Browser Fingerprint
Audit your device's unique digital footprint — hardware specs, software identifiers, and privacy configuration.
What Is Browser Fingerprinting?
Browser fingerprinting is a sophisticated web tracking technique that identifies users without storing cookies. By combining dozens of browser and device attributes — each individually common, but together statistically unique — websites can create a persistent identifier that survives cookie deletion, private browsing mode, and VPN usage.
Research shows that over 90% of browsers have a unique fingerprint. Our audit tool exposes exactly what data your browser transmits and how unique your configuration is among typical web users.
Fingerprinting Techniques Explained
Renders hidden graphics and hashes the pixel output. GPU and font rendering differences produce unique results per device.
Queries GPU renderer and vendor strings directly from OpenGL/WebGL APIs. Highly unique per hardware configuration.
Tests which fonts are installed by measuring text dimensions. The set of installed fonts varies significantly between systems.
Processes audio signals through the Web Audio API — slight differences in DSP hardware produce unique signatures.
Collects browser version, OS, installed plugins, language, Do Not Track status, and JavaScript engine details.
Reports screen resolution, device pixel ratio, color depth, CPU core count, and available device memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is browser fingerprinting?
Browser fingerprinting is a tracking technique that collects and combines multiple browser and device attributes — screen resolution, installed fonts, GPU type, timezone, language, and more — to create a unique identifier for your browser. Unlike cookies, fingerprints persist through browser restarts, private mode, and cookie deletion, making them a powerful (and invasive) tracking tool.
What data is included in a browser fingerprint?
A browser fingerprint typically includes: User-Agent string (browser version, OS), screen resolution and color depth, timezone and language, installed plugins and fonts, canvas fingerprint (rendered graphics unique to your GPU/OS), WebGL renderer details, audio processing characteristics, touch support, and hardware concurrency (CPU core count).
Can I prevent browser fingerprinting?
Completely preventing fingerprinting is very difficult because it uses standard browser APIs. Effective mitigations include: using the Tor Browser (standardizes fingerprint across users), enabling fingerprinting protection in Firefox, using browser extensions like CanvasBlocker, using a VPN to mask your IP, and avoiding installing unusual fonts or plugins that make your fingerprint unique.
Is browser fingerprinting legal?
Browser fingerprinting legality varies by jurisdiction. Under GDPR in the EU, fingerprinting that creates unique identifiers requires consent if it can be used to identify individuals. In the US, there's no specific federal law prohibiting it. Many major advertising networks use fingerprinting at scale, though regulators are increasingly scrutinizing the practice.
Does private browsing mode prevent fingerprinting?
No. Private or incognito mode prevents cookies and browsing history from being saved locally but does nothing to change your browser fingerprint. Your GPU, screen resolution, fonts, and other hardware characteristics remain the same in private mode. Websites can still identify you through fingerprinting even in incognito windows.
What is canvas fingerprinting?
Canvas fingerprinting works by rendering hidden text or graphics using the HTML5 canvas element. Subtle differences in GPU drivers, anti-aliasing, and font rendering cause different devices to produce slightly different pixel outputs for the same drawing commands. This unique rendering signature is hashed and used as part of the fingerprint ID.
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