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Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

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Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#21

Post by anyfactor »

I work for IPinfo, but this is my personal opinion/account.

Whenever I see people talking about their IP geolocation being wrong, I will reach out to them and try to fix that issue. Even if it is just one person, it really means a lot to them and to us as well.

For some IP geolocation correction, some providers are better than others, but with Google? oof, tough break.

It is really weird to see that the best possible chance of fixing your IP address with Google is to get a bunch of android smartphones and start running Google Maps with GPS on. Yes, that is even suggested to organizations with their own ASN (which represents a big IP address block) who are struggling with wrong IP geolocation assignment by Google. I have yet to come across any post about how people were able to contact Google, and they fixed their IP geolocation issues.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#22

Post by gruez »

This is why for anonymity you want to use a commercial VPN provider rather than a self-hosted-VPN-on-VPS solution. In the former, you connect to a pool of servers that shares IP addresses with thousands of users, but in the latter you connect to a single server that's only associated with you.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#23

Post by gruez »

quesera wrote: post #16

Summarizing: If you run the Google Maps app on your iOS device, Google will build a correlation between your IP address and your GPS+ location. You can turn off Location Services access for Google apps, if you feel the need to run them at all. Adding a few seconds of panning and zooming is a reasonable trade. > (Google Maps app is) one of the few ways of checking restaurant reviews Apple Maps has restaurant reviews a…

>You can turn off Location Services access for Google apps, if you feel the need to run them at all. Adding a few seconds of panning and zooming is a reasonable trade.

That's not workable if you need it for turn-by-turn directions, which is a pretty common use case.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#24

Post by vageli »

> Apple provides all developers with access to its Network.framework, Multipath TCP (MPTCP), and other networking APIs, which by design allow any app developer to bypass the Wi-Fi interface and route traffic directly over the cellular interface. Invoking these tools effectively allows any app developer to unmask VPN users on Wi-Fi without notice or consent. By routing device traffic over the cellular interface, app developers are able to bypass VPN protection and obtain the user's cellular IP and other device information that allows that app developer to fingerprint a particular device and/or user.

https://blog.disconnect.me/ios-vpn-leak-advisory/

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#25

Post by jxramos »

jxramos wrote: post #20
quesera wrote: post #16

Summarizing: If you run the Google Maps app on your iOS device, Google will build a correlation between your IP address and your GPS+ location. You can turn off Location Services access for Google apps, if you feel the need to run them at all. Adding a few seconds of panning and zooming is a reasonable trade. > (Google Maps app is) one of the few ways of checking restaurant reviews Apple Maps has restaurant reviews a…

I think Apple Maps looks to be starting to accumulate its own set of reviews. It has a ratings feature where you can review overall thumbs up or thumbs down and can upload your own photos of the place. It contributes to apple using your AppleID email. There's small fine print > Ratings and photos are associated with your Apple ID. By contributing you agree to the Terms > https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/…

Interesting, they want location data to confirm presence at a given spot.

> or not post a Submission that has location data removed or where Apple is unable to verify the location.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#26

Post by dicknuckle »

anyfactor wrote: post #21

I work for IPinfo, but this is my personal opinion/account. Whenever I see people talking about their IP geolocation being wrong, I will reach out to them and try to fix that issue. Even if it is just one person, it really means a lot to them and to us as well. For some IP geolocation correction, some providers are better than others, but with Google? oof, tough break. It is really weird to see that the best possible…

Is there an article you can point me to for fixing my geolocation? I route all of my home internet through a VPS so that I can bond (slightly different to load balance) 3 ISPs. I'll randomly have my geolocation show up very wrong.

I don't have and kind of wired internet here so this fixes the reliability of wireless internet where the old backup adage "2 is 1, 1 is none" comes into play.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#27

Post by greyface- »

anyfactor wrote: post #21

I work for IPinfo, but this is my personal opinion/account. Whenever I see people talking about their IP geolocation being wrong, I will reach out to them and try to fix that issue. Even if it is just one person, it really means a lot to them and to us as well. For some IP geolocation correction, some providers are better than others, but with Google? oof, tough break. It is really weird to see that the best possible…

If you have a peering relationship with Google, they'll give you access to their "ISP Portal", where you can provide a CSV of IP geolocation information for your address space.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#28

Post by barbazoo »

vageli wrote: post #24

> Apple provides all developers with access to its Network.framework, Multipath TCP (MPTCP), and other networking APIs, which by design allow any app developer to bypass the Wi-Fi interface and route traffic directly over the cellular interface. Invoking these tools effectively allows any app developer to unmask VPN users on Wi-Fi without notice or consent. By routing device traffic over the cellular interface, app d…

Is it possible to restrict cellular usage by app by any chance?

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#29

Post by charcircuit »

As a counterexample, I always have location turned on in Android and use maps for directions from my house. The location at the bottom of a Google search is a different city from where I live. It has never shown the actual city where I live despite it being easily available as my address is saved as home in Google maps.

Re: Tell HN: Google Maps location data is used for GeoIP updates

#30

Post by stilldavid »

barbazoo wrote: post #28
vageli wrote: post #24

> Apple provides all developers with access to its Network.framework, Multipath TCP (MPTCP), and other networking APIs, which by design allow any app developer to bypass the Wi-Fi interface and route traffic directly over the cellular interface. Invoking these tools effectively allows any app developer to unmask VPN users on Wi-Fi without notice or consent. By routing device traffic over the cellular interface, app d…

Is it possible to restrict cellular usage by app by any chance?

Yup, in iOS go to Settings -> Cellular. There's a toggle for each app.
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