Super Cookies: An Introduction

Cookies are generally employed by websites towards enhancing and offering better user experience as they simplify predictive choices. Cookies denote a set of data kept by browser following a user interaction with a specific website.

The first time you visit a website, cookies save packets of data that help improve user experience over time, especially in cases where the user returns regularly. The improved user experience entails lesser loading time of website pages, auto-login, and tailored content recommendations from tracking user behavioral patterns.

Users who share concerns relating to privacy usually delete these cookies occasionally; however, super cookies offer a different story. They are a form of tracking cookie placed within an HTTP header by the internet service provider (ISP) to gather data relating to a user’s browsing history and internet habits.

What Are Super Cookies?

Super cookies are technically not an HTTP cookie, but a Unique Identifier Header that instead injects information into packets sent from a connected user to its service provider. Whenever the ISP detects traffic from a user, it places an additional HTTP header into the packets leaving the user computer or device.

Super cookies deliver a variety of functions, including the collection of several data on users’ browsing routines as well as website details and time of visit. Irrespective of the browser used, they can also access and gather information through regular tracking cookies. Data collected by super cookies include cached images and files, login details, plug-in data, and more. The data collected are stored and not deleted, even if the traditional cookie is deleted.

Why They Were Invented

Cookies based on browsers have been around for as long as the internet. Cookies were created around 1994 by an engineer. The creation of cookies follows the idea of aiding e-commerce websites to sustain purchasing carts through its target audience. But soon enough, the usage of cookies began to spread widely. Lately, the super cookie a new form of a cookie provides several functions that primarily include the tracking of user activities.

How Do Super Cookies Work?

Cookies are data bits left after activities involving surfing the internet. This data bit comprises information necessary for recognizing a user at a later visit. For regular cookies, they are optional and can be deleted at any time. However, super cookies are more fixed and once a user encounters them, there are limited options for limiting their surveillance capability.

In a more specific form, super cookies are not, in fact, cookies at all. That is because they are not downloaded and stored on the browser. Instead, they make use of Unique Identifier Headers (UIDH), which are injected into the user’s connection at the network level. In essence, the UIDH is any data bit that enables the user’s net connectivity into a unique quantum in the whole web framework.

How Super Cookies Are Used to Track User Activity

Cookies are loved by everyone as these little scripted codes help users navigate websites easily. Cookies make browsing much easier with automatically filling login details, as well as other unique data from one session to the other.

ISPs are known to engage super cookies to attain much-better advertising pitching. The data gathered from users are used by the ISPs alongside other third parties. Some third parties also participate in tracking headers to gain data for use in pitching targeted adverts.

Super cookies are machines in data gathering and keep track of every online activity engaged by the user. Also, the data assembled by standard cookies are accessible to them. So, they get access to caches alongside plugins data.

Measure to Be Taken to Increase Privacy

The tracking process via cookies of any form is not technically damaging. But, tracking of users who wish to remain private do undermine their privacy, and this can be even more harmful than any virus or malware put together.

But in cases where you are not a willing participant, the tracking level of super cookies may be something you wish to avoid. It is understandable, as the problem varies from several unscrupulous third parties seeking to use underhanded techniques to websites trying to exploit user data.

Deactivation

Nevertheless, users can deactivate the storage of standard HTTP cookies through the privacy control available in the browser. Unfortunately, for super cookies, it entails a time-consuming process to manually wipe them off your computer or device.

TLS and SSL Protocols

One approach connected users can employ in shielding themselves and information from super cookies is through the use of TLS (Transport Layer Security) and SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocols. The TLS and SSL protocols provide encryption as well as functioning as a vanguard towards user privacy. Furthermore, users can limit super cookies infiltration by visiting HTTPS websites only as these websites are created using secure protocols.

Data Encryption

Another possible alternative is the use of data encryption. In this regard, the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service would allow the user to browse the web anonymously and securely. The VPN would reroute your traffic via several servers, prohibiting super cookie’s ability to cling to such traffic. Also, the VPN reduces the possibility of tracking headers to be added to your traffic as the data encryption secures all your data.

Also, if you are willing to make use of software in removing them, users can use some free tools like CCleaner or SlimCleaner. This software makes it easier to clean out any super cookies hidden with your computer or device.

Also, another approach to safeguarding your privacy from super cookies is the installation of third-party software that blocks the infestation activities of super cookies in the first place. Some extensions like NoScript and BetterPrivacy makes the process more accessible through its use of a selective filter that scans through web scripts permitted to run on your computer or device.

In Conclusion

Super cookies are not like regular cookies as they facilitate internet surfing by attaching unique identifier headers (UIDHs) to your traffic data. While the data provided from them are relevant to some advertisers and ISPs, they are challenging to detect or locate for users who desire privacy. There are several approaches to avoiding and removing them. Some methods visiting only secure protocol websites, the use of VPN, and more. Depending on which strategy you consider comfortable, there is always a solution to suit your needs.

Learn More with Echo Analytics Group

Echo Analytics Group is a full-service intelligence firm providing services, products, training, and technology to both public and private sector businesses.  Echo Analytics Group has trained thousands of intelligence professionals in-person and online.  We also deliver world-class products and services to a host of businesses across the globe.

To learn more about Echo Analytics Group, please contact us by completing our online form or through emailing us at info@echoanalyticsgroup.com.

To sign up for a course, explore our Echo Academy!

We look forward to connecting with you.

User-Agents (UA)

Every user makes use of different browsers or devices in accessing web services. Also, once connected, you are more likely to notice different looks for the same website under different browsers. Once a browser directs a request to a web service, the browser recognizes itself through the user agent string attached before retrieving the necessary content demanded.

Every user connected to the internet has a user agent (UA). It is some form of software acting as a bridge between the internet and the user. It is easier to understand UAs if you take them alongside the evolution of the internet.

The data contained in the string for user agent, aids websites in delivering the content in a format optimized for the browser. Websites depend on user agents to optimize site content and they remain an essential data source.

Why User-Agents Were Invented?

Released in 1993, the first web browser was the Mosaic, created by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). The creation of user-agent string aligns with the history and reason behind the idea of various browsers. For Internet Explorer, it seeks identification as Netscape 4; similarly, Firefox also wants identification through Konqueror and WebKit. For Chrome, its identification is through Safari.

Although the idea makes user-agent sniffing a little more tricky, each browser (with Opera as an exception) wants to provide a definitive technique for identification that stands out. An aspect to note about sniffing is every browser invests a great deal of time in delivering optimized content as well as the compatibility of their product.

How Do User-Agents Work?

User-Agents comprise of alphanumeric strings created to serve as identification for the ‘agent’ or program requesting the webserver. The request could be for any information like document, pictures, or web page.

The UA uses the alphanumeric string as a standard portion of web architecture that is sent by all web requests through the HTTP headers. The UA string, in turn, is useful in providing specific data about the hardware and software on the computer or device creating the demand.

Although UA does not identify specific persons, it does offer developers a tremendously powerful approach to analyzing and segmenting traffic. Users can decide on critical decisions regarding how to manage web traffic based on the UA string. Such choices may cover fundamental redirection and segmentation, to more intricate content edition and device targeting verdicts.

The data, collected directly from the UA string itself through the UA parsing process, contains browser, OS, and device details. The UA strings do not follow any standard or pattern. With the UA sent, the outcome of the detection is created equal to match the request approach sent by the computer or device. Some methods may hog server resources due to less sophisticated and disorganized APIs and codebases.

How User-Agents Are Used To Track Your Activity

In the early times, the internet was basically a text-based system, where users had to create commands to navigating and sending messages. Nowadays, the browsers can aid users with a simple point and click actions that act as an “agent,” transforming operations into commands.

Whenever a browser loads a website, a user-agent identification alongside network, computer, or device details and others required is provided to the site. The host of information is a set of data for web developers that permits customization of user experience based on the user agent request. The two basics for device detection includes:

• Having the User-Agent lookup occur very fast, and
• Extreme accuracy when identifying the device type.

Almost immediately, the user agent can identify itself to the web server; the process is termed Content Negotiation. The Content Negotiation allows the website to serve different versions of itself, based on the user agent string. The UA also sends its ID card to the server, which responds with a mixture of suitable files, media, and scripts.

Browsers are significant examples of a UA, but other tools like Search engine crawlers which are primarily automated can also act as UAs. A more comprehensive list of likely UAs online can be viewed with this resource link.

Measures To Be Taken In Protecting User-Agent

The UA is generally a software agent that acts on behalf of the user making the request to websites. The format taken by the UA string in HTTP includes a list of keywords alongside optional comments. Seeking privacy with user agents can be helpful, especially if you do not want to be followed by promotional websites. The primary attack comes with access to user data, and some privacy steps can be taken to limit such access.

A notable approach is by blocking specific UAs. Some unwanted visitors always try to seek access and preventing their UAs would stop any traffic containing specified keywords in the UA field.

Another approach is to keep your browser updated and only engage the default user agent. Making regular switches amongst them might seem unusual, so once you feel worried about being tracked, it becomes necessary to blend with others by using reliable browsers. Millions of users engage popular browsers who make use of the same UA, so by using the default UA, it limits the difference.

Also, users can enable tracking protection. The use of tracking protection makes it harder for websites to follow such users. And the harder it becomes, the more your chances are with better privacy.

In Conclusion

User-Agents are helpful to both browsers and users. In the early days of the internet, user agents were engaged in distinguishing Mosaic from Mozilla, since frames were supported on Mozilla and not Mosaic. With several advanced browser features getting detected directly via JavaScript presently, the UA string modern use is in figuring out what device/platform a client is using.

The idea of optimized content suitable to your computer or device connected to the internet makes them a resourceful tool. With the data exchange happening in a matter of seconds, user privacy may face some challenges when such data becomes compromised.  The use of tracking protection systems and updated browsers offer a practical approach to tackling this challenge.

Want to Learn More?

Echo Analytics Group is a full-service intelligence firm providing services, products, training, and technology to both public and private sector businesses.  Echo Analytics Group has trained thousands of intelligence professionals in-person and online.  We also deliver world-class products and services to a host of businesses across the globe.  To learn more about Echo Analytics Group please contact us @ info@echoanalyticsgroup.com.  To sign up for a course, check out Echo Academy here: https://echoacademy.thinkific.com/collections

Internet Protocol (IP) Address

Every system connected to a network features a unique identifier. And similar to addressing letters sent via mail, computers employ a unique identifier in communicating data to other computers on a similar network. Nowadays, most networks, comprising of internet-connected computers, make use of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol as a standard for network communication.

In a TCP/IP network, the identifier used is called the IP address. An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique identifier for computers or devices using the TCP/IP protocol. Networks who engage the TCP/IP protocol route messages via the IP address of the receivers.

Why The IP Address Was Invented

Following the invention of TCP/IP protocol suite in the 1970s, the most popular network protocol globally, the core of these early systems was based on a set of protocols which interconnected computer network. These features allowed the communication of the computers over a network. The role of IP address considered as follows: “A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how to get there.”

Nevertheless, it ensured the exchange of information between two computers occurred just between them. This guaranty follows the idea of no “centralized” computer for the transfer to be possible, thus limiting the prospect of a widespread attack.

The protocol system employed in the connection of other network computers became the foundation of what developed into the TCP/IP protocol system, which the Internet and other computer networks use globally.

In 1983, the first version of the Internet Protocol, the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), was initially deployed in the ARPANET. The header of each IP packet contains the IP address of the sending host and that of the destination host. An IP address serves two essential functions.

• The IP address identifies the host, or, more precisely, its network interface.
• IP address makes available the location of the network host, with the added capability of creating a path to the host.

In the early 1990s, the hasty exhaustion of the available IPv4 address assigned for ISPs and end-user organizations led the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to explore newer approaches towards the expansion of the addressing the internet capabilities.

The outcome led to the redesigning of the IP system which eventually developed into the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) introduced in 1995. The introduction of the IPv6 technology followed several testing stages until the mid-2000s before commercial usage began. Due to the historical pervasiveness of IPv4, the primary use of “IP address” typically still implies addresses defined by IPv4. Nevertheless, other versions, like v1 to v9, were well-defined but only v4 and v6 ever received general use.

How IP Address Work

Currently, the two versions of the Internet Protocol, IPv4, and IPv6, are simultaneously in active use. Amid several technical changes, the format of addresses for the particular version is defined differently.

Every IP address takes the format of a 32-bit numeric address inscribed as four numbers separated by periods. The number ranges from 0 to 255. For instance, 10.166.11.251 could represent an IP address. The four numbers contained within an IP address are engaged in diverse ways of identifying a specific network alongside a host.

The four regional Internet registries include ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC, and RIPE NCC. These designated regional Internet registries allot Internet addresses from the three classes highlighted below:

• Class A – supports 126 networks, with each having 16 million hosts.
• Class B – supports 16,000 networks, with each having 65,000 hosts.
• Class C – supports 2 million networks with each having 254 hosts.

With the number of unallocated Internet addresses nearing exhaustion, a new classless scheme named CIDR is progressively replacing the class system with the adoption tied to IPv6. The IP address size, in this case, is increased from 32 to 128 bits.

Considering an isolated network, IP addresses can be assigned at random as far as it remains unique. Nevertheless, the connection of a private network to the Internet entails the use of registered IP addresses (called Internet addresses) to avert duplication.

An IP address can either be dynamic or static. Dynamic IP addresses are considered a temporary address that is allotted to a computer or device each time it connects to the Internet. Static IP addresses do not change as they are permanent Internet addresses.

How IP Address Are Used to Track User Activity

The IP framework can track user activity as it enables most 2-way communication involving the internet. The framework does this by allotting unique protocol addresses with numerical identifiers to every connected device for identification.

These IP address feature also aid proper communication with website services, and even in recognizing and locating devices online. The IP address of a connected user consist of two parts:

• Network ID, and
• Host ID

With the possibility of global communication, IP addresses also allow Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to be able to differentiate unique hardware for billions of users. The ISPs can track online activities via IP address as well as tracing your exact position. Consequently, a user approximate physical location is visible to any website with access to the user’s IP address.

Nevertheless, ISPs can tell your location at any time, and even though some policies are employed to provide privacy, connection logs of internet activities are kept. In most nations, law enforcement agencies can use details from ISPs. Some countries, like the UK, do not require a warrant following the Investigatory Powers Act 2016

Measure to Be Taken in Protecting Your IP Address

Data on location, browser history, and more are collected over time through IP addresses. These data can give a detailed story about your routines, interest, and information related to your internet usage.  Well, a hidden IP address can stop details of your activities and location from being determined or traced.

Also, if you desire more privacy, the IP address can be changed to keep your details anonymous. Once you understand how the IP address works, the measure to be taken in protecting your privacy is pretty straightforward. Nevertheless, internet privacy, online freedom, and security are three primary reasons most users seek the protection of the IP address. Below are four effective methods of protecting an IP address.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPN services offer the easiest and possibly the best approach to protecting your IP address. The first step is choosing a well-rated VPN provider. Users can download and install their client software, followed by connecting to a suitable server on the VPN provider’s network. After connecting to the server, the VPN will become the middle-man between your device and the Internet.

Once you make any data request over the internet, the VPN removes your IP and replace it with one of theirs. Also, as the data request returns with a result, the server puts back your IP address. With the use of a VPN server, any website or service has absolutely zero chance of knowing who is communicating.

Every application connected to the internet would follow this process, as the VPN would route all data through to increase user protection. Nevertheless, VPN also offers the following additional benefits:

• VPN services allow users to pick selected servers available for several locations.
• The connection between your device and the server is encrypted.

The Onion Router (Tor)

The Onion Router (Tor) offers another excellent approach to hiding IP address. While it’s a little more complicated and slower compared to VPN, Tor is entirely free. To get started, users are required to download, install, and configure a Tor browser. The Tor browser bears similar appearances and functions to the Mozilla’s Firefox. This system depends on a global network of volunteer-run servers termed the “relays nodes.”

Once a device makes a data request, the request randomly “bounce” around several nodes before getting to its final destination. The outcome of the data request also follows a similar process. Each node is only aware of the next and previous nodes in the network chain, thus eliminating the possibilities of the website or service to track it back.  All data on the Tor network is encrypted.

Proxy

The proxy is another excellent way of hiding an IP address. In terms of connection, proxies are relatively easy to set up. Proxies can be free and offer minimal impact to the Internet speed. A proxy can be configured straight from an existing browser, and different process follows the set up in all major versions).

Accessing the web through proxy requires no extra software and only the IP address of a proxy server. With the browser set up correctly, the proxy relays everything sent and received through it while swapping the users’ IP with that of the server. Similar to VPN, choosing a proxy server location is available dependent on your goal.

Proxies are only efficient in masking IPs and come with limitations. They do not encrypt your data, hence, less privacy and security. And similar to Tor, running another application aside, a browser would entail a more complex setup that requires native proxy support and likely your network settings at the OS level.

Nevertheless, there are several sources online to get proxy server IPs, and a simple Google search can provide the free ones as well as paid providers.

Public Wi-Fi

The use of public Wi-Fi can also protect your home IP from being known. The IP address does not travel and whenever your device is connected to Public Wi-Fi, their IP address is what is used. In this case, the IP address used in accessing the internet would be different from your IP at home.

Nevertheless, this solution is not always convenient, especially in the long run, as it offers several downsides. The most grievous are the possibilities of specific individuals using such networks to hack your connection.

In Conclusion

IP addresses are essential in our everyday connection to the internet. There are several benefits attached to using an IP address as it varies in importance for the User, the ISPs, and also security outfits. If it becomes a necessary step to maintain a high level of privacy, the use of VPN, Tor, Proxies, and Public Wi-Fi are some Excellent options to consider. These options offer various levels of flexibility to match different needs. Your IP address is essential, be free, and be safe.

Want to Learn More?

Echo Analytics Group is a full-service intelligence firm providing services, products, training, and technology to both public and private sector businesses.  Echo Analytics Group has trained thousands of intelligence professionals in-person and online.  We also deliver world-class products and services to a host of businesses across the globe.  To learn more about Echo Analytics Group please contact us @ info@echoanalyticsgroup.com.  To sign up for a course, check out Echo Academy here: https://echoacademy.thinkific.com/collections

How the HTTP Referrer Works

The HTTP referer (also called HTTP referrer) is an optional HTTP header field that recognizes webpage address (i.e., the Uniform Resource Identifier or IRI) connected to the resource being requested. By inspecting the referrer, the new webpage can determine where the original request was initiated.

Generally, such situations usually imply once any user clicks a hyperlink on a webpage, the browser forwards a request to the server containing the destination of the webpage. The inclusion in such requests usually comprises of the referrer field, which shows the last page the user visited before clicking the new link.

How The HTTP Referrer Works

The HTTP referrer provides the services of a referrer header, which transmits data from the former webpage to the new website a user is presently viewing. It simply refers to any source online responsible for driving visitors and visits to a website. Typical examples include Affiliate links, email marketing campaigns, links built into the software, links from other websites, online ads, search engines, social media, and more.

Each time a user visits a website, one of the essential data recorded are details of previous web pages. These details are usually in the form of the page’s URL — for example, the last page visited before selecting a link to the new website.

The idea of using HTTP referrer is to deliver useful information relating to the referral page as well as the link clicked to access your website. The log containing such detail is referred to as the referrer log. Technically, when the term “referrer” is used by the web developer, it is explicitly referring to online resources, including sites or services found in the referrer log.

Why Is HTTP Referrer Important?

The information provided by the HTTP referrer offers a better analysis of where website traffic is coming from. Additionally, it also provides an insight into what works for a website form the marketing standpoint and which marketing approach is currently valid. Generally, information obtained from HTTP referrer aid most websites make better choices when it comes to strategizing.

How HTTP Referrer Are Used to Track User Activity?

Website owners often desire to know where their visitors are coming from and may decide to track its user’s path. The HTTP Referrer offers a unique approach to telling website owners both useful and less useful links.

Once a user connected to the internet clicks a link in a browser, it loads the clicked web page and also tells the new webpage where the user visited last. Therefore, it contains all the information related to past websites.

The HTTP referrer is also engaged when a web page is loading its content. Let’s say, if a web page contains ads or tracking script, the user browsers also provide information to the advertiser or tracking network about the page currently in view. Also, web bugs, which are a file object placed on web pages, exploit the features of HTTP referrer in tracking users.

Measure That Can Be Taken To Protect Privacy

The HTTP referer remains a common and powerful tool capable of pointing out which website the link was located that the current visitor clicked to visit your site. Although it remains beneficial to web designers and SEOs who seek to leverage more gaining the right audience and visitors, some users are not comfortable with been tracked.

There are several measures to be taken in protecting yourself from been tracked with HTTP referer. But how is it done?

One step to more privacy and protection starts with the security settings on a user’s browser. In the security settings, the HTTP referer can be turned off to limit its features. After turning it off, accessing URL with HTTP referer can be granted only if the referer can be established.

Another step to mitigating the risk associated with HTTP referer is by the sensible design of applications. The use of practical application boosts security by making a password reset URLs only functional for single usage.

Also, it is essential to engage only sites that always use HTTPS. Websites with HTTPS offer several security benefits, including the fact that such websites would never convey referrer data to non-HTTPS sites. Although the concept is turning out to be less useful in this context as most websites are now making use of HTTPS, but it remains worthy to note.

Additionally, users should consider not using any third-party content or widgets (i.e., social networking widgets) on less secure areas or websites. For instance, login areas, payment forms, password reset pages, etc.

In Conclusion

The use of the HTTP referer makes it an easy task for some website owners who may consider the possibility of seeing what pages visitors are coming from. The usage of certain websites can be linked to other websites, especially when you probably follow a link displayed on the page. Nevertheless, privacy and data usage are always essential reasons for a variety of users and now yo know that specific steps can be taken to improve your overall safety as well as limit the activities of the HTTP referrer.

Learn More with Echo Analytics Group

Echo Analytics Group is a full-service intelligence firm providing services, products, training, and technology to both public and private sector businesses.  Echo Analytics Group has trained thousands of intelligence professionals in-person and online.  We also deliver world-class products and services to a host of businesses across the globe.

To learn more about Echo Analytics Group, please contact us by completing our online form or through emailing us at info@echoanalyticsgroup.com.

To sign up for a course, explore our Echo Academy!

We look forward to connecting with you.

Browser Fingerprinting

Browser Fingerprinting

Browser fingerprinting offers an incredibly accurate approach of recognizing unique browsers as well as tracking online activities. It can be well-defined as a device or machine fingerprint which collects information about the computer or device for the purpose of identification.

Browser fingerprinting remains a powerful technique used by websites in collecting information relating to active plugins, browser type, and version, language, operating system, screen resolution, time zone, and other vital details.

Why Browser Fingerprinting?

Browser fingerprinting is integrated into almost all sites for the purpose of web tracking, averting click fraud, accessing user data, and other variable influence on users. Another popular application of browser fingerprinting is its beneficial use for targeted advertising.

They also find usage in the regeneration of deleted cookies or re-linking old cookies. Browser fingerprinting is useful to enhance electronic authentication actions as well as in the prevention of unlawful system access that lacks reliance on the user interface.

How It Works

Browser fingerprinting offers a powerful approach for website owners to gather information about the user browser and other relevant data. These data points may appear generic and may not be mostly personalized to identifying users.

Whenever cookies are turned off, the browser fingerprints can serve in the full or partial identification of individual computers or devices. So, once a user is connected to the internet, the computer or device would provide several detailed data to the receiving server about websites visited.

Website owners use the data made available by the browsers in identifying unique users and tracking their online habits. The process takes the uniqueness of browser information to identifying connected based on the data obtained.

Nevertheless, there is significantly a slight possibility for two users to have 100% similar browsing data. According to Panopticlick, only 1 in 286,777 other browsers would have the same fingerprint for two users. Website owners use Browser Fingerprinting to create a massive database that stores user information, which can be accessed for additional analytics purposes.

These websites collect a broad set of visitor’s data for later usage. All data collected do not automatically reveal your exact location or other personal details like address or name, but it is precious to advertisers and companies seeking targeted campaigns. The data collection and tracking approach remain extremely valuable due to its advertising potentials. So, the more the data, the more accurate targeted ads can be, which (indirectly) implies more revenue.

Track User Activity

Websites employ several approaches towards tracking connected users. The collected information and browser fingerprint provide a less intrusive method, with most users less aware of the process. The browser fingerprinting technology allows websites to interact with the user browser and retrieve data. Sites with browser fingerprints do not necessarily know the user’s name but look to collect data and information that are considered valuable.

Once a user visits such a site, the fingerprinting code begins the interaction process with the connected computer or device for data processes like knowing your operating system, installed fonts, and more. Many times, the browser fingerprint code would execute the digital equivalent of a RADAR test, transmitting signal just to see what response it gets.

The website code contained in the transmitted signals instructs the browser on the answers needed. The coding for browser fingerprinting may include words or icons that never appear on the screen, allowing websites to track small differences in how every computer or device responds. Every site has its own data points to building its fingerprint database, which makes it hard to detect. Apps can feature browser fingerprints as well, via even more attributes available on the connected device.

Protect Privacy

Luckily, if you seek more privacy, there are some actions to take towards reducing your fingerprints from the web. There is less possibility of removing all to protect yourself completely. Maybe new software or other sufficient approaches might suffice later.

Nevertheless, the following tools and methods below can help enhance your online privacy and minimize your browser fingerprinting.

Anti-Malware Software

The use of Anti-malware software is always beneficial, irrespective of whether a user is seeking online privacy protection or general protection for data and personal files. Outstanding anti-malware software tools like HitmanPro and Malwarebytes offers seamless solutions to reducing browser fingerprint alongside serving as a second layer of protection. In most cases, anti-malware blocks ads, harmful toolbars, and spyware software that may be running on your system background.

Disabling Flash and JavaScript

Disabling Flash and JavaScript is another practical approach to consider. Once JavaScript is disabled, these sites would not be able to detect current fonts and plugins, as well as limit the installation of certain cookies on browsers. But disabling JavaScript may limit the functionalities of websites as it is essential for them to deliver smooth operations during browsing sessions. In contrast, deactivating flash offers no negative impact on user experience.

The Onion Router (Tor) Browser

If a user is considering an extremely secure browser with a limited browser fingerprint, then the installation of Tor Browser becomes necessary. The best approach is running the Tor Browser alongside a good Virtual Private Network (VPN). The Tor browser makes use of the same default settings for all users, thus making it challenging to detect unique browser fingerprints. Also, the Tor Browser blocks JavaScript for sites, but its main downside is its slow browsing speed.

Use Private Browsing Methods (incognito mode)

Several browsers allow users to browse in private or incognito mode. This method makes the browsing session private by setting your “profile” and other data points to a certain standard. These data points are amongst the details requested by browser fingerprint, so the use of similar “profile” settings for several users creates the same fingerprints that significantly reduce your chances of exposure.

Use Plugins

Users can opt for the use of plugins capable of disabling trackers employed by some websites. Plugins like AdBlock Plus, Disconnect, NoScript, and Privacy Badger, are created to block script with potential spy ads and unseen trackers. For some sites, the use of plugins may limit user experience. But the plugins also offer the possibilities of whitelisting some websites the user trust.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The use of a VPN is the most popular approach to hiding IP addresses. The VPN acts as a middle man between the connected computer or device and the Internet Service Provider (ISP). With VPN, the webserver only gets access to the IP of the VPN (which is likely engaged by several users). But the IP address is only one aspect to browser fingerprinting. Irrespective of the IP sent to the web server, a user browser setting, version, and more can create unique browser fingerprint data that cannot be changed by VPN.

It merely implies your browser data still permits the webserver to detect unique visitors irrespective of the VPN used. The VPN is an excellent tool for hiding real IP addresses, but not the most effective approach to protecting users against browser fingerprint. Nevertheless, this approach still makes a list as it can be combined with other methods to offer even more advanced restrictions to browser fingerprinting.

Application Approaches

Several sites can engage in unique fingerprints from visitors to create an in-depth system for targeting visitors. The use of browser fingerprint covers a wide-ranging list of data points that is unique for different users.

If you take online privacy seriously, browser fingerprint makes use of details that goes further than just the IP address. There are several approaches available for users to engage in covering up browser fingerprints. Some of these approaches include the use of anti-malware tools, incognito mode, security plugins, Tor Browser, VPN, disabling JavaScript, and Flash. Depending on the method you consider comfortable, browser fingerprint can be reduced to suit your needs.

Learn More with Echo Analytics Group

Echo Analytics Group is a full-service intelligence firm providing services, products, training, and technology to both public and private sector businesses.  Echo Analytics Group has trained thousands of intelligence professionals in-person and online.  We also deliver world-class products and services to a host of businesses across the globe.

To learn more about Echo Analytics Group, please contact us by completing our online form or through emailing us at info@echoanalyticsgroup.com.

To sign up for a course, explore our Echo Academy!

We look forward to connecting with you.

Buddy is a military veteran, former intelligence officer, and entrepreneur who teaches dozens of courses on a variety of intelligence-related topics. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Echo Analytics Group and is based in Tampa, Florida.