IDnet and Customer Geographic Location Via IP

I wonder if anyone can shed any light on this as it's baffling me.

Initially i followed a google sponsored link to UK dating company run amongst many by EasyDate Ltd. The specific sites name is speeddateronline.co.uk however it identifies the town you live in (or atleast mine) on it's front page.

At first I though it was something to do with Gmail building some sort of Ad profile, but then again to get the town right would be a bit of a feat especially if it weren't mentioned specifically in emails.

Then after clearing the Cache's, Cookies etc on firefox, IE and Opera i simply entered the above URL without all the trailing suffix google gives (on sponsored links) and it still gives exact geographic location.
I've done a reverse look up on my Idnet IP address and cannot see how any of it could indicate where I live.

Can more info be gleaned from IDnet's or any IP address? Is there a national IP database with customers addresses that x amount of that info can be sold?

It's just baffling me as to how it's done. If i didn't have a static IP then it surely would be a guess or suggest the wrong area if not updated promptly.

Any ideas guys?

Edited by Vorlon (Sat 17-Jan-09 22:08:53)

I just checked it out to see if it would know where i live. (On Zen tho). It doesn't it thinks im in london which is totaly wrong lol.

Try using another pc or web browser and see if it still picks up where you live then.

Edit realised you did try 3 browsers thats what i get for not concentrating. I have no idea how its tracking you unless your idnet ip has been logged by google adds or something weird.

Edited by deleted (Sat 17-Jan-09 22:13:06)

I'm on Zen too, and it also said London, using Firefox. I also tried IE, Safari and Chrome and it still said London.

Thanks for trying,

But I have tried with a laptop and a PC on my network aswell as with FireFox, IE and Opera all with their cache's, cookies, page history etc cleared. Both have been rebooted after the cache clean etc but yet it still indicates where i live - very odd indeed.

Edited by Vorlon (Sat 17-Jan-09 22:15:49)

It's def using somekind of IP based tracking. If i view it through a proxy it will think im in the US or where ever the proxy is based. Even if i dont clear cookies etc.

This is one of proxy's i tried it with.

http://www.hidemyass.com/

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I'm on Zen too, and it also said London, using Firefox. I also tried IE, Safari and Chrome and it still said London.

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Could it be something to do with IDnet or has Gmail supplied info on my I (albeit an excellent guess)?

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It's def using somekind of IP based tracking. If i view it through a proxy it will think im in the US or where ever the proxy is based. Even if i dont clear cookies etc.

This is one of proxy's i tried it with.

http://www.hidemyass.com/

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Thanks BM, I've just tried that proxy and it shows "WoodStock" lol .
I've gone and retyped the URL in another browser without the Proxy, this time Opera and it shows my home town.

Idnet must give some sort of geographic info out then?

Edited by Vorlon (Sat 17-Jan-09 22:21:20)

You dont happen to live in the same town as to where IDnet are based?. I have seen websites before that think im from rochdale manchester cause Zen HQ is in rochdale manchester and some sites track my ip back to them. Which is still wrong cause i live no way near there either there just tracking zen lol.

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You dont happen to live in the same town as to where IDnet are based?. I have seen websites before that think im from rochdale manchester cause Zen HQ is in rochdale manchester and some sites track my ip back to them. Which is still wrong cause i live no way near there either there just tracking zen lol.

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No i live in the South...

If i use that proxy service you suggested I can effectively alter my location. So I really need I suppose is another Idnet user to give it a go, to see if Idnet's system is different.
Thanks for the feedback though guys. Interesting websites have access to personal info.

Edited by Vorlon (Sat 17-Jan-09 23:01:29)

It says I live in Maidstone... which, unless there's one in Oxfordshire that I haven't spotted, is a bit out