Google.ru detects my location even behind anonymous HTTP proxy server, how?

My steps:

Install brand new Windows 7 in VirtualBox
install Firefox
Select public anonymous proxy that I have never used before
Open Firefox, set anonymous HTTP proxy, set geo.enabled = false in about:config
Open http://www.google.ru/, write query

Through this way, Google still knows my real location. The only way to hide it is telling Firefox to use a SOCKS5 proxy.

UPDATE 1
System-wide anonymous HTTP proxy setting (via Internet Options) works the same way. Google sees my real location.

UPDATE 1
Problem solved. See my answer.

Oleg Golovanov

Posted 2013-09-18T23:03:40.397

Reputation: 173

2Where is the proxy located? – terdon – 2013-09-18T23:08:37.120

1Maybe cookies... Is the problem only restricted to Firefox (that has some dealings with Google) or does the same happen in IE? – Doktoro Reichard – 2013-09-18T23:08:39.490

@terdon, proxy from Germany, but google shows exact part of Moscow city, where i am sitting right now :/ – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-18T23:11:17.300

2Most likely, the proxy isn't actually anonymyzing. – David Schwartz – 2013-09-18T23:16:47.850

@DavidSchwartz, there are no cookies - its a fresh install of a browser. Proxy server is anonymous, i am not an idiot :/. I installed opera browser and configured system-wide proxy - google also sees my location. If i configure socks proxy, it does not. – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-18T23:35:48.663

Mystical things happen, really – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-18T23:36:34.870

What do you call "System-wide anonymous http proxy setting ( internet options )"? This: http://i.imgur.com/cd9q6fo.jpg ? Firefox ignores these settings, you need to configure it here: http://i.imgur.com/IkJKjUR.png

– That Brazilian Guy – 2013-09-19T00:14:25.087

1because in soviet russia google proxys you! ... no jokes now - tracert your proxy and analise the jumps. maybe theres something there you can use. – Lorenzo Von Matterhorn – 2013-09-19T00:21:48.397

2Setting a proxy through the Internet Options panel does not make it "system-wide". – Der Hochstapler – 2013-09-19T09:43:56.087

@ThatBrazilianGuy, you are wrong - firefox does not ignore proxy, that i set in "Internet options" in control panel ( latest firefox + windows7 ) – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-19T12:02:14.747

@OliverSalzburg, sorry for using wrong term - setting proxy in "internet options" affects all web browsers. I meant that. – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-19T12:04:02.160

HIGHLY relevant: http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/118/conversation/proxy-settings-on-firefox-23-for-windows

– That Brazilian Guy – 2013-09-19T14:27:42.323

Answers

The real reason is very simple.

Http proxy does not support https, ha-ha.
So there were several direct requests made to google, avoiding http proxy ( but not socks proxy, of course ).

Thank you!
P.s. i used windows network monitor to analyze web browser traffic

Oleg Golovanov

Posted 2013-09-18T23:03:40.397

Reputation: 173

Maybe your HTTP proxy forwards your real ip address. Check it on a page like this one http://www.lagado.com/proxy-test

Stefan

Posted 2013-09-18T23:03:40.397

Reputation: 123

Http proxy is anonymous, it does not forward my real ip address – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-19T11:13:59.607

Your proxy also sends an X-FORWARDED-FOR header to the sites you browse. The X-FORWARDED-FOR contains your real IP address. You can check this here

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do from your own side; the only solution is to find a different proxy.

user2064000

Posted 2013-09-18T23:03:40.397

Reputation: 1 326

Http proxy is anonymous, it does not forward my real ip address – Oleg Golovanov – 2013-09-19T11:16:59.277

Using a HTTP proxy is by no means a way to anonimize your data traffic. This is because DNS requests are still done directly. Maybe google uses a simple Javascript DNS request to figure this out?

Also see polipo, an HTTP proxy used by Tor, which tells you if you have been doing DNS requests behind its back (e.g. which could have been detected).

parasietje

Posted 2013-09-18T23:03:40.397

Reputation: 606