Many think that deleting cookies will help them avoid targeting, but even if cookies are deleted, it will be possible to redefine you by combining the technical features of your browser. This method is called browser fingerprinting.
Cookies remain on the browser, and it may seem that you can delete them to avoid tracking. Unlike cookies, browser fingerprinting can still be used to track or distinguish your browser even after cookies are deleted. However, instead of leaving files on your computer, Canvas/WebGL fingerprinting reads technical signals that your browser sends back to websites. These signals are screen resolution, operating system, language, fonts, hardware, and Canvas/WebGL. Each signal individually is not unique, but the sum of these signals will most likely be unique for millions of users.
This will allow ad networks to tie the same user across different sites. Opening a hidden tab or browsing from a different browser is not entirely safe, as browser fingerprinting does not rely solely on cookies. Users are not aware that these trackers can see the sum of the devices and software they use, not just their browser. Users tend to think that by deleting cookies, they have eliminated tracking cookies entirely; however, browser fingerprinting may have already recorded the unique configuration of their machine. There is also no guarantee of total protection, as some signals must be allowed for the device to operate.
Privacy browsers and add-ons can help prevent these trackers, as well as updates to browsers and software. The main thing is to teach users that cookies are not the only way of tracking on the Internet. In conclusion, browser fingerprinting is an invisible and effective way of tracking on the network. Cookies are safe to delete, but the technical specifications of the device may be much more revealing than just cookies. Thus, in terms of security and privacy, it is necessary to consider not only cookies but also the full interaction with the device in general, since sometimes the most indestructible fingerprint is the one that does not leave any marks at all.
Top comments (1)
This was a good read, and a nice reminder that clearing cookies isn’t the full picture. The part that surprised me most is that each signal on its own isn’t unique, but put together they basically become your ID.