Browser fingerprints are unique, like a fingerprint on human hands. Thanks to these details, your internet activity can be traced back to you. So, if you want to keep safe online, it's pertinent to consider how to overcome browser fingerprinting.
What is Browser Fingerprinting?
Browser fingerprinting is the process by which websites collect information specific to a browser for identification. Examples of data collected during fingerprinting are operating systems, time zone, language, active plugins, and screen resolutions, amongst others.
Individually, these data points look harmless. They are. They are generic, but when combined and compared over several prints, patterns can be drawn about the users' behavior. The identification is possible because there's only a 1 in 286,777 chance that your browser information will be 100% the same as another user.
When you use a search engine or visit a website directly, your browser leaves a lot of data behind. Data brokers can grab this data and sell it to interested people. You’ll be surprised at how much companies are willing to pay to target ads at you.
It's, however, noteworthy that browser fingerprinting doesn't necessarily reveal your real-life identity. The website may never know your name or your home address. But, with fingerprinting, they can know your computer and the activity pattern of its user.
With the activities and patterns, businesses that access the data can create a user persona and profile for you. They conduct further data extractions and analysis to create a robust profile of who you’re. Even if you do some activities subconsciously, companies with your data can identify this and use it to their advantage.
There are different methods by which websites can execute browser fingerprinting. These are;
- Using cookies and tracking: Cookies store data on your browser. A website can easily access this data to corroborate the details they have on you.
- Canvas fingerprinting
- Passive fingerprinting: the websites don't need to use any code to track you; they simply look at the characteristics of your web activity.
Threats of browser fingerprinting
You may think browser fingerprinting is nothing to worry about until you understand the full depth of the threat it poses. We have briefed about the following threats of browser fingerprinting:
- Identifying users
- Tracking and correlating user’s activities during sessions
- Collecting information that aid with making an inference about users
Now, let’s dive deeper into these threats.
User identification
There are many reasons you should stay anonymous while browsing. These include; surveillance, concerns about discrimination, personal physical safety, etc. However, if your browser fingerprints can be gotten, your person isn't anonymous. With fingerprints alone, your location can be determined. It gets even worse if the fingerprint gets matched to your real name. You could be at risk of personal physical attacks.
If you don't deal with browser fingerprinting, it doesn't matter if you use Tor to minimize network-level linkability; you can still be compromised.
Tracking and correlating users' activities
Even when your physical person isn't threatened, browser fingerprinting remains a concern. From your cookies and other innate browser attributes, a short profile of you can be made after about two or three visits to a website. This opens you up to targeted online activities like pop-up ads, malware infection, etc.
Making inferences about a user
Big tech and other data-collecting companies often know your personality more than you do. For instance, your computer's CPU or OS information can help them determine your purchasing power. This is an unfair intrusion for users because, with this data and inference, you can be subject to biased treatments.
Solutions to browser fingerprinting
Now, beyond understanding how browser fingerprinting undermines your security and privacy, it’s vital to take the solutions seriously.
Virtual machines
You can install a virtual machine on your computer to minimize browser fingerprinting. Here is how it works; a virtual machine will run a different OS on your computer. So, if you use a Windows computer, you can download machines that help you run Linux OS. This offers improved security and privacy.
Don't bother about fingerprinting on smartphones.
Smartphones conduct browser fingerprinting at deeper levels, and there's nothing you can do about it. Even if you do all the tweaks recommended in this section, smartphones have sensors that can fingerprint. As a user, you have no control whatsoever over this.
VPN services
VPNs are Virtual Private Networks that contribute to your online safety. When you turn on a VPN, your physical location and address are protected inside another faux detail. Hence, your activities will look like they originate from another place.
Anti-detect browsers
You can leverage anti-detect browsers to skirt fingerprinting. These browsers eliminate the features that allow for fingerprinting, amongst other anonymity-related configurations. You can also combine the anti-detect browser with a proxy service. An example of this is doing an AdsPower proxy integration (find more info).
Update your computer software
Product developers (Google, Firefox, etc.) improve the security features available to users with every software update. By updating your software, it becomes easier to prevent browser fingerprinting. You should also update your anti-virus and anti-malware software.
Review your extensions and plugins
While plugins and extensions make browsing easier, they can be an easy way to collect data about your computer. The more plugins and extensions you have, the higher the uniqueness of your computer. Hence, the more unique your digital profile is.
The solution is to uninstall as many as possible and disable JavaScript for those you can’t. You can use JavaScript disabling extensions for this.
Conclusion
Browser fingerprinting is a major digital issue; you should do everything possible to protect yourself. Your service providers want to sell your data and market to you; it's up to you to prevent that. Start by overcoming browser fingerprinting. The most recommended way is using AdsPower proxy integration.
