Bahaa Abdul Hadi is an Identity Management expert and regularly shares his experiences with his audience through his blogs. We’re all familiar with cookies – those little data that websites store on our computers to keep track of our activity. But there’s another, more insidious way that websites can track us: “browser fingerprinting.”
Browser fingerprinting is a relatively new tracking technology that allows websites to track us even if we delete our cookies or use incognito browsing mode. Here’s everything you need to know about this new form of tracking.
Browser fingerprinting is a tracking technique that uses the unique configuration of your browser to track you across the web. Every browser has a unique combination of settings and add-ons, which creates a signature that can be used to identify you.
This signature can’t be used to personally identify you, but it can be used to track your activity across the web. Browser fingerprinting is used by advertisers, social media platforms, and other companies to track your online activity and target you with ads.
How does browser fingerprinting work?
When you visit a website, your browser sends a request to the server. This request includes information about your browser, such as the type of browser you’re using, your operating system, and your IP address.
In addition, your browser also includes information about your browser configuration, such as the size of your screen, the fonts you have installed, and the plugins you have enabled. This information can be used to create a unique fingerprint that can be used to track you.
Are there any privacy concerns with browser fingerprinting?
Yes, there are definitely privacy concerns with browser fingerprinting. This tracking technique can be used to track your activity across the web without your knowledge or consent. In addition, this tracking technique can’t be detected or blocked by traditional ad blockers. This means that even if you’re using an ad blocker, you could still be tracked via browser fingerprinting.
What can you do to protect yourself from browser fingerprinting?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to protect yourself from browser fingerprinting. This tracking technique is still relatively new, and there are no easy ways to block it. One thing you can do is use a script blocker, such as uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger. These extensions can block some of the scripts that are used for browser fingerprinting.
You can also use a privacy-focused browser, such as Tor Browser or Brave. These browsers are designed to protect your privacy, and they may be less susceptible to browser fingerprinting.
Finally, you can use a VPN. With a VPN, your traffic is encrypted and sent through a server. This makes it much harder for websites to track you.
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