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In this article, we will teach how to avoid browser fingerprints and what it is all about.
Are you wondering what browser fingerprinting is all about? This might be the first time you’ve heard of the term. If this is the case, then everything will be okay. Neither of us knew about the term before. Because of this we now have an article that will teach us both what browser fingerprinting is and what it can do.
So without further ado, let us now discuss browser fingerprinting. Later on, we will share with you some tips on how to properly avoid it.
What is Browser Fingerprinting?
Browser Fingerprinting is a term for describing a tracking process that many online sites perform. As you visit many web pages on the world wide web, they use browser fingerprints to track all of your sessions. In this way, they will learn about your browsing habits.
Many people on the internet might not be aware of browser fingerprinting. It is quite difficult to discover since many site owners do this without our knowledge. The main goal of browser fingerprinting is to identify you. It relies on your browsing habits and the make of your device.
It is similar to when you are trying to create a file about a criminal suspect. If you are a fan of TV shows depicting investigators, then you know that they collect small details and piece them together. They also ask people things they know about a suspect.
Browser fingerprinting is only different since it relies on your search history. It helps webpage owners learn if they have new visitors. Apart from that, they will know if you are a return customer that is looking for more items. This way they can send you ads and promotions.
It is called browser fingerprinting since it is the same as following a trail of fingerprints. These fingerprints are for identifying individuals or their devices even if cookies are switched off.
How does Browser Fingerprinting work?
While you browse the internet, your device will always send data to get results. Now, webpage owners know about this. They take advantage of the info you send so they can create a profile about you. This includes what your device is, its internal parts, and even your browsing habits. They will know about topics and products that interest you the most.
You can be surprised by how accurate fingerprinting can be! By looking at your screen resolution, they will know about the video card you are using. There are many data points they can use to do this. Let us now share with you the different types of tracking that they perform.
Canvas Fingerprinting
Similar to an artist painting a blank canvas, it relies on the video card you have. They will see a similar image that your screen is showing you while visiting a webpage. By doing this, they will learn about all the drivers and the graphics card of your device.
Cookies
Did you ever visit a webpage and click on the OK button with a term about cookies? Some people disregard this pop-up message when they first visit an online site. Website owners send cookies to our devices. The purpose of cookies is to store your browsing sessions. It makes your visits easier and faster. Aside from that, they send you cookies to learn about your preferences and send you relevant info.
Audio Fingerprinting
Aside from browser fingerprinting, there is also audio fingerprinting. It aims to collect info about how sound plays on your device. A script detects small variations in tone while figuring out what kind of audio driver you are using. This type of tracking is common for protecting copyrights and licenses.
Media Fingerprinting
Nearly similar to audio fingerprinting, media fingerprinting aims to identify all of your media drivers. It will swiftly detect and list down the drivers you are fond of using. Trackers determine all your drivers as many as possible.
What is the Purpose of Fingerprinting?
Using different methods of tracking, many companies will have a profile about you. They will know about the make of your device and the sites you frequently visit. Collecting all of this info about you requires scripts and trackers. They do this so they can accurately send ads that you prefer receiving. As a result, it lessens the chances that their ads will be ignored.
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YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED
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How to Avoid Fingerprinting?
Now that you know about browser fingerprinting and some of its counterparts, let us teach you how to avoid browser fingerprinting.
Turn-off Cookies
This example might be familiar. Do you notice when you visit a webpage, it asks for your permission so they can send you cookies? A lot of people sometimes ignore these prompts and just click on the OK button. While cookies are not harmful, the ads they send based on the info that cookies collect can be. In about 100 ads, 1 ad contains malware and can effectively cripple your entire system.
Use Browser Extensions
It is almost impossible to avoid browser fingerprinting since it uses many points from the data you send. One method is to reduce the amount of info you send to webpage owners. You can do this by getting browser extensions like NoScript. Its purpose is to disable JavaScript. It is a common script that browser fingerprinting relies on.
Use a Tor Browser
Tor Browser is somehow popular for bringing people to the deep parts of the web. It is so effective in hiding your connection. Tor means The Onion Router. Similar to actual onions we use for cooking, the Tor Browser connects you to a wide network with three or more relays. As a result, the data you send will pass through a network with many layers of encryption.
Install a VPN
There are a few methods of hiding your search history. One famous method is going in incognito mode. However, your browser’s incognito mode is not effective in avoiding tracking tactics. Another useful method is installing a VPN. A Virtual Private Network masks your entire traffic by encrypting it through a network of its servers.
Get a VPN to Avoid Browser Fingerprinting!
VPNs make you invisible to the whole internet. They make it hard for prying eyes to look at your online activities. Aside from that, it will assign you a new IP address that conceals your device and present location.
The best VPN to do this is Surfshark! It is useful so you can avoid browser fingerprints. Aside from that, you get a faster connection for downloading files and browsing the web anonymously.
Here are some advantages of choosing Surfshark as your VPN:
- Avoid fingerprinting techniques by hiding your IP address.
- Encrypt your traffic with a network of virtual tunnels.
- Assign you a new IP address.
- Prevent buffering and stuttering while streaming online videos.
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How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick
If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.
Follow our screenshots below to install the SurfShark VPN app on your Fire TV stick.
1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.
2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.
3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.
4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.
5. Press the Download (You own it) button.
6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.
7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.
8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.
9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.
10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.
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FAQs
Can you fully get rid of fingerprinting?
No. You cannot get rid of fingerprinting since it is only a collection of the data you send alongside your daily website visits. It is a compilation of info that your device and browser send to the internet.
Is browser fingerprinting bad?
Not at all. Browser fingerprinting helps companies learn about the things they want. As a result, you will receive ads about items you want to buy. You can also learn about sales and if a product you want now costs a lesser price. It only becomes bad when you get yourself infected with malware and other harmful programs.
Conclusion
Browser fingerprinting is the process where third parties collect data from your device and browser. Known as fingerprints, these small pieces of virtual breadcrumbs help them create a profile about you. They do this to learn about things that interest you and send you targeted ads.
We hope this article teaches you how to avoid browser fingerprints and what it is all about. Thank you for reading!
