Browser Fingerprinting: Beyond IP Address

What is Browser Fingerprinting?

Browser fingerprinting creates a unique identifier based on your browser and system characteristics - no cookies required. Even with a proxy, you can be tracked.

Common Fingerprinting Techniques

Canvas Fingerprinting

Websites render invisible graphics and hash the result. Differences in GPU, drivers, and fonts create unique patterns.

// Basic canvas fingerprint

const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');

const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');

ctx.fillText('Fingerprint test', 10, 10);

const hash = canvas.toDataURL();

WebGL Fingerprinting

Similar to canvas but uses 3D graphics capabilities. Reveals GPU vendor and renderer.

Font Detection

Measures which fonts are installed by rendering text and measuring dimensions.

AudioContext Fingerprinting

Processes audio signals that vary based on hardware and software stack.

Fingerprint Components

Mitigation Strategies

Browser Extensions

Specialized Browsers

Automation Frameworks

Conclusion

IP address is just one piece of the tracking puzzle. For true anonymity, you must address browser fingerprinting alongside proxy usage.