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search engine thinks we're in Germany

wilma
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: ‎29-05-2016

search engine thinks we're in Germany

On 27th we noticed that the search engines on our 2 tablets, our imac and a mobile phone had changed our location to 'German'. If we reset the search engine back to UK it would revert each time we returned. This, with the exception  of bing on IE on one of the tabs. We called Plus net and we're told to switch our router off for 65 minutes after which all would be OK.

Some devices had returned to UK search except bing in Safari now thought we were in Taiwan. 

 

Today, after having the router off over night, most device search engines have gone German again, with the exception of bing within IE..... bing within Firefox is still in German

Any ideas what's  wrong. Please keep it simple

Thank You

 

5 REPLIES 5
SpendLessTime
Hero
Posts: 3,000
Thanks: 928
Fixes: 86
Registered: ‎21-09-2009

Re: search engine thinks we're in Germany

Hi @wilma

 

Welcome to the forums.

 

Plusnet have to buy Internet addresses from around the world so that every user has one. And these Internet addresses are used by you and me. 

 

However websites sometimes want to know where in the world you are and use the Internet address (or IP address) to work that out.

 

And that is where the issues start. Plusnet register that they have bought the addresses but some of the companies which track where in the world the addresses are being used get it wrong and don't update the location. Or don't do it quickly enough.

 

So some website think you are in Germany, in your case, as their IP address location database is out of date. Microsoft are not very good at this hence the issues with Bing (their search engine)

 

This website will say where some of the location database suppliers think you are https://www.iplocation.net/

 

You can report the issue to Plusnet by adding details to this thread https://community.plus.net/t5/Plusnet-Feedback/IP-addresses-not-UK-Can-customers-please-report-any-p...

Ex - Plusnet Customer (2009 - 2023) now with BT
Gel
Aspiring Champion
Posts: 2,332
Thanks: 299
Fixes: 29
Registered: ‎02-08-2007

Re: search engine thinks we're in Germany

Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: search engine thinks we're in Germany

I really like that link - apparently I am in Crewe, Berkhamsted and London

MauriceC
Resting Legend
Posts: 4,085
Thanks: 929
Fixes: 17
Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: search engine thinks we're in Germany

And I could be in Wrexham, Portsmouth, Chesterfield, London  or just UK.  Not even close. Grin

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Mav
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 22,371
Thanks: 4,725
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Registered: ‎06-04-2007

Re: search engine thinks we're in Germany

Moderator's note by Mike (Mav)

Thread locked in favour of https://community.plus.net/t5/Plusnet-Feedback/IP-addresses-not-UK-Can-customers-please-report-any-p...

Forum Moderator and Customer
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