Fingerprint Defence
Even with a VPN and tracker blocker, sites can identify you by your browser's unique signature.
What Is Browser Fingerprinting?
Every time you visit a website, your browser silently broadcasts dozens of data points: screen size, installed fonts, GPU model, timezone, language settings, browser plugins, and more. Combined, these create a "fingerprint" that is statistically unique to you. No cookie required. Clearing your browser history doesn't help. A VPN doesn't help. You carry this fingerprint everywhere.
- Screen resolution & colour depth
- Installed fonts list
- Browser plugins & extensions
- GPU & graphics renderer
- Timezone & language
- Canvas & WebGL fingerprint
- Audio processing signature
- Battery level (some browsers)
The EFF's Panopticlick study found that 83% of browsers have a fingerprint unique enough to identify the user across sites: even without any cookies or login.
Adding a VPN changes your IP but does nothing to your fingerprint. You are still recognisable.
You can't make your fingerprint invisible: but you can make it common. If your fingerprint matches thousands of other people, you blend into the crowd. That's the defence.
Your Defences: Tick Off As You Apply
Test Tools
The Electronic Frontier Foundation's fingerprint tester. Shows exactly how unique your browser is and what data it exposes. The gold standard test.
Shows every individual data point your browser leaks: WebRTC, Canvas, WebGL, fonts, geolocation, and more. More technical detail than Cover Your Tracks.
Academic fingerprinting research tool from INRIA. Tells you what percentage of users share your exact fingerprint. Smaller % = more identifiable.
Checks whether your DNS queries are leaking through your VPN or going to your ISP. A DNS leak reveals every site you visit even with a VPN active.