When you browse the web, you probably focus on the content that you come across. However, built within the digital architectures of the web are invisible little scribes that record what you do, where you go, and how you behave as you browse. Those little digital scribes are called identifiers. What exactly can they know about you as you live your life online? And why is it important?
This website tells you what identifiers you leave behind when you browse. Click on the link below and it will show you a long list of all the identifiers that every website you visit can find out about you, your location, your device etc…
Why should you care? Because all these different data points are then used to create a “fingerprint” of your web browser, allowing the rest of your web activity on that same browser/device to be trackable.
I checked and the results show that it is possible to know my device type or model, operating system, browser, IP address (and whether I am using a VPN), country, ISP and servers names, the connection type. I expected that. What I did not expect was the system to detect “fingerprinting resistance”, as well as details about my hardware (number of webcams, microphones. which graphic card, RAM, battery status, number of fonts) and my browser (extensions, content filtering, cookies enabled or not etc). It also checked for “live”, i.e., changing operations as I was using the computer: live device motion (checked at intervals of 500ms), rotation and acceleration including gravity, live page visibility changes and live screen orientation and resolution changes. It could see the live current scroll position, the keys pressed, the mouse position on the screen amongst others.
We can’t stop browsing. What to do? Short of not being online, it is not possible to completely avoid surveillance. Use a good VPN, which means a paid-for VPN (the free ones most probably sell your data) that is well regarded in privacy circles. I use ProtonVPN, from the same company as ProtonMail, one of the most privacy conscious email providers on the planet. Use browsers that are known for their security and privacy features such as Firefox (do NOT use Microsoft Bing or Google Chrome). Regularly clear your cache and cookies (I do it several times a day). Install browser extensions that give you some control over what happens when you browse, such as No Script, Privacy Badger, HTTPS everywhere, Canvas Blocker, uBlock Origin, Facebook. Container. Set your browser privacy (in settings) to strict.
And spend a bit of time learning about how to protect yourself online. There are now MANY good publications, and articles in tech-oriented magazines such as WIRED, MIT TechReview and others that describe how to set up some levels of protection online. I know one can easily feel disempowered today in the face of the incongruous levels of unrestricted digital surveillance, but do not give in to despair. Technology is invented everyday to help us, and it IS possible to avoid a reasonable number of surveillance features that are built into our digital architectures. If you are really into privacy and security, check Michael BAZZELL’s book “Extreme Privacy, What It Takes To Disappear”, 4th Ed. 2022. There is an updated eBook on mobile devices. Check his website to learn more (I do not get any commission, I am recommending him because his book is phenomenal, and he is very knowledgeable).