What Is Browser Fingerprinting
When you visit a website, your browser divulges a surprising amount of information, such as your operating system, browser, screen resolution, list of extensions, time zone, language settings, and much more. This information is collated to create a “fingerprint”, and because of the sheer volume and diverse nature of all this information, that fingerprint is more often than not a unique fingerprint.
This unique fingerprint (think of it as a “digital signature”) can then be used to track your online activities across the World Wide Web. Browser fingerprinting is indeed the ultimate tracking tool.
Browser fingerprinting has been a known privacy concern for quite some time, but a recent study has now confirmed this as a common practice. The research led by Texas A&M University also showed that, even when users explicitly opt out of tracking under privacy laws, they are still being covertly tracked across the web through the medium of browser fingerprinting. Even more concerning is the likelihood that these unique identifiers are being passed along to third parties.
- You also might like: Browser Privacy: Fact Or Fiction?
Browsers & Anti-Fingerprinting
To the best of my knowledge, at this current time, only two browsers include anti-fingerprinting measures: they are Brave and Firefox. Brave mitigates fingerprinting by employing a combination of blocking and randomizing aspects of the browser that can be used to create a unique fingerprint.
Firefox employs a very similar methodology. In Brave, the feature is enabled by default; in Firefox, the feature needs to be enabled.
It should be noted that, while these measures will certainly mitigate the chances of fingerprinting, they are not 100% foolproof. Some time back, I also tested two browser extensions that claimed to employ anti-fingerprinting measures. However, in my testing, neither was effective.
- You also might like: Firefox Removes Promise Not To Sell Personal Data
You can check your browser’s fingerprint at: Cover Your Tracks (click the TEST YOUR BROWSER button). Cover Your Tracks will display a summary once it has completed its analysis:
(Brave browser)
“A randomized fingerprint” is the ideal result, meaning that your browser fingerprint is not unique and therefore cannot be used to track your activity.
(Edge & Chrome)
A “unique fingerprint” is not the result you want, as that unique fingerprint can be used to track your activity.
BOTTOM LINE:
As a result of their recent study, the researchers have advocated for stronger anti-fingerprinting defenses in browsers and called for new regulatory measures to stem fingerprinting practices… and not before time!
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