Virgin Media Community

[Optimist1]

Virgin Media changed my WAN IP address recently.  Unfortunately sites that use it to access my location are now told I live in Yorkshire rather than Norfolk.

Would VM correct this please.

[Dave_cq · Accepted solution]

VM will not correct it.  WAN IP addresses are a lottery and very rarely accurate.  I too was given a new IP recently and now apparently I am domiciled in Lewisham ... thankfully I actually live in leafy Surrey.   

[Shelke · Accepted solution]

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Optimist1 wrote:

Virgin Media changed my WAN IP address recently.  Unfortunately sites that use it to access my location are now told I live in Yorkshire rather than Norfolk.

Would VM correct this please.

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There's nothing for VM to correct. It's the geo-location companies holding old info on where it was last seen. As you browse about etc (and keep bluetooth+WiFi on) those companies will eventually realize their info is old and update their database.

[Optimist1]

Will they know where my PC is located?

[Dave_cq]

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Optimist1 wrote:
Will they know where my PC is located?

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Not if you sit on it.   Top tip.     

[cybmole]

tin foil

 all windows

 now

[ravenstar68 · Accepted solution]

Geolocation is based upon assumptions.  While it works well most of the time some of the assumptions it's based on are poorly thought out.

Assumption 1.

That an IP address will always be used WITHIN the borders of the assigning internet authority.

While this holds true for a good many situations it's not 100% true.  For example I have an IPv6 address assigned to HE.net by ARIN - who handle North America and Canada.

Two Geo-IP providers still locate the IPv6 subnet in the US although another does correctly locate me in the UK

Assumption 2.

That similar IP addresses will always be given out in the same area and will always remain within that area.  While this can be true there is no formal standard that dictates this.  IP addresses are not allocated by area in the same way that phone numbers are.

While Geo-IP is fairly accurate for a good portion of the time it's by no means 100% accurate even at the country level.

According to Geo-IP providers I am currently in.

• Birmingham
• Buckland End
• Bamber Bridge

One is fairly accurate but the other two are well out.

If you go to https://whatismyipaddress.com/location-feedback

You can see where 3 different providers fix your location and you can send feedback which is passed on to the Geo-IP companies.  However don't expect instantaneous corrections.

Tim

[nodrogd]

My new address put me in Manchester, nearly 200 miles away from the home counties. However, sites soon "learn" that the address has moved area & change accordingly.

[Optimist1]

Thank you for the expalanation and advice, Ravenstar88!

[HughJarsse]

Well, according to that checker, I am in Bolton!! 

Only about 300 miles out!!