The issue with browser fingerprinting is that it is probabilistic in nature. It appears at a treasure trove of knowledge to trace you on-line, not any particular person piece of knowledge. A VPN, as an example, can conceal your IP deal with and make you seem in a unique location. If sufficient of the opposite knowledge in your fingerprint is constant, nonetheless, it may possibly nonetheless be used to trace you. Your IP deal with could also be completely different, however nearly all the things else about your shopping is just not.
There could also be sensible use instances for fingerprinting, however you actually don’t have a lot say within the matter. Even with protections just like the GDPR, the second you load a web site, there are seemingly a number of dozen (if no more) trackers copying the data your browser shares for their very own functions. Providers like Fingerprint leverage that data to create an identifier, however make no mistake, the information is at all times there.
The best way to Get Round Browser Fingerprinting
You possibly can’t get round browser fingerprinting, no less than not with out vital compromises to your shopping expertise (extra on that later). Even in case you have been to spoof or obfuscate every bit of knowledge your browser sends alongside, that’d most likely work towards you. The aim with avoiding fingerprinting is to develop into a Jane Doe on-line; you wish to disappear within the crowd, so every bit of knowledge that makes you stand out sends up a purple flag.
One of the simplest ways to combat again towards fingerprinting is to cover or rotate sufficient data in order that it’s tougher to trace you, not inconceivable. And that begins with a VPN, although it doesn’t make you totally nameless. The clearest on-line fingerprint you allow is your IP deal with and bodily location, and VPNs conceal each. Extra importantly, lots of the finest VPNs at the moment embrace extra instruments to fight fingerprinting.
ProtonVPN, which is what I take advantage of myself, contains NetShield to dam trackers, adverts, and malware. It doesn’t stop fingerprinting, however NetShield can no less than seize and block requests from well-known trackers to make you a bit extra non-public on-line. NordVPN has an analogous characteristic, as does Surfshark.
Essentially the most strong model of the sort of blocker comes from Windscribe. Via its browser extension, you are able to do issues like rotate your browser’s consumer agent to make it seem as in case you’re utilizing a unique browser, in addition to spoof your language, time zone, and GPS data to match the VPN server you’re linked to. Once more, this is not going to make you totally nameless on-line. However an extension just like the one Windscribe presents makes monitoring your fingerprint tougher.
