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[renluop]

I've been on the Google Forum without luck.

My problem is this. I set my location but the location changes at random. For a few days it is
e.g.Hampshire, then, say, Wandsworth, then Ilford.

I do not think there are nasties on the computer, so does anyone know what the problem and cure might be? Please!

[geep]

I wonder if you have a dynamic IP address which Google thinks is coming from a different location each time you get a new address allocated.

Do you know if your IP address is static or dynamic?

From some comments on Google website the location identification is not always correct. If you actually defined a location, then it could be changing because the location software as a whole is a bit buggy and it forgets that you have assigned a location. Especially if it uses cookies to remember the location - the cookies could be getting deleted somehow.

See: http://www.google.co.uk/support/websearch/bin/static.py?page=guide.cs&guide=1224171&answer=179386

Cheers,
Peter

[BritBrat]

I also think it is where your ISP location is and if they have different servers in various locations you would get moved to the new location.

[sevenlayermuddle]

I'd have thought google would use cookies to maintain you chosen 'location'.  Have you tried deleting all internet cookies, then see what it thinks location is set to afterwards?   But I'm deeply suspicious of google these day.   I wouldn't trust them further than I could spit, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were somehow setting location based upon sites that you've visited, it may earn them more cash from their advertisers.

As another example I've noticed recently, if I search (say) screwfix.com for bathroom sinks, and click on the links, then a few days later I find adverts for bathroom sinks cropping up all over the place on subsequent google ads.  I assume (correct me, anybody?) that's clever(!) use of google cookies?

[AdrianH]

They do use cookies to track your viewing and target what ads/info they serve you, the geolocation relies on the IP address and if that changes (dynamic IP) and comes from different servers your location will change too,note that they invite you to change the location to give more accurate results. Is it a good idea though to do this and give them your town name, do you want their tracking to get that close to home ?

New browsers are introducing "don't track" settings and clearing history/cookies frequently stops info getting in the wrong hands. Look also in your browser for "persistent cookies" as these are often not removable by the likes of CCleaner et al.

[renluop]

Thanks for replies.

Dynamic Plusnet IP address!

Persistent cookies; are they those that have no expiry date, or something else?

[AdrianH]

Thanks for replies.

Dynamic Plusnet IP address!

Persistent cookies; are they those that have no expiry date, or something else?

http://www.allaboutcookies.org/

http://www.allaboutcookies.org/cookies/index.html

There are two types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are created temporarily in your browser's subfolder while you are visiting a website. Once you leave the site, the session cookie is deleted. On the other hand, persistent cookie files remain in your browser's subfolder and are activated again once you visit the website that created that particular cookie. A persistent cookie remains in the browser's subfolder for the duration period set within the cookie's file.

[renluop]

Thanks again!
I'd always thought persistent cookies were those eaten in quantity, that remained in my abdominal gurgle box for hours afterwards.