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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 12:05:17

Title: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 12:05:17
Yesterday, my Malwarebytes was blocking access to Google.com, IP range 173.194.41.176-180, so I ended up changing my default search engine in SeaMonkey to Google.co.uk, which was fine.

This morning, I have just tried Google.com again, to see if it is still being blocked, and I am now redirected to Google.co.uk every time, on every browser (I didn't change IE or Firefox yesterday).

I'm not sure what's going on, but can someone try http://www.google.com for me, and see what you get?
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Lance on Feb 09, 2014, 12:16:55
I get .co.uk too Simon, and this seems to explain why: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/873?hl=en
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 12:19:29
Oh right, but I've only noticed this this morning - it was definitely going to Google.com yesterday, so something must have happened. 
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Technical Ben on Feb 09, 2014, 12:19:48
Google has almost always redirected for me. Which is a pain at times.
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Lance on Feb 09, 2014, 12:22:36
Maybe just try clicking the google.com link in the bottom right of the .co.uk page - it may remember your preference.
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Gary on Feb 09, 2014, 12:23:00
Quote from: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 12:19:29
Oh right, but I've only noticed this this morning - it was definitely going to Google.com yesterday, so something must have happened. 
Google directs me to .co.uk and has for ages now. I dont really need .com as .uk shows relevant results from all over the world anyway.
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 12:27:45
Yes, I agree, I don't need .com, and would always use .co.uk as a preference.  It's just odd that it seems to have been changed after MWB blocking .com yesterday.  Oh, and that wasn't just me, as it's on the MWB forums, but the only info given was that it's 'not a F/P' (false positive). 
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: zappaDPJ on Feb 09, 2014, 12:33:34
A lot of sites I use including Google redirect me to either a .co.uk or an EU version of the site. I find it very annoying, especially if there's region specific content involved.
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Gary on Feb 09, 2014, 13:39:31
Quote from: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 12:27:45
Yes, I agree, I don't need .com, and would always use .co.uk as a preference.  It's just odd that it seems to have been changed after MWB blocking .com yesterday.  Oh, and that wasn't just me, as it's on the MWB forums, but the only info given was that it's 'not a F/P' (false positive). 
Its odder that you were not redirected to .co.uk in the first place, as I seem to remember that was occurring all last year at least. False positives, don't you just love them  ;D
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Gary on Feb 09, 2014, 13:42:04
Quote from: zappaDPJ on Feb 09, 2014, 12:33:34
A lot of sites I use including Google redirect me to either a .co.uk or an EU version of the site. I find it very annoying, especially if there's region specific content involved.
First world problems hey.  ;)
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: tehidyman on Feb 09, 2014, 14:14:46
Experienced this Google problem a while back and eventually soved it by this means ---quote from my post in Dec 2012." checking around to solve another search problem led me to the Mycroft Project site (mycroftproject.com) which then enabled me to put Google UK version into my browser (Firefox) search box.  Now the Google UK option is available again.  Not sure what browser you use but maybe worth a look.  I have now customised my Amazon and Ebay search engines to the UK rather than US."
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 14:33:48
Thanks, I'll have a look at that, but I've changed the default search engine from .com to .co.uk by amending the search.json file in the profile.  Not sure if it will stick after an update, but hopefully the issue will be sorted by then.  Amazon UK and eBay UK is easy enough to simply bookmark.  :)
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Simon on Feb 09, 2014, 15:15:19
Google UK added via Mycroft Project page.  Thanks, Terry!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Lona on Feb 09, 2014, 15:51:23
I really don't understand what you are all talking about. I go into internet options on both Firefox and IE and make https://google.co.uk my home page and am never redirected to google.com.  :confuse2:
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Clive on Feb 09, 2014, 18:35:17
I get directed to Google Deutschland.   :dunno:  Rather creepy!
Title: Re: Google.com strangeness
Post by: Technical Ben on Feb 09, 2014, 21:04:12
Quote from: Lona on Feb 09, 2014, 15:51:23
I really don't understand what you are all talking about. I go into internet options on both Firefox and IE and make https://google.co.uk my home page and am never redirected to google.com.  :confuse2:
The problem is the other way around. If you don't want location specific results, it can be a pain.