- Bug reporting guidelines (Read before posting!)
- Flagfox privacy policy
- IP location database statistics
- Flagfox downloads/users statistics
- Contributing translations
- Proxy/DNS Issue FAQ
Forum questions:
Why do I have to create a login to post on the forums?
To resist spamming and to require you to enter a valid email to get notifications for replies. If you're reporting a bug, then we will need to be able to contact you for further information. Please don't enter throwaway addresses. When people don't follow up on bug reports nothing gets diagnosed or fixed.
What do those [BRACKETED] labels on threads mean?
I mark old issues with labels indicating their end status:
- [FIXED] - bug reports that have been fixed with a change added to newer versions of Flagfox and/or Geotool
- [RESOLVED] - tech support issues that have been resolved on the poster's end (read these if you need to fix a similar issue)
- [OBSOLETE] - bugs/issues from old versions without confirmed resolutions; if you can still get this in a current version, post a new report
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Usage questions:
The location shown for a site is wrong!
Maybe, maybe not. We provide monthly updates to attempt to keep things to up-to-date as possible, however we're only as accurate as Maxmind's latest data and the Internet is constantly changing. The planet has some rather strict borders, but the Internet doesn't, so a very small percentage may be off a little bit in some areas. Unfortunately, 100% perfect accuracy isn't realistically possible.
It's also always possible that the server isn't exactly where you think it is. For example:
- Location-specific sites: Sites aren't always hosted exactly where they claim to be representing. You can host a website from anywhere.
- Localized sites: Any site can decide to be in any language; locale is not a determination of server location.
- Cache servers: Sites that get a lot of traffic often have multiple servers in different countries to distribute the load. The flag shown may depend on where you are.
- Country codes in addresses: The TLD indicates the country the domain name is registered to, not the location of the server. (Flagfox 3.3+ will tell you in this case)
If you own/host/represent a site in question and are sure of an error you can consider contacting Maxmind to request a correction. Flagfox is not directly affiliated with Maxmind.
Why does Geotool give me a different location when I click the flag vs. entering the domain manually?
Cache servers; see the previous question. When you click the Flagfox icon it sends Geotool the host and IP to lookup. This is the IP of the server that the site sent you to, however Geotool is hosted in a different location from you so if you tell it to lookup the same domain it may be sent to a different (closer) server at a different IP. Thus, a Geotool lookup via Flagfox tells you where the server you're connecting to is and a Geotool lookup via the Geotool search field or search plugin tells you where the server Geotool is connecting to is. The only way around this is to lookup on Geotool using an IP address rather than a domain, as a single domain can redirect to multiple IP addresses.
Why do I get a TLD mismatch info bar every time I go to Google?
Non-American users are redirected to their locale-specific version of Google. Google has an FAQ for this here.
The TLD mismatch info bar is annoying.
It's just there to inform you of what's going on. In the past, user confusion over the TLD and stated location not matching was quite common (see above) and this was added to explain what it's doing. I expect most people to just check the "don't show this again" checkbox after a few times. If you don't need it on then simply turn it off.
Is Flagfox sending information about where I'm browsing to some server?
Not during normal browsing, no. Flagfox uses an internal database of IP address locations and does not send anything anywhere during normal browsing. If you use one of the lookup features, such as Geotool or whois, then that server will be sent the necessary info (IP address or domain name) that one time to do the lookup. There are some other extensions that have some features similar to Flagfox and they do, however, send all of your browsing habits to their server to provide their information. Flagfox respects users' privacy and makes a point to not do that. (see the Flagfox privacy policy)
Can I use Flagfox to do a traceroute?
From DomainTools, sure. Enter this custom action in the Flagfox options:
http://dns-tools.domaintools.com/?q={domainName}&m=traceroute
Why does the flag turn American when I click on it?
If it wasn't obvious, Geotool is hosted in America. (previously England)
What's with the updates Firefox wants to download for Flagfox?
Flagfox uses an internal IP location database to do its lookups. Each month, a new version of Flagfox is released with the new database version. We recommend keeping up-to-date to keep Flagfox accurate.
Aside from the nifty "ooo... lookit, the Internet is global" aspect of things and all the info lookup tools, how else is Flagfox useful?
Not only does the flag imply the server's location, but also what laws may apply and what the native language may be. For example, if I see a site indicated to be in China I know that it may be under some form of government censorship. This is also potentially useful in trying to figure out who's laws may apply to various P2P-related websites.
What about helping with security/anti-phishing?
Flagfox can be used as a warning as to when a server isn't where it should be. If you end up at a site claiming to be an American bank, and it shows as Nigerian, then you may want to think twice. However, I should also point out the common misconception that Flagfox is a "security" extension, as while it can be somewhat useful for this sort of thing, scam sites can be in America just as easily as somewhere else. Flagfox should be considered a useful addition to your security kit and not a security verification by itself.
Flagfox has a middle-click function, but I don't have a middle button.
You can also ctrl+click on the flag to do the action specified in the options.
I can't find the flag icon anywhere!
As of Flagfox 3.3, the default position of the flag icon is in the "address bar" (also called the "location bar") which is in your "navigation toolbar". If you can't find the flag icon anywhere in your browser window, you may not have your address bar shown. If you need help with this, here are some Mozilla support articles you should read:
Flagfox also has the option to place the flag icon in the status bar. (see below)
Because older versions had no preference for choosing a bar, those who updated to Flagfox 3.3+ automatically had their flags shown in the default bar (i.e. the address bar). This is the new default location, but if you don't like it feel free to just change it back in the Flagfox options. (see below) Future updates will not move the flag.
How do I change my Flagfox options? (i.e. appearance, position, function)
There are 2 ways to get to the Flagfox options:
- Via the Add-ons Manager: Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions -> select Flagfox -> click Options (on Windows) or Preferences (on Mac and Linux)
- Via the Flagfox context menu: right-click on the flag icon -> Options
The default flag icon placement is on the right side of the address bar, but you can put it wherever you like it. There are 7 possible locations: 3 in the address bar and 4 in the status bar. (only the "right" address bar position is available in Firefox 2) The "left most" and "right most" positions in the status bar will be equivalent to simply "left" and "right" if you have no other icons from other extensions there.
- all flag positions.png (11.52 KiB) Viewed 2752 times
Why won't the position option always work fully when next to ForecastFox, FoxClocks, etc.?
Some other extensions do the same sort of thing Flagfox does and allow the user to select different positions, usually in the status bar, for their icons. (i.e. ForecastFox & FoxClocks, but there are probably others) If you set two extensions to place their icons in the same place, one is necessarily going to win. This is not a bug; it's a logical conflict. You'll just have to not tell two extensions to do the same thing and pick a different spot for one or the other.
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Common requests:
Will you make a version for Internet Explorer?
No. I'd have to rewrite everything from scratch and I don't use IE. (and I rarely use Windows, for that matter)
Will you add a feature to show the IP in the statusbar?
No. Public IP addresses by themselves provide no useful information. They're just numbers and need to be looked up in something else to have value. For the instances where you actually do need to see the IP, Flagfox has it listed in the flag's tooltip. (hover the cursor over the icon) If you need to use the IP for something else, there's a "Copy IP" feature in the context menu.
There have also been suggestions to show your local IP address somewhere. While this can be useful, it's not what Flagfox is for. I suggest you simply try one of the other extensions that can do this.
What about Geotool features? What about adding things like the local time to Flagfox?
Flagfox does simple local lookups and Geotool has more advanced information. Maps, local times, city/state names, etc. are shown there because they require larger databases and more detailed lookups. Features along these lines are not likely to be added to Flagfox.
One of the flags is old. Will you update it?
Sure, assuming the region is already included. Please post a report in this forum with links to references showing the current official flag for the area in question. (i.e. Wikipedia) Bear in mind that the flags are quite small, so don't expect perfect reproductions.
Will you add a region to your database?
That's up to Maxmind. We import the free version of their country location database for use within Flagfox, so if they don't include it then it wouldn't be useful to add it on our end as no IPs would be listed. On the occasion that they do add entries we do make the necessary changes to Flagfox to support them. (localizations, flag icons, etc.)
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Mozilla Add-ons site questions:
Why can't I update to the latest version?
The process of making a new version is as follows:
- I make changes to Flagfox.
- I package a new version with these code changes and upload it to AMO.
- An AMO editor reviews the new version and approves it for public consumption.
- The AMO page is updated and the new release is available for download and update.
I get an error when I try to download Flagfox!
We have zero control over AMO (addons.mozilla.org) server problems. Sometimes there are cache problems immediately following a new release and sometimes their server just chokes. They get a lot of traffic. Just try again later. If problems persist for more than a day please tell us about it.
I see some gibberish listed under "Included locales" or elsewhere.
Your OS, probably older Windows, isn't properly installed/configured and can't display certain Asian languages. You'll also have problems on other sites. Read here.
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Technical questions:
What are Flagfox's system requirements?
Flagfox is not operating system or architecture dependent. As long as your supported browser runs on it then it'll work fine.
What browsers does Flagfox support?
- Firefox 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, & 3.6 nightlies
- Flock 1.0, 2.0, & 2.5
- SeaMonkey 2.0
What is Flagfox written in?
JavaScript, XUL, & CSS
How do I view the source?
XPI files are just glorified ZIPs. Open it in your favorite archive program and then open the JAR inside (also a type of ZIP). Root around at your leisure.
What is Flagfox's license?
Flagfox is free to use and open source. The only restriction is on redistribution of mods via AMO. Read here.
Who makes Flagfox/Geotool?
Dave Garrett does Flagfox.
Richard van der Leeden does Geotool and this server.
The IPDB format was written by Dave and is re-packaged monthly by Richard with some scary Bash-scripting.
For the full list of contributors and translators see the Flagfox about box. (Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions -> right-click on Flagfox -> About)
