I am from elsewhere. Same with downloading Apps, music, or books from other countries Apple won't let you do it because they know where your IP is coming from.

* This post was edited 08/06/12 09:48pm by TGarrett *


Garrett
2004 Fleetwood Expedition 38N
Full Timer

Toad(still to be setup) 2011 Jeep Rubicon
2nd (to be put on double trailer with 1st when moving) 2008 Honda S2000


TGarrett

TN/SC

Senior Member

Joined: 06/26/2012

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 08/06/12 09:51pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Sky Hook is the company you should blame if anyone knows where you are it's probably their fault.

kjburns

Prescott, AZ

Senior Member

Joined: 07/13/2008

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 08/07/12 03:38am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

rockhillmanor wrote:


That is what is disturbing.
My IP address should show up to be Wisconsin all the time period.


No, your IP address will vary by location, unless you've run a cable back to Wisconsin while you're on the road.


2011 Winnebago Tour 42QD


pulsar

Lewisville, NC

Senior Member

Joined: 12/30/2001

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member


Posted: 08/07/12 05:03am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

rockhillmanor wrote:

pulsar wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Websites do not "ping" you to determine your approximate location. They just run your IP (Internet Protocol) address through a (usually third-party)......


That is what is disturbing.
My IP address should show up to be Wisconsin all the time period.

They are accessing my broad band provider somehow and pinging what tower it's hitting off of in real time. This I believe is NOT legal. As I travel it sure as hell shows up where I am within a couple of miles, the only way they can achieve that is to access what towers my broadband is using.

I first noticed it on Google off on a side bar. It asks if this is your location underneath it. I click no and put a city and state 3,000 miles away and the next day it changes back to the location I am parked.


I'm certainly not going to spontaneously combust over this but I thought only the cops could get into your phone/broadband to find out what towers you are using. Don't think the internet should ever have access to this.


Why is that? Are you confusing cell phone number with IP address?

We used an air card as we traveled around the country this summer, 10 states from NC, to WI, to MT. My IP address constantly changed. I didn't do any whois look-ups to get the location, but I'm sure they were from my home town.Tom

My sprint usb internet I use on the road IS a phone number. And it is a Wisconsin phone number. So theoretically it should show up always as Wisconsin for the IP. When traveling of course it uses the tower closest to where you are at. And that is what they are accessing. Don't know how tracking cookies should know what tower you are using?


My air card has a phone number, also. But the phone number is what you are calling from, not what you are connecting to.

On edit: I'm not saying the when you are traveling and using a cellular connection that the ip address will show the region you are in. As stated in above, I didn't test that. I expect the ip address is coming from a Verizon server. I do know that the ip addresses that Verizon was giving me, while we were traveling, were not from my home town. At home, the ip addresses through the air card almost always start with 4.152. Out west, the ip addresses through the air card stated with 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 (I don't recall the other digits.)

Tom

* This post was last edited 08/07/12 09:18am by pulsar *   View edit history

MrWizard

Traveling

Moderator

Joined: 06/27/2004

View Profile



Posted: 08/07/12 07:43am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

i think the weather app on my phone uses the cell tower location not gps, in the last few days , it has given me the weather address of three different towns in three different directions from where I am camped
and none of them were the two towns that are the closest to us


Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....

Connected thru Verizon with HotSopt WiFi using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Member of the Verizon Wireless Customer Council
I BOUGHTthis phone


Dutch_12078

Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Senior Member

Joined: 10/07/2008

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 08/07/12 07:48am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

kjburns wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:


That is what is disturbing.
My IP address should show up to be Wisconsin all the time period.


No, your IP address will vary by location, unless you've run a cable back to Wisconsin while you're on the road.

Exactly... The IP address is assigned by the DHCP server that serves your current tower, or tower group, and will change as you travel.

Here's a link to check your current IP: Check My IP

If you run Firefox, there's an add-on called "Live IP Address" that will periodically check your current IP address and display it in the status bar.


Dutch
1995 Coachmen Catalina 322QBXL
F53 chassis, 460 V8, TST TPMS
Quadra Bigfoot EZE Levelers
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate


Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 5  
Prev  |  Next

Open Roads Forum  >  Technology Corner

 > Why websites should NOT use your location.
Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Technology Corner


New posts No new posts
Closed, new posts Closed, no new posts
Moved, new posts Moved, no new posts

Adjust text size:

© 2013 RV.Net | Terms & Conditions | PRIVACY POLICY | YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS