It works by collecting passive and active signals from your browser and device:

• Passive signals: Information sent automatically, like your user agent or language setting.

• Active signals: Data collected by running scripts (often JavaScript) that check things like your screen size, fonts, GPU, or how your browser renders images or audio.

These values are then hashed (converted into a string of numbers/letters) to create a unique ID — your browser fingerprint.

Here are common data points used:

• Browser name and version

• Operating system and version

• Installed fonts and plugins

• Screen resolution and color depth

• Time zone and language

• Audio processing characteristics

• Canvas and WebGL rendering

• Battery status

• Media device IDs

• Ad blocker usage

• Mouse movement patterns

Even if each data point seems generic, together they can uniquely identify you with over 99% accuracy.

There are two main reasons:

1. Ad tracking

Advertisers and data brokers use fingerprinting to follow you across the web — even when cookies are blocked — to serve personalized ads or build behavioral profiles.

2. Fraud detection

Banks, payment providers, and anti-bot systems use fingerprinting to detect suspicious logins, bots, or account takeovers by checking if a known fingerprint suddenly behaves oddly.

These are some of the most common:

Canvas Fingerprinting

Your browser draws an image (often invisible), and subtle differences in how it renders the image — due to your graphics card, driver, or font — create a unique signature.

WebGL Fingerprinting

Uses the WebGL API to render 3D graphics. Differences in your GPU and drivers affect the output and create a fingerprint.

Audio Fingerprinting

Generates a silent sound and measures how your device processes it. Variations in audio drivers, hardware, and CPU affect the output.

Font Fingerprinting

Detects which fonts are installed and how they render. This can reveal OS, language settings, and more.

Battery Fingerprinting

Collects charging status, battery health, and charge cycles to help identify mobile devices.

Media Device Fingerprinting

Accesses information about connected cameras, microphones, and other media hardware.

Can You Stop Browser Fingerprinting?

You can’t stop it completely — but you can make yourself harder to track.

The goal isn’t to be invisible. It’s to blend in — to look like everyone else.

1. Use an Anti-Fingerprint Browser

These browsers randomize or mask fingerprint data:

• Brave – Built-in anti-fingerprint protections

• Tor Browser – Makes all users look identical

• Mullvad Browser – From the Tor team, designed for privacy

• LibreWolf – Hardened Firefox fork with tracker protection

2. Use Browser Isolation Tools

Tools like Multilogin or AdsPower let you create separate browser profiles with unique fingerprints — useful for marketers, affiliates, or researchers.

3. Disable JavaScript (With Caution)

Most fingerprinting scripts use JavaScript. Blocking it prevents fingerprinting — but also breaks most websites.

You can use NoScript (Firefox) or uMatrix to selectively allow JavaScript on trusted sites.

4. Use Privacy Plugins

Install extensions that block tracking scripts and trackers:

• uBlock Origin

• Privacy Badger

• NoScript

• CanvasBlocker

Note: Plugins themselves may slightly increase your uniqueness, but they still reduce exposure overall.

5. Don’t Customize Your Browser Too Much

Ironically, the more you tweak your browser, the more unique you become. Stick with default settings in privacy browsers when possible.

6. Test Your Fingerprint

Use these tools to check how trackable you are:

• Cover Your Tracks (EFF)

• AmIUnique.org

These sites will show how unique your fingerprint is compared to millions of others.

If you want maximum privacy:

• Use Tor Browser (or Mullvad Browser) + VPN

• Avoid plugins, custom fonts, or odd screen resolutions

• Stick to default settings

• Disable JavaScript when possible

For a balance of usability and privacy:

• Brave or LibreWolf with Privacy Badger + uBlock Origin

 How Accurate Is Browser Fingerprinting?

Browser fingerprinting is shockingly accurate. Studies by the EFF found that only 1 in 286,777 browsers share the same fingerprint. In some cases, uniqueness goes above 99%.

That means even without cookies or IP addresses, websites can tell who you are — just by how your browser is configured.

Minor things like your screen size, fonts, or graphics card are enough to single you out.

Anti-Fingerprinting vs. Anti-Tracking: What’s the Difference?

Anti-tracking tools block cookies, scripts, and trackers that follow you between websites.

Anti-fingerprinting tools stop your browser from giving away data that makes you unique — like screen resolution or how it renders a hidden image.

They solve different problems. You need both if you care about privacy.

What Is Cross-Browser Fingerprinting?

Cross-browser fingerprinting identifies you even when you switch browsers — like going from Chrome to Firefox.

Instead of tracking cookies, it uses hardware-level signals that don’t change between browsers, like:

• Your graphics card

• OS language

• Installed fonts

• Audio or canvas rendering

It’s more persistent than regular fingerprinting — and harder to beat.

Who Uses Browser Fingerprinting?

It’s not just ad companies. Real-world users include:

• AdTech firms – Like Criteo or Google Ad Manager

• Fraud detection tools – Banks use it to detect suspicious logins

• Bot blockers – Like Cloudflare or DataDome

• Paywall enforcers – To limit access across incognito or new sessions

• Multilogin tools – For businesses running multiple ad accounts

It’s used to protect platforms — but also to track users.

How Often Does Your Browser Fingerprint Change?

It can change with even small tweaks. Examples:

• Browser or OS updates

• Adding a new plugin

• Changing display resolution

• Connecting an external monitor

• Switching from Wi-Fi to Ethernet

Some fingerprinting tools adapt to changes, but many will assign you a new ID if things look too different.

Can Fingerprinting Still Work with a VPN or Incognito Mode?

Yes.

• VPNs hide your IP, not your fingerprint

• Incognito mode deletes cookies, but fingerprint data still leaks

That means even with a VPN, websites can say, “This is the same device we saw yesterday — just with a new IP.”

To really reduce tracking, combine VPNs with anti-fingerprint tools.

How Do Anti-Fingerprint Browsers Work?

Here’s what top privacy browsers do:

• Tor Browser – Makes everyone look the same (uniform fingerprint)

• Brave – Randomizes or spoofs fingerprint data slightly each session

• Mullvad Browser – Blocks fingerprinting scripts and reduces entropy

• LibreWolf – Strips away trackers and fingerprinting surfaces

Each one helps reduce how unique you appear online.

Browser Fingerprinting vs Device Fingerprinting

Browser fingerprinting uses data from your browser: screen size, fonts, GPU, etc.

Device fingerprinting goes deeper. It adds:

• MAC address

• CPU info

• Battery status

• Touch support

• Serial numbers (in apps)

Browser fingerprinting = web tracking.
Device fingerprinting = deep profiling.

Both can be combined for stronger identification.

Tools for Developers and Privacy Testers

If you're a developer or tester, fingerprinting tools help you understand how your users (or bots) are tracked:

• Pixelscan.net – Shows if your proxy or fingerprint is flagged as suspicious

• CreepJS – Open-source tool for fingerprint detection

• FingerprintJS – Commercial service for fingerprinting and fraud detection

• Multilogin – Lets you test with separate browser identities

• VPNTest.Pro – Useful for detecting IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks during fingerprinting tests

These are essential for marketers, researchers, and security teams who care about both performance and privacy.

You can’t delete your fingerprint — because it’s not stored anywhere. But you can make it harder to track you.

Browser fingerprinting is real, invisible, and getting more advanced. But so are the tools to protect yourself.

Stick to privacy-first browsers. Use tracker blockers. And test your setup regularly. That alone puts you ahead of 99% of users.

1. What is browser fingerprinting in simple terms?

It’s a way websites identify your browser and device using data like screen size, fonts, and installed plugins — no cookies required.

2. Is browser fingerprinting legal?

Yes, but privacy laws like GDPR may require disclosure or consent depending on use. Most sites don’t ask.

3. Can you erase your browser fingerprint?

No. It's not stored on your device — it’s recreated every time you visit a site.

4. Does using incognito mode stop fingerprinting?

No. Incognito clears cookies and history but does nothing to your fingerprint.

5. Which browsers protect against fingerprinting?

Tor, Brave, Mullvad, and LibreWolf all have anti-fingerprinting features.

6. Does a VPN Stop Browser Fingerprinting?

No. A VPN hides your IP address — which helps — but it doesn’t affect your browser fingerprint. You’ll still appear unique unless you combine the VPN with a privacy browser or spoofing tools.