Did you know that your browser is geolocating you? This is how to turn it off for good.

It doesnt work on IE. How do u do it in IE?

You got it.

There is a way to keep the alphabet agencies off your trail. It just requires a laptop and a great deal of discipline. It isn't something you would employ for common browsing, but for "anonymous" type stuff.

There's no secrets or software or tricks. It's really plain old common sense. You simply make sure that that laptop never crosses paths with anything that comes back to you. No real email, no home internet, or any internet that requires personal id. The laptop must not be traceable to you in any way. Did you register anything when you bought it? Did you buy an extended warranty or offer up your phone number at the checkout counter? If you aren't using it the battery isn't in it.

And don't use it under the watch of a camera at starbucks.

I'm thinking of doing a general computer repair/advice thread to help out with day to day computer issues.

I spend a LOT of time on GLP so I would be able to actively watch the thread for issues people are having. I'm no computer scientist, but I have picked up a few things over time that a lot of people don't really know about.

Let me know what you guys think!

Location aware browsing is a huge privacy issue.

Basically what it does is every time you go to a website that requests your location your browser will give it geo-locating information such as IP addresses to let the requesting site track you to wherever you are.

There is a very simple process to turn this feature off for good.

In your browser's address bar, type in about:config. There will be a box that pops up that warns about warranty info expiring blah blah blah. Ignore this warning and click I will be careful.

When you get to this page, there will be a search window at the top. What you need to do is type this in that search window exactly as written here. Just copy and paste.

geo.enabled

It will search your files and that one file will be singled out and displayed at the top of your search window.
Double click it to turn it off. You should see the value n the window change from true to false.

You're all finished. You have totally blocked access to your geo-location feature in your browser.

Just remember, anytime you update Firefox, your settings will set back to default so you will have to set the number at zero again to stop it.

Something else I wanted to discuss with you as well...

Did you know that when you visit a website on the internet, your computer deposits a cookie that lets the new website know what site you arrived there from.

So say you were looking at porn and then came to GLP, GLP would know which porn site you came from before you arrived.

Not exactly private but there is an easy fix.

We're going to do the same as last time by typing about:config into your browser's address bar.

Once you get in, type this into the search bar at the top.

network.http.sendRefererHeader

When the file is isolated, right click it, click modify and set the number value to 0 (zero).

That's it, you have stopped your browser from giving referrer information to the next site you visit. Again, remember that if you ever update your browser, you will have to do this over again so make a note to self.

If you have any questions, I will be glad to help.

Browsing Safely With Firefox

For these settings, you will need to type “about:config” without the quotes into the URL bar to get the Firefox registry panel.

about:config -> geo.enabled -> double click to false – what does this do? When this is enabled, websites will be able to identify your location based on your IP address.

about:config -> browser.sessionhistory.max_entries -> change value to 2 – this increases your privacy.

about:config -> dom.storage.enabled -> double click to false – this should always be set to false. Leaving this enabled lets the browser store data onto your computer.

about:config -> browser.display.use_document_fonts -> change value to 0 – This limits the fonts it sends to websites you visit. The fonts on your computer can be very unique and it could identify your workplace.

about:config -> browser.cache.offline.capacity -> change to 0 – without going into depth, this one is like the two below. It prevents the browser from storing local data.

about:config -> browser.cache.offline.enable -> change to false – This prevents the browser from storing cache on your system.

Why does that link have a bad SSL?

about:config -> browser.cache.memory.enable -> change to false – again this is better off left at false. It prevents the browser from storing cache memory on the computer.

[link to encrypteverything.ca (secure)]

I'm thinking of doing a general computer repair/advice thread to help out with day to day computer issues.

I spend a LOT of time on GLP so I would be able to actively watch the thread for issues people are having. I'm no computer scientist, but I have picked up a few things over time that a lot of people don't really know about.

Let me know what you guys think!

I'm thinking of doing a general computer repair/advice thread to help out with day to day computer issues.

I spend a LOT of time on GLP so I would be able to actively watch the thread for issues people are having. I'm no computer scientist, but I have picked up a few things over time that a lot of people don't really know about.

Let me know what you guys think!

Thank you so much!! 5 stars!

Do you know how to implement DO NOT TRACK? I just got confused while reading about it elsewhere.

Thank you so much!! 5 stars!

Do you know how to implement DO NOT TRACK? I just got confused while reading about it elsewhere.

If you click on Firefox, and then click add ons and then extensions, it will be listed in there.

There's an options tab to the right of DNT. Click that and set your preferences.

I'm pretty sure it runs on auto though.

It's actually been renamed to this... [link to addons.mozilla.org (secure)]

Great program.

Help, I get this when I type in the first part:

Navigation to the webpage was canceled

I'm using IE, I get that message when I type: about:config into my browser's address bar.

thanks, good info!
never use IE anyway. Does this browser tweaking work on Opera too..? (sorry if it's already been asked, but there are 7 pages to trawl through!)
I remember ages ago here on GLP, on how one adjusts ones Firefox Browser Pipeline settings. Checked out mine just now, to find network.http.pipelining.maxrequests set at 32, which can't be changed. Before one could change the settings between 0 & 8 if I remember right. I did change the network.http.proxy.pipelining settting to True, instead of False. This is supposed to speed up browser downloads. I'm on Virginmedia 30mhz cable broadband, supposed to be the fastest in the UK. When I'm cut off (bill or technical issues), I've used BT Openzone, which is slow & intermittent most times.

In Firefox every few mins I get this annoying little window which keeps popping up, but won't go away unless I right click & close, but then it comes back.

It just came up again..

Browser settings change

An unknown change was detected on your browser's search settings:

Keep my current settings.
I am aware of this change and approve it.

YES

Pressing YES or the star in the top right hand corner has no effect, till I right click & close on the Start bar below. Anyone know how I can get rid of this?

Bingo! Only FF.

Another thing that just started.

As of 1-23-13 the activation of +3,000 'Cyber-ASS(ets) for Obama' will shill and disinfo forums such as GLP. Beware of 'Honey Pot' threads started by this new internet department. Or links from GLP to other sites that can get IPlocation info in that sites handshaking with your computer.
Although the 'CA4O' gov't disinfo poster and his TeamLeader are immune from prosecution in starting "threatening to commit actual violence or promoting armed / violent revolution.." threads, GLP members are not.

Thread development by these guys is enhanced by using multiple UserID's and multiple IP's. DHS says it can turn +3000 agents into +10,000 as a force multiplier.

It sounds like you just need to uninstall it (completey, it will ask you on the uninstall), and reinstall a fresh copy.

It's gonna be a pain in the ass a little because you lose all of your bookmarks but sometimes it's just gotta be done.

If you're using Opera, and search for

geo.enabled

you get a not found message

so you have to check "show all', then scroll down to Geolocation, and uncheck the box that says

Enable geolocation