Posted on 04/05/2011 6:03:44 PM PDT by dynachrome
Geolocation is a rather secret feature of some browsers and toolbars. It allows the creator of that program to get a fix on the location of your computer to within a few meters of where you actually live. For the potential dangers read the article from BBC News entitled 'Web attack knows where you live' here.
The question is therefore how to effectively disable this feature. At this moment this site offers solutions for Apple Safari, Firefox, Flock, Google Chrome, Google Toolbar, Opera and Twitter.
[01] Apple Safari: • Goto the ‘Display a menu of Genenal Safari settings’(the little cogwheel on the right of the toolbar) • Goto ‘Preferences’ • Goto ‘Security’ • Uncheck ‘Allow websites to ask for location information’
[02] Comodo Dragon: • Goto the ‘Customize and control Comodo Dragon' icon (the little grey wrench on the top right) • Goto ‘Options’ • Goto ‘Under the Bonnet’ • Choose ‘Content Settings’ • Choose ‘Location’ • Check ‘Do not allow any site to track my physical location’
[03] Facebook (initially just for the iPhone client): • Goto Privacy Settings • Click ‘Custom’ • Click ‘Custom Settings’ • Disable ‘Places I check in’ • Disable ‘People here now’ • Disable ‘Friends can check me in to places’
[05] Google Chrome: • Goto the ‘Customize and control Google Chrome’ icon (the little blue wrench on the top right) • Goto ‘Options’ • Goto ‘Under the Bonnet’ • Choose ‘Content Settings’ • Choose ‘Location’ • Check ‘Do not allow any site to track my physical location’
(Excerpt) Read more at no-geolocation.blogspot.com ...
“”[08] Mozilla Firefox:
• Type ‘about:config’ in the address bar (without the ‘’)
• Discard the warning by hitting ‘yes’
• [1] Scroll down until you reach ‘geo.enabled’ or you can simply search for ‘geo.enabled’
• Doubleclick the item and it will change from its default value ‘True’ to ‘False’
• [2] Scroll down until you reach ‘geo.wifi.uri’or you can simply search for ‘geo.wifi.uri’
• Rightclick the Value of ‘geo.wifi.uri’ and click ‘Modify’
• Type in ‘localhost’ and hit ‘OK’””
Thank you for posting this article.
Yes. Thank you for this information.
Seriously? There is an entire blog about geolocation?
Interesting. Looks like Internet Explorer is about the only App that doesn’t give away your location.
Take that, Apple and Firefox lovers!
I guess it’s useful information. If I’m ordering a pizza it’s nice to find places nearby. If I’m plotting to overthrow tyrants, I guess I’d rather not make it easy to find me. :-)
Thanks. All done.
interesting. thanks for posting
Had you given thought to the idea that the reason it isn't on the list is because you CANNOT DISABLE GEOLOCATION on IE ?????
Given that link, Maybe it’s because the BLOGGER never tried it on IE.
????
A place where one places their illustrated personal diary on-line, and they would worry about the GEO LOCATION feature?
Besides, the GEOLOCATION does not give THEM your location down to a few feet. At best, it gives them the city and state.
Bump& ping
The only way this makes any sense at all is if they are talking "smart phone" apps which can access the GPS chip buried in all of the latest cell phones (& perhaps Ipads & similar devices, netbooks, & PDAs). I'm running the latest Firefox browser on my desktop and there is NO location functionality available. This article applies only to the yuppies running around with an iPhone 4 permanently screwed into the left ear.
GPS was added to cell phones when it became apparent that people were going to be calling 911 with no actual address to refer back to when dispatching emergency services. For the truly paranoid the locator function may be turned on remotely any time the phone is powered up. That should give you something to think about...
Regards,
GtG
Done. Thank you.
It’s probably embedded in the registry.
It’s probably embedded in the registry.
Also to note when taking pictures with your smartphone. Most will add geotags to the picture file. To see them, download to your computer and look at the file properties.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.