browsers now have a GPS type locator(geolocation) in them I know in firefox you can disable that feature I have turned it off on mine, I have no idea about IE since I do not use it.[01] What is Geolocation

also cookies do tell a lot about you and all sites use cookies.

Cookies
As far as the search goes .. Google keeps your ip address as a cookie so whenever you start a search, a restaurant for example .. your ip address allows Google to do a kind of .. pop-up (pre-fetch, pre-search) spam advertisement of a restaurant in your ip's area location!

As for AOL .. I imagine the same thing is going on there but I can't really say for sure because I wont go near anything AOL.

Just delete your cookies.

Even if you don't intentionally reveal personal info, most people generally can't escape the fact that their Internet surfing occurs through a series of traceable links, and the last link before it gets to you can often be a fairly local one: ads that are specific to that geographic area can then be displayed. You can use privacy software to mask your location and identity, but it takes extra effort and can slow down your connection. Here is an article that gives a good overview of some of the issues you are facing in trying to maintain privacy, and some options. It's a couple of years old, but still quite informative.

Here is a link that might be useful: Electronic Frontier Foundation

If you are on a small independent ISP the IP address will provide a general location for websites. It happens to me all the time.

DA

Just for kicks .. Try a search using this proxy browser and see if the same thing happens.
I'll bet it wont! 8)

Here is a link that might be useful: PROXY

email site displays the news headlines for the local area.

Would that be the local area below,

Kingwood, TX (1.4 miles S)
Timberlane Acres, TX (2.7 miles NNE)
Riverside Crest, TX (3.1 miles SSE)
North Shore, TX (3.1 miles SE)
Moonshine Hill, TX (3.9 miles SSE)

You don't have to answer! Just curious...

This is why I always use my old rural route post code which covers a large area rather than my now in town code. In Canada a post code narrows you down to about 20 homes on a street in residential areas.

It may not be foolproof but it gives me satisfaction and the 2 codes are close enough together that I could be linked to the same ISP.

ahhh.. they know where everybody is from by ip address now.. simple to do.

Recall readingn someone has software now that tells exact address on dsl/phone lines.. but only were going to sell it to government agencies.

AOL i bet screws them up though with all the proxy caches.

Heres some info on Firefox location aware thing...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/geolocation/

Raven thanks for posting the "what is geolocation".

you are very welcome, that article tells how to disable it in all programs that it is currently in, including firefox and other browsers.
I disabled mine long time ago when that first started.

some of that stuff happens due to targeted advertising too, special cookies that capture things you look up or comment on and then they direct those types of product ads to you. There are ways to opt out and firefox has an add on to stop it. Here is some google info

Here is a link that might be useful: targeted advertising opt out

Just checking...are these the correct instructions to disable it? I get a warning box that says it "may void my warranty" and do I want to continue. Should I go forward with it? Or should I just leave it? I have never been asked permission to get my location.

Location-Aware Browsing is always opt-in in Firefox. No location information is ever sent without your permission. If you wish to disable the feature completely, please follow this set of steps:

* In the URL bar, type about:config
* Type geo.enabled
* Double click on the geo.enabled preference
* Location-Aware Browsing is now disabled

Thank you.

oh that pop up happens any time you go to the about config on firefox just ignore it there is no warranty on firefox LOL they just want to get your attention and make sure you realize you are changing something.

Thanks Raven,
Pam

Thank you for all of your tips. Zep, your 5 areas were quintangulated (new word for 5 rather than 3 - triangulate) and I came up with an area near Tree Lane. It is NE of Kingwood between your Kingwood and Timberlane distances and closest to the intersection of the other 3 distances. It was a skillful scientific exercise using a grade school compass. My location is mid-Florida in the 321XX zip.

One more time. I thought I would be cool, try a different browser and try to keep it clean as possible. I downloaded Opera 11 and disabled the geolocation setting. Shutdown Opera, got it back and surprise, surprise -- one of the panels showing on Opera was a Kayak advertisement wanting to give me the cost of traveling from my local town.

it has your IP address any site you go to can get your IP address and from there it is nothing to know lots of info.