Fingerprinting: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

A '''[[wikipedia:Device fingerprint|device fingerprint]]''' is a ~~string of data that maps and compiles details~~ of a ~~particular~~ device ~~or user, such as the operating system~~ and ~~browser information~~. Unlike an IP address, which is a singular piece of data that users can manipulate for privacy and security (such as using a VPN service or resetting network connection), a device fingerprint holds a series of specified data that can be uniquely attributed to a device or user (or a group thereof), and are therefore much harder to protect from tracking and abuse of privacy.

A '''[[wikipedia:Device fingerprint|device fingerprint]]''' is a collection of information about a device's hardware and configuration. Unlike an IP address, which is a singular piece of data that users can manipulate for privacy and security (such as using a VPN service or resetting network connection), a device fingerprint holds a series of specified data that can be uniquely attributed to a device or user (or a group thereof), and are therefore much harder to protect from tracking and abuse of privacy.

~~Common data that may be included in a device fingerprint include:~~

*'''Device model and hardware'''

*'''Web browser'''

*'''Screen resolution'''

*'''Font type and size'''

*'''Plugins'''

*'''Browser extensions'''

*and many more

==How it works==

Fingerprinting works by getting one or more data items and turning them into a much shorter bit string that uniquely identifies itself (typically by applying a [[wikipedia:Hash_function|hash-function]]). ~~This includes the operating system~~, ~~device model~~, screen resolution, installed fonts~~, graphic-rendering~~, and ~~more~~.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How does device fingerprinting work? |url=https://www.crossclassify.com/resources/articles/how-does-fingerprinting-work/ |access-date=31 August 2025 |website=crossclasiffy.com}}</ref>

Fingerprinting works by getting one or more data items and turning them into a much shorter bit string that uniquely identifies itself (typically by applying a [[wikipedia:Hash_function|hash-function]]). Such data points include device hardware, web browser, browser plugins and configuration, screen resolution, installed fonts, and many other methods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How does device fingerprinting work? |url=https://www.crossclassify.com/resources/articles/how-does-fingerprinting-work/ |access-date=31 August 2025 |website=crossclasiffy.com}}</ref> Even the '''lack of data can be used to build a fingerprint''', as certain data is unlikely to be missing.

~~Even~~ the ~~'''lack of data can be~~ used to ~~build~~ a fingerprint~~''', as certain data is unlikely to be missing. This is the case when a "power user" changes many default~~ settings~~, or clears fields that aren't necessary. Unfortunately, this helps narrow-down~~ the ~~identifier, creating a unique fingerprint~~.

Because of the many different variables used to generate a fingerprint by adding extensions and changing settings it can have the opposite indented affect.

==Why it is a problem==

~~Fingerprinting can be used~~ to identify individuals, flagging privacy concerns and letting companies do things like targeted advertising, selling personal data and more.

While there are some benefits from a security perspective (e.g. trusted-device recognition and fraud prevention), fingerprinting allows websites to identify individuals even while masking their IP address, flagging privacy concerns and letting companies do things like targeted advertising, selling personal data and more. It also allows another avenue for tracking across websites as services implemented on many different sites on the web will be able to follow device browsing from one website to another. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Browser Fingerprinting: What It Is and How to Block It |url=https://techreviewadvisor.com/browser-fingerprinting/ |access-date=10 October 2025 |website=techreviewadvisor.com}}</ref>

==~~Examples~~==

~~Some examples of fingerprinting include some types of cookies,~~

==Remedies==

Device fingerprinting is notoriously difficult to avoid. IP addresses can be masked, hidden, or modified, while cookies can be blocked, cleared, and avoided~~. Device fingerprints, however, are a compilation of basic data points that computers and browsers use to communicate with web pages~~. The only notable ~~remedy is~~ using privacy-focused browsers such as Mullvad ~~and~~ Brave which ~~randomize~~ certain data points to hide unique attributes.

Device fingerprinting is notoriously difficult to avoid. IP addresses can be masked, hidden, or modified, while cookies can be blocked, cleared, and avoided. The only notable remedies are using privacy-focused browsers such as Mullvad, Brave, or the Tor browser which either randomizes certain data points to hide unique attributes or modifies identifiers to make all users appear to be the same in an effort to reduce the uniqueness of the system. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-fingerprinting |url=https://tb-manual.torproject.org/anti-fingerprinting/ |website=tb-manual.torproject.org}}</ref>

==References==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{StubNotice}}{{ToneWarning}}
-A '''[[wikipedia:Device fingerprint|device fingerprint]]''' is a string of data that maps and compiles details of a particular device or user, such as the operating system and browser information. Unlike an IP address, which is a singular piece of data that users can manipulate for privacy and security (such as using a VPN service or resetting network connection), a device fingerprint holds a series of specified data that can be uniquely attributed to a device or user (or a group thereof), and are therefore much harder to protect from tracking and abuse of privacy.
+A '''[[wikipedia:Device fingerprint|device fingerprint]]''' is a collection of information about a device's hardware and configuration. Unlike an IP address, which is a singular piece of data that users can manipulate for privacy and security (such as using a VPN service or resetting network connection), a device fingerprint holds a series of specified data that can be uniquely attributed to a device or user (or a group thereof), and are therefore much harder to protect from tracking and abuse of privacy.
-Common data that may be included in a device fingerprint include:
-*'''Device model and hardware'''
-*'''Web browser'''
-*'''Screen resolution'''
-*'''Font type and size'''
-*'''Plugins'''
-*'''Browser extensions'''
-*and many more
 ==How it works==
-<!-- Can someone knowledgable enough please check this? -->Fingerprinting works by getting one or more data items and turning them into a much shorter bit string that uniquely identifies itself (typically by applying a [[wikipedia:Hash_function|hash-function]]). This includes the operating system, device model, screen resolution, installed fonts, graphic-rendering, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How does device fingerprinting work? |url=https://www.crossclassify.com/resources/articles/how-does-fingerprinting-work/ |access-date=31 August 2025 |website=crossclasiffy.com}}</ref>
+<!-- Can someone knowledgable enough please check this? -->Fingerprinting works by getting one or more data items and turning them into a much shorter bit string that uniquely identifies itself (typically by applying a [[wikipedia:Hash_function|hash-function]]). Such data points include device hardware, web browser, browser plugins and configuration, screen resolution, installed fonts, and many other methods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How does device fingerprinting work? |url=https://www.crossclassify.com/resources/articles/how-does-fingerprinting-work/ |access-date=31 August 2025 |website=crossclasiffy.com}}</ref> Even the '''lack of data can be used to build a fingerprint''', as certain data is unlikely to be missing.
-Even the '''lack of data can be used to build a fingerprint''', as certain data is unlikely to be missing. This is the case when a "power user" changes many default settings, or clears fields that aren't necessary. Unfortunately, this helps narrow-down the identifier, creating a unique fingerprint.
+Because of the many different variables used to generate a fingerprint by adding extensions and changing settings it can have the opposite indented affect.
 ==Why it is a problem==
-Fingerprinting can be used to identify individuals, flagging privacy concerns and letting companies do things like targeted advertising, selling personal data and more.
+While there are some benefits from a security perspective (e.g. trusted-device recognition and fraud prevention), fingerprinting allows websites to identify individuals even while masking their IP address, flagging privacy concerns and letting companies do things like targeted advertising, selling personal data and more. It also allows another avenue for tracking across websites as services implemented on many different sites on the web will be able to follow device browsing from one website to another. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Browser Fingerprinting: What It Is and How to Block It |url=https://techreviewadvisor.com/browser-fingerprinting/ |access-date=10 October 2025 |website=techreviewadvisor.com}}</ref>
-==Examples==
-Some examples of fingerprinting include some types of cookies,
 ==Remedies==
-Device fingerprinting is notoriously difficult to avoid. IP addresses  can be masked, hidden, or modified, while cookies can be blocked, cleared, and avoided. Device fingerprints, however, are a compilation of basic data points that computers and browsers use to communicate with web pages. The only notable remedy is using privacy-focused browsers such as Mullvad and Brave which randomize certain data points to hide unique attributes.
+Device fingerprinting is notoriously difficult to avoid. IP addresses  can be masked, hidden, or modified, while cookies can be blocked, cleared, and avoided. The only notable remedies are using privacy-focused browsers such as Mullvad, Brave, or the Tor browser which either randomizes certain data points to hide unique attributes or modifies identifiers to make all users appear to be the same in an effort to reduce the uniqueness of the system. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-fingerprinting |url=https://tb-manual.torproject.org/anti-fingerprinting/ |website=tb-manual.torproject.org}}</ref>
 ==References==