Post: #1

I use Firefox and have Google as my homepage.

But everytime I go to my homepage it doesn go to http://www.google.com - it goers to something like this: https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=-...5Abu_4HIAw

Anyone know why that is?

Just wondering if I had some kind of bug on my computer - since my last computer went down with some kind of hijacking by a proxy server or something.

Post: #2

I get something like that but for Google Russia. I think it's regional.

Post: #3

Yeah they did this years back before they became a search giant.

Post: #4

I'm not a computer expert so I can't confirm this but my theory is this:

I think that jumble of text simply indicates that Google has forwarded you from its US version (which is what Google.com is) to the UK version.

I know when I type in Google.com from Canada, it pushes me to Google.ca/akjdhfbdnf4bfn18xdbsdsdfkxz or something similar.

Post: #5

Okay - that clears things up.

I may switch my homepage to http://www.google.co.uk to get rid of the jumble of letters.

Cheers!

Post: #6

If you want the generic google.com version, you can bookmark http://www.google.com/ncr instead. More info here:

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/873?hl=en

Post: #7

BTW, about the redirect - what is happening is that Google detects (from your IP address) that you are in UK and redirects you to the localized version of Google.