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submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by LambdaRX@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

On Librewolf i got 16.48 bits of information, on TOR browser 10.32 bits, but on Tails I managed to get only 9.3 bits.

https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/

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[-] CubbyTustard@reddthat.com 4 points 2 days ago

with budget vpn on: one in 22756.25 browsers have the same fingerprint as yours

with budget vpn off and just apple safebrowsing on: one in 20231.22 browsers have the same fingerprint as yours.

i have the worst vpn!

[-] ivn@jlai.lu 4 points 1 day ago

A VPN is unrelated, it changes your IP but the IP is not used to fingerprint.

[-] CubbyTustard@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

i got the above results every time i ran it with or without the VPN so you can say that but it's obviously having an impact.

just enabling/disabling the VPN between tests and clicking the link again.

[-] ivn@jlai.lu 1 points 1 day ago

It might have a side effect but it's still unrelated and useless for the purpose at hand.

[-] CubbyTustard@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago

so to what do you attribute the difference in score, when it's different with the VPN on vs off I wonder?

I'm amused at your insistence it does nothing when it clearly does.

[-] ivn@jlai.lu 1 points 1 day ago

That's side effects, the difference is irrelevant anyway.

I insist because I think it's important to understand this, both for you and for people reading these comments. The whole point of fingerprinting is to be able to track users without relying on cookies or IP. Changing IP does not protect against fingerprinting. I don't want people to be mislead by your comment and think they are going to avoid tracking by just taking a better VPN.

You can read more here:

https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/about#browser-fingerprinting

“Browser fingerprinting” is a method of tracking web browsers by the configuration and settings information they make visible to websites, rather than traditional tracking methods such as IP addresses and unique cookies.

And you can check the source code to see there is no mention of IP address:

https://github.com/EFForg/cover-your-tracks/blob/master/fingerprint/fingerprint_helper.py

[-] CubbyTustard@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago

if it changes the score than how is it meaningless? the score is worthless?

[-] ivn@jlai.lu 1 points 1 day ago

It's not worthless but it's on only an indication, an example.

Isn't the score change similar to the one you have when toggling Apple safebrowsing? (whatever that is)

A probable explanation is that your VPN client is somehow changing some of your browser settings. The VPN client, not the VPN itself.

Just check the detailed results to see what's changed between the two. Whatever it is it could be changed manually, it's does not require a VPN to change. But you probably don't want to change it because your score with a VPN is worse than without.

But this has nothing to do with a VPN being the best or the worse.

this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2024
165 points (99.4% liked)

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