Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 12:54 AM Mar 2014

Google.com in url redirects to google.com.mx or google.com.ca

I haven't been using google.com for a while now, I've been using startpage.com for searches. But today I wanted to look up an address using google's street view so I could see the property.

I use avast! av and have secure line. I was connected through Salt Lake City the first time I typed google.com into my url address bar and it redirected to google.com.mx, Mexico. I tried again and same thing. So I changed my connection to Seattle and then I got redirected to google.com.ca, Canada.

Does anyone know why this is happening? I'm using Firefox and did just update it to v28 before this. I searched about redirecting but didn't find anything exactly like my issue. Any thoughts? I'm scanning now for a virus. I let my Superantispyware subscription lapse... maybe I should renew that.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Google.com in url redirects to google.com.mx or google.com.ca (Original Post) cui bono Mar 2014 OP
This from Lifehacker.com... Earth Bound Misfit Mar 2014 #1
I found that ncr thing but that's for if you want English google when you're in another country, cui bono Mar 2014 #2
Sorry I couldn't help but glad it's OK now... Earth Bound Misfit Mar 2014 #3
I really appreciate the effort! cui bono Mar 2014 #6
The period is included at the end of that 404 link from your post. Make7 Mar 2014 #5
Thanks! n/t Earth Bound Misfit Mar 2014 #9
When that happens you should find out what public IP the outside world thinks you are... Make7 Mar 2014 #4
Yeah I should have done that. cui bono Mar 2014 #7
Out of curiosity I tried again and it went to google.com.mx! cui bono Mar 2014 #8

Earth Bound Misfit

(3,553 posts)
1. This from Lifehacker.com...
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 03:44 AM
Mar 2014
http://lifehacker.com/5933248/avoid-getting-redirected-to-country-specific-versions-of-google/all

...All you need to do is head to www.google.com/ncr. The NCR stands for "No Country Redirect", and it'll take you back to the regular, English-speaking Google.com without all the local results. Note that it will redirect to Google.com, so if you don't see the /ncr after you press Enter, that's normal.


Google Help: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/873?hl=en

How to visit Google.com instead of your local domain

If you'd rather use a different Google site, like Google.com, you can choose to do so. Before you do, make sure your cookies are enabled so that the preferences you pick will be saved. Here’s how to change your Google domain:

Click the Google.com link on any other domain.
Bookmark http://www.google.com/ncr This is an alternative web address for Google.com that always takes you to Google.com without redirecting you.


EDIT: when clicking on above link www.google.com/ncr from this DU page I get 404 not found, but click on same link from the Google help page I get Google.com

Edit above: TY Make7

Hope this helps.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
2. I found that ncr thing but that's for if you want English google when you're in another country,
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 04:05 AM
Mar 2014

so that if I were in Romania and I wanted English language google it wouldn't redirect me to the Romanian google if I just typed in google.com. But I was using US locations and am in the US and it never had gone to Mexico or Canada on me before. So it concerned me since it was abnormal behavior.

Virus scan came up empty.

Anyway, I restarted Firefox and it still happened. Can't remember if I had it happen when I switched to NY, but it has stopped now. I switched back to Salt Lake City and it's working fine again, not taking me to Mexico.

Maybe it's trying to tell me to take a vacation.

Make7

(8,543 posts)
4. When that happens you should find out what public IP the outside world thinks you are...
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 04:36 AM
Mar 2014

... and where that IP address is located. Maybe there is a reason Google thought you were not in the US.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
8. Out of curiosity I tried again and it went to google.com.mx!
Mon Mar 31, 2014, 05:40 AM
Mar 2014

I checked the IP and it says I'm outside of Salt Lake City, which is where it should think I am.

Weird. I found an article about a virus that will redirect you but it takes you to non-google sites, ads or sites with malware. I'll have to look into it tomorrow. It's bed time for me.

Latest Discussions»Help & Search»Computer Help and Support»Google.com in url redirec...