Collecting data about website users helps businesses achieve many goals on the way to increasing revenue. Targeted advertising, personalization, analytics, improving user experience, and many other tasks require monitoring website visitor activity. However, this tracking also leads to significant privacy risks, such as the misuse of personal information.
What is the key technique for tracking users? Let’s delve into the mechanics of browser fingerprinting to understand how to protect your digital identity with the anti-detect browser Linken Sphere.
What is Browser Fingerprinting and Why It Matters?
Browser fingerprinting is an effective way to recognize website users based on numerous attributes. Websites use scripts to collect information about users’ devices and browsers to create a unique fingerprint, similar to a digital ID card. This fingerprint is then used to track the user’s online activity, even during private browsing.
Fingerprinting allows websites to recognize user behavior patterns to refine their marketing campaigns, improve website content, fix usability issues, and more.
How It Differs from Cookies (Comparison Table)
The development of the internet is inextricably linked to cookie technology. It was proposed in the mid-1990s to facilitate shopping on e-commerce sites. Over time, it became a common way to track user behavior, although initially, few understood its purpose.
So why use the more complex procedure of obtaining a device fingerprint? To understand the differences between these two consumer behavior monitoring solutions, let’s compare them based on key indicators.
Cookies vs. Device Fingerprinting
Comparison Parameters |
Cookies |
Device Fingerprinting |
| How is it regulated? | By certain laws, such as the Consumer Privacy Act | Operates in a gray area |
| Where is it stored? | Locally on the device | In a database on the server |
| Possibility of control | Easy to manage through the browser settings | Hard to avoid or block |
| The need for user consent | Require user consent | Gathered without warning the user |
| Transparency | Transparent | Operates covertly |
| Long-term tracking capability | Not an effective solution for long-term tracking | Effective solution for persistent tracking |
| Main purpose | Personalization, shopping | Cybersecurity, fraud prevention |
This table shows that cookies are more user-friendly because they alert visitors to the collection of information and allow them to manage it. However, fingerprint data collection is hidden and does not allow the user to manage the obtained data.
Key Data Points Websites Collect
Websites that use fingerprinting technology to track visitor behavior collect a wealth of specific details about the user’s device and browser. Among the most important pieces of information that enable the digital ID of a user’s device are the following:
- IP address
- Installed OS
- Operating system language
- Type of browser and its version
- Browser-installed extensions
- Time zone settings
- Installed hardware
- CPU/GPU specifications
- Keyboard layout
- Screen resolution
- Installed fonts and plugins
- Language preferences
- Using VPN or proxy browsers, etc.
This wealth of data allows websites to create a unique identifier for your device. The likelihood that two different devices will share the same fingerprint is extremely low. Therefore, any fingerprint will be highly unique, allowing internet platforms to accurately track user behavior and take protective measures in the event of suspicious activity.
Why Do Websites Use Fingerprinting?
Collecting unique information to determine a device’s fingerprint helps websites achieve business and security goals:
- By studying visitor behavior, businesses can optimize their websites to increase conversion rates. Collecting detailed data about users’ devices and browsers helps them better understand their consumers and launch more effective targeted advertising.
- Fingerprinting technology collects valuable data that helps customize user experiences based on their preferences. This promotes website retention through personalized offers and increased sales.
- Fingerprinting is an effective solution for detecting many types of fraudulent activity, such as account takeovers, payment fraud, malicious activity by bots, etc.
- Companies use collected data to segment visitors based on a variety of factors. For example, they can divide them into legitimate users who pose a low risk and those with a high risk score. The latter group may include those who use installed plugins or VPNs, open multiple windows on a single device, etc.
How to Protect Your Digital Identity
Although device fingerprinting was conceived as a defensive mechanism for websites, privacy advocates warn of the potential misuse of this technology. For example, it could be used for intrusive advertising or various forms of stalking, including surveillance or intimidation.
Therefore, cautious users prefer to protect themselves from the collection of information that could reveal their digital identity. The most effective way to protect yourself from fingerprinting is to use an anti-detect browser. It masks your device and browser’s true data, replacing it with fake data. This way, the website you visit receives false information about your device, allowing you to surf the internet without revealing your digital identity.
For example, the anti-detect browser Linken Sphere emulates mobile devices, replaces WebRTC, GEO data, and more. This allows you to achieve an anonymous user experience on any website. Furthermore, such an anti-detection solution is essential for business growth in many market niches, including traffic arbitrage, e-commerce and dropshipping, affiliate marketing, crypto trading, and much more. By being able to conduct internet sessions without revealing your digital ID, you can create and manage multiple accounts to promote your products and services without the risk of being blocked.
Conclusion
Device fingerprinting technology has both positive effects and certain risks for users. That is why demands for responsible use of this technology are becoming increasingly vocal. In some countries, specialized government agencies are issuing fines to ad tech companies that use fingerprinting without user consent. But until this requirement becomes widespread, you can protect your digital identity with anti-detect browsers. They effectively mask your browser and device data, allowing you to browse the internet safely.
