I think this should be an easy fix. Just provide some, widely-used fonts to the browser and not all the 200 fonts that are on the system
HTML5 Canvas
I have no idea what this is based on, but shouldn’t it be possible to randomise it every time, so that even though it is unique every time, it is so for everyone and every time they refresh the page?
So if I’m identified as unique how bad is that? Is fingerprinting so critical that it makes all my other attempts at privacy pointless, or is it a niche edge-case that you don’t really need to worry about?
I do not think ads would keep tracking you though browser fingerprinting. Maybe just a little.
But, say, you are being prosecuted and your traffic is being looked at. No one can defend you if a fingerprint of your browser shows up somewhere where it shoulnd’t have been. You being a unique one with this fingerprint means that nobody but your machine accessed that IP address.
It kinda feels like saying: “we know the crime was committed by someone who’s this tall with this hair color and this skin color and has this tattoo on the right arm and who speaks these three languages and we have never seen anyone else who matches all of those things so it must be you”
If it points to your IP but not your PC - probably won’t hold. Same if IP is wrong but fingerprint is fine. But if both are matching, there is no doubt. You know, not many Windows 11 Pro Laptops with intel 125H, 4060m, 1440p 144hz screen, Firefox version, exact same font list, system language, setting preferences exist on the planet. It is a fingerprint in the similar way an actual fingerprint works.
Yeah, so e.g. you open site A without a VPN and then later, site B with a VPN on the same browser.
Your browser is now recognised and site B may sell you ads based on what you did on site A, or maybe region-block you based on your IP with site A.
And all that’s left is your fully trackable browser fingerprint.
Here you can test how identifiable you are:
https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/
https://amiunique.org/
The things that give it off (i.e. 0.00%):
So if I’m identified as unique how bad is that? Is fingerprinting so critical that it makes all my other attempts at privacy pointless, or is it a niche edge-case that you don’t really need to worry about?
I do not think ads would keep tracking you though browser fingerprinting. Maybe just a little.
But, say, you are being prosecuted and your traffic is being looked at. No one can defend you if a fingerprint of your browser shows up somewhere where it shoulnd’t have been. You being a unique one with this fingerprint means that nobody but your machine accessed that IP address.
Would a fingerprint uniqueness hold up in court?
It kinda feels like saying: “we know the crime was committed by someone who’s this tall with this hair color and this skin color and has this tattoo on the right arm and who speaks these three languages and we have never seen anyone else who matches all of those things so it must be you”
If it points to your IP but not your PC - probably won’t hold. Same if IP is wrong but fingerprint is fine. But if both are matching, there is no doubt. You know, not many Windows 11 Pro Laptops with intel 125H, 4060m, 1440p 144hz screen, Firefox version, exact same font list, system language, setting preferences exist on the planet. It is a fingerprint in the similar way an actual fingerprint works.
Oh right I hadn’t thought of combining it with the IP itself.
Yeah, so e.g. you open site A without a VPN and then later, site B with a VPN on the same browser.
Your browser is now recognised and site B may sell you ads based on what you did on site A, or maybe region-block you based on your IP with site A.
Sure, it’s still better to NOT click Accept all once in a hurry.
But my browser does mitigate some of that.
How much does privacy badger help with that
I don’t know but try it: https://abrahamjuliot.github.io/creepjs
I do