Finding Yourself – Geolocation in Google Chrome v. 5

Geolocation, or determining you position, is one of the new features that has come with the most recent stable version of Chrome (v. 5). This allows your browser to determine (or at least approximate) your physical location using information such as your IP address. Note that this function only looks at internet-related information for the purposes of geolocation. Its purpose is not to record your browsing habits, passwords, etc. However, information regarding your personal whereabouts can be sensitive and you may not want this feature functional. Here is how to keep Chrome from tracking your personal location.

Changing how Chrome tracks your physical location

1. Click the “Customize and control Google Chrome’  icon (small wrench) in the upper right of the browser window.
2. Select ‘Options’ from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose the ‘Under the Hood’ tab.
4. Click the ‘Content Settings’ button.
5. Select the ‘Location’ tab.
6. Here you can choose to what degree you want Chrome to track your physical location: (1) All sites can track your location. (2) Sites must ask permission to collect the data. (3) No sites may get permission. Use the ‘Exceptions’ button to enter domains that will always be allowed this permission.
7. After selecting the level of permissions you desire. Close the options menu.

If you select the option that requires a website to ask permission to access your location, then a green bar will drop down from the top of the webpage. It will ask whether you wish to allow access to the information (see image below).

There are a few points in favour of allowing websites to access your geographic location through Chrome. Internet shopping can be made easier if retailers that do not deliver to your location are omitted from search results. Another example is looking up directions on Google Maps (see an earlier GT article for finding your location on Google Maps). However, the final decision is up to you.

Would you be comfortable with releasing this information regarding your whereabouts? Give us your opinion in the comments section.