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Browser Fingerprinting

A technique to identify and track users based on unique browser and device characteristics without using cookies.

PrivacyAlso called: "device fingerprinting", "browser tracking"

Browser fingerprinting creates unique identifiers from seemingly innocuous browser properties.

Fingerprinting data sources

  • User agent: Browser, OS, device type.
  • Screen resolution: Display dimensions.
  • Installed fonts: Detectable via CSS/JavaScript.
  • Plugins: Flash, Java (mostly deprecated).
  • Canvas/WebGL: Rendering differences.
  • Audio context: Audio processing variations.
  • Timezone/language: User preferences.
  • Hardware: CPU cores, GPU, battery.

Fingerprint uniqueness

  • Combination of 10+ attributes = highly unique.
  • 80-90% of browsers have unique fingerprints.
  • Persists across browsing sessions.
  • Survives cookie deletion.

Use cases

  • Fraud prevention: Detect suspicious behavior.
  • Bot detection: Identify automated browsers.
  • Analytics: Track users without cookies.
  • Access control: Device-based authentication.

Privacy concerns

  • Users can't easily clear fingerprints.
  • Tracking without consent.
  • Difficult to detect and block.

Defenses

  • Tor Browser (uniform fingerprint).
  • Privacy-focused browsers (Brave, Firefox).
  • Browser extensions (Canvas Blocker).
  • Disable JavaScript (breaks many sites).

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