Virtual private networks (VPNs) have become a popular tool for protecting privacy and anonymity online. Many VPN services market themselves as ways to hide your browsing activities and location. However, VPNs have some important limitations, especially when it comes to evading browser fingerprinting. In this article, we’ll explore why VPNs alone are ineffective against browser fingerprinting.
What Is Browser Fingerprinting?
Browser fingerprinting is a method websites use to track and identify visitors, even if they are using privacy tools like VPNs. It works by collecting data about the characteristics of a user’s device and browser to create a unique fingerprint that can be used to persistently track them across the web.
Additionally, for users interested in maintaining privacy while accessing BGmi (Bangumi), a specialized VPN for BGmi can be crucial. Some of the things that browser fingerprinting collects include device type (operating system, hardware), browser type and version, plugins, fonts, and other software, screen resolution and color depth, timezone, language settings, and any other detectable browser or device characteristics.
This data is passively collected without the user’s knowledge. The website then uses algorithms to churn these data points into a unique fingerprint ID to assign to that user. Even tiny variations in things like font settings mean most users will have a fingerprint that is unique from other users.
Why VPNs Don’t Protect Against Fingerprinting?
A VPN (a virtual private network) works by routing your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server in a different location. This hides your real IP address, making it appear like you are browsing from the VPN server’s location instead of your own.
VPNs are very effective at hiding a user’s IP address and physical location. However, browser fingerprinting does not rely on IP addresses to work. All the dozens of data points it collects about your software and device characteristics will look the same whether you use a VPN or not.
Your browser, device settings, software specs, etc. don’t change just because you are connecting through a VPN tunnel. As a result, your browser fingerprint remains consistent and trackable across multiple sites, even with a VPN.
Specific Examples of Fingerprinting Data Not Hidden by VPNs
To understand more clearly why VPNs don’t prevent browser fingerprinting, let’s look at some specific examples, including a CyberGhost Private Browser Review:
Browser and version: Your browser type and version don’t change when using a VPN. For example, if you use Chrome on Windows 10, websites will see that browser signature both with and without a VPN connection.
Plugins and fonts: Any browser add-ons, plugins, or fonts you have installed can be detected, regardless of VPN use. Things like Flash, Java, and other software are visible fingerprints.
Screen resolution: Your device’s screen resolution is transmitted in website requests and not obscured by VPN connections. An unusual combo like 1280×800 resolution could make your fingerprint stand out.
Timezone: The timezone set on your device will be apparent from browser data, despite using a VPN. This gives clues about your region.
As you can see, a VPN simply tunnels your traffic without changing any of these underlying fingerprinting points. These fingerprinting techniques remain effective whether connecting directly or through a VPN.
Improving Privacy Against Fingerprinting
If VPNs are ineffective against browser fingerprinting, what does offer better protection? Here are some other options to improve privacy:
- Use the Tor browser, which is designed to provide more anonymity by looking the same for all users.
- Use browser add-ons and settings like CanvasBlocker, WebGL Blocker, and resistFingerprinting in Firefox to limit fingerprinting data.
- Use a virtual machine or sandboxed browser to limit what fingerprinting data is exposed from your main device/browser.
- Limit plugin, font, and extension installations in your browser to reduce fingerprint surface area.
- Disable JavaScript where possible, as many fingerprinting techniques rely on JavaScript execution.
- Use privacy-focused search engines like DuckDuckGo rather than Google.
Multi-layered privacy approaches combining VPN use, anonymizing browsers, and fingerprinting countermeasures offer much better protection overall.
The Future of Browser Fingerprinting
Browser fingerprinting is already used by thousands of websites to identify and track visitors. As fingerprinting techniques grow more advanced, it’s reasonable to assume even more widespread adoption across the web. Major players like Google are also investing heavily in developing fingerprinting tools.
Government regulation and web standards changes could potentially limit fingerprinting. However, at present browsers and websites have little incentive to clamp down on the data sources that power fingerprinting.
It seems likely these sophisticated tracking techniques will only expand. That’s why improving privacy through tools like Tor, fingerprint blocking, and virtual browsing environments is so important. Relying on VPN services alone is insufficient protection.
What Is The Primary Purpose Of A VPN?
A VPN (virtual private network) primarily serves to hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, enhancing online privacy and security.
How Can I Protect Against Browser Fingerprinting?
To protect against browser fingerprinting, it’s essential to combine VPN usage with tools like the Tor browser, add-ons to limit fingerprinting data, and safe browsing practices to maintain online anonymity.
Conclusion
In summary, VPN services alone often fail against browser fingerprinting due to the richness of data sources they collect from your browser, device, and software. Fingerprinting does not rely on IP addresses or location, which VPNs are designed to obscure.
Using VPNs in combination with anonymous browsers, fingerprinting countermeasures, and safe browsing practices is the best way to guard against this threat. As fingerprinting technology evolves, users who value privacy need to be proactive in finding new tools and techniques to avoid identification.
