For the past few weeks, Google has shown an "Our systems have detected unusual traffic" message almost every time I search. I'm not using a VPN, I haven't installed any new browser extensions, and I haven't knowingly downloaded anything suspicious. I've read through common troubleshooting advice, but none of it seems to fit my situation. What could be causing this, and how can I diagnose or fix it?
4 Answers
The activity may not be coming from your computer specifically. Google could be reacting to other devices on the same network, such as a phone, smart TV, router, or another computer. An infected or poorly secured device can generate automated traffic through your connection, so check connected devices and update their software and firmware.
Very rapid searches or repeated searches that resemble automated research can sometimes trigger the warning even when the user is legitimate. If you’re searching continuously, slow down for a while and complete any verification prompt. If the warning still appears on every device and browser, the shared or previously flagged IP explanation is more likely than malware on your computer.
Your internet provider may be using carrier-grade NAT, which means multiple customers share one public IP address. If someone else using that IP generated lots of automated searches, Google may temporarily flag everyone behind it. A recently reassigned IP address can cause the same problem.
If it happens mainly in private or incognito windows, try clearing the browser’s cookies and site data, then test in a normal window with extensions disabled. Also compare the result in another browser and on a different connection, such as mobile data. That helps determine whether the cause is the browser, your home network, or the public IP address.
You can ask your provider whether your connection uses shared addressing. Restarting the modem may assign a different address, although that depends on the provider.