The Tracking Request
Modern web browsers allow websites to request access to your computer’s exact physical location. While this is useful for a mapping application or a local restaurant finder, it is a massive privacy liability. E-commerce sites, advertising networks, and news websites constantly spam the browser with permission requests to activate your GPS or Wi-Fi triangulation data so they can build a highly accurate profile of your physical movements. If you refuse to allow marketing companies to track your real-world coordinates, you must completely sever Chrome’s access to the location services.
How to Block Location Access Globally
You can permanently lock the browser out of your geographical data via the Site Settings.
- Open the Google Chrome desktop browser.
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top right corner and select Settings.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
- In the main window, click on Site settings.
- Under the “Permissions” heading, click on Location.
- Under the “Default behavior” heading, select the radio button for “Don’t allow sites to see your location.”
Geographical Isolation
The change is instantaneous. Google Chrome will completely sever its connection to the Windows or macOS location driver stack. The browser will instantly auto-reject every single location request it receives from any website. You will never again see a pop-up asking for permission to view your coordinates, guaranteeing that no website can pinpoint your physical location via the browser API.