Browser Fingerprinting

Keloka

Is there a way to make my Browser fingerprint not unique? Using Windows 8.1 and Firefox, but I do have some addons / fonts / GPU drivers and so on installed, that made it look unique on a test site before.

Is there an addon that blocks these requests / only sends the information when I allow it? I know that disabling Javascript will help it, but that's not a real solution.

OmniNegro

If you want a non unique fingerprint, then you cannot have anything other systems do not have by default. That removes any possibility for fonts and addons. I do not think GPU drivers matter, unless yours is something no-one else has that for some ridiculous reason is announcing itself online through your browser.

In reality there is no such thing as unique. There is only a matter of how unique. Do your best to look like everyone else and do not worry about the rest.

Keloka

According to this site, my browser plugin details give away more than 22 bits of identifying information: https://panopticlick.eff.org

I'm using the latest, standard Firefox with only Adobe Acrobat, Java and Flash Plugins running. Are there any plugins that "normally" run as well? It says I'm 1 in over 5 million people on this site with this plugin constellation - how?

OmniNegro

According to this site, my browser plugin details give away more than 22 bits of identifying information: https://panopticlick.eff.org

I'm using the latest, standard Firefox with only Adobe Acrobat, Java and Flash Plugins running. Are there any plugins that "normally" run as well? It says I'm 1 in over 5 million people on this site with this plugin constellation - how?

Kill off Java. Please. Kill it with fire. If you need it for something, then I pity you, but at least disable it in your browser when not using it actively and via the browser.

As for how common it is, the big question is how common is the combination of specific versions of each plugin. The odds are that you are not one in five million. It is likely many people have a nearly identical setup, but many use other languages.

Keloka

These are the standard plugins that pretty much come with a clean Windows and Firefox installation, so i'm still wondering how these plugins make me so identifiable.

In any way, is there something to prevent this with Firefox? An addon that blocks this information, or sends out standardized information to sites instead? I'm pretty sure, most sites would run just well, knowing my real screen resolution and the name of the browser.

OmniNegro

Want to change it a bit? Do not run your browser at full size. Use it as a window taking up most, but not all of the space. That will be a bit or two. Do not accept cookies at all and you will remove another few bits, but will also cripple the entire Internet for yourself.

Bear in mind that Java is not the same as Javascript. The later is fine, but the former is a fucking security nightmare, and most never use it.

If this is not enough for you, then run a VM with a vanilla copy of Windows in it, and no added fonts at all. That will remove quote a few bits.

Overall I think you are worrying about nothing here. The Internet is a dying thing. And there is no such thing as unique.

cosmoxl

Omni, you're thinking wrong.  If you do the odd things (window size or disabling cookies) that makes your browser MORE unique.  The goal is making your browser more like everybody else's.

Keloka

What about my idea though? A browser addon that "standardizes" the various outputs that can be requested by websites?

Obviously, websites do need to know some stuff in order to correctly display the content, but an addon like this could potentially greatly decrease the "uniqueness" of one's browser, correct?

It's just an idea though. I don't know how "serious" this whole fingerprinting is in terms of privacy in the current stage of the internet.