Help! Google thinks I'm Chinese...
Mar 10, 2010, 7:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sunny Switzerland
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Posts: 4,388
Help! Google thinks I'm Chinese...
I was in Beijing last week, and used my computer to access my stock quotes. Ever since, Google seems to think that I'm Chinese. When I type 'finance.google.com' I am redirected to:
http://www.google.com/finance?gl=cn
I've cleared my cookies, I've tried adjusting my settings in Google to reflect my current (non-China) location, but to no avail. I'm redirected to the China site regardless of whether or not I'm logged into my Google account.
Can anyone help me convince Google that I'm not in China?
http://www.google.com/finance?gl=cn
I've cleared my cookies, I've tried adjusting my settings in Google to reflect my current (non-China) location, but to no avail. I'm redirected to the China site regardless of whether or not I'm logged into my Google account.
Can anyone help me convince Google that I'm not in China?
Mar 10, 2010, 7:52 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sunny Switzerland
Programs: BD / BA / AF
Posts: 4,388
Further update: I just tried this from a colleague's computer, and his machine defaults to China as well. I'm guessing that Google is somehow guessing our location based on our proxy server, and perhaps we've defaulted over to a back-up server located in Asia Pac?!?
Bizarre behaviour in any case!
Just did a reverse lookup on my IP address, and it's showing (correctly) as Switzerland. Now I'm really confused!
Bizarre behaviour in any case!
Just did a reverse lookup on my IP address, and it's showing (correctly) as Switzerland. Now I'm really confused!
Mar 10, 2010, 8:16 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Springfield,MO,USA
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Until you get a real fix you can always stick /ncr at the end of the google for no country regionalization so:
finance.google.com/ncr
And check that your DNS is set to one in ch, not cn
finance.google.com/ncr
And check that your DNS is set to one in ch, not cn
Mar 10, 2010, 8:21 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 356
yeah use www.google.com/ncr and everything will be in English.
Mar 10, 2010, 8:23 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia
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Posts: 1,655
Google has done the same thing to me in Korea and Thailand.
As noted, http://www.google.com/ncr works
Here's a bit more information:
Trouble connecting: Google.com automatically takes me to another Google site
As noted, http://www.google.com/ncr works
Here's a bit more information:
Trouble connecting: Google.com automatically takes me to another Google site
Mar 10, 2010, 8:54 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2001
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I noticed this yesterday, specifically on Google Finance. I am assuming that this was a temporary glitch on their site. A few hours later I tried again and it was normal.
Mar 14, 2010, 9:18 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
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Google '99.9 percent' sure to shutter Google.cn
According to this article on CNET news, Google's China site probably won't be a concern much longer.
The underlying issue can, of course, still happen for other localizations.
The underlying issue can, of course, still happen for other localizations.
Mar 14, 2010, 4:38 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Um lugar muito bonito
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Sorry for the thread drift, but how about YouTube? When I access YT from my desktop at work, it seems to think I'm Dutch! This is my desktop, which has never been out of my office AFAIK, much less the country.... my laptops/netbooks etc. are all happy to speak English.
Mar 14, 2010, 5:08 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Google.com directs you to whatever country base on you request IP address
Since that is the only information it gets as to your location base on your browser's request. Google is not the only site that does this, YT and FB are the same.
Since that is the only information it gets as to your location base on your browser's request. Google is not the only site that does this, YT and FB are the same.
Mar 16, 2010, 3:06 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2002
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According to this article on CNET news, Google's China site probably won't be a concern much longer.
The underlying issue can, of course, still happen for other localizations.
The underlying issue can, of course, still happen for other localizations.