Fingerprinting, Invasion Of Privacy & Paranoia
Many Internet users are paranoid about being tracked, but without user tracking the Internet would be more of a sewer than it is, because without user checks all connected devices would be inundated by malicious attacks. By malicious attacks we refer to:
• Denial of service (DOS) - attacks from compromised computers to disrupt web services.
• Ransomware – hijacking of computers or services until a ransom is paid.
• Phishing – posing as a trusted service to gain confidence and credit card details.
• Passwords – by using brute-force methods to guess passwords or use fake login pages.
• SQL injection – to comprise databases to steal user and credit card details.
• Email spam – to solicit scams, unwanted advertising and damage reputation.
• Website corruption – injecting backlinks for SEO or damage reputation.
No-one wants to be the victim of such nonsense, yet far too many are worried about their privacy. But why are they worried about privacy when all they are doing is confirming that they are who they claim to be?
Today when one wants to login to their bank they need a username, password and two-factor verification. Surely no-one wants to see that bypassed. And when you log onto facebook or your favorite discussion forum, no-one wants to see others impersonating them and ruining their reputation.
Services like Google are reknown for user tracking and they use that identification to tailor ads to a user’s history. Those ads will not go away, but who wants to see ads for stuff that they are not into?
So why all the fuss about privacy? Or better still, what are they doing on the Internet that they don’t want anyone to know about?
Methods for Evading Tracking
Some of the more paranoid users will try to disable cookies and JavaScript, but that can only prevent access to most modern websites.
Some try using a web browser that claims to be more private by preventing fingerprinting. While there are many “privacy” browsers and add-ons, all they can do is confuse fingerprinting by rotating the response to browser property requests.
Some try using a VPN to disguise their own IP address and geo location, but many websites can detect VPNs and consequently restict access to valued services.
Some even try using the TOR network, but exit routes for TOR are known, and anyone found to be using them will usually be blocked from non-public content.
The Alternatives
There is actually nothing that one can do to prevent being tracked.
So how about doing the right thing for yourself and everyone else and stop whining about privacy.
The Law
While it is not illegal to evade fingerprinting (yet), internet service providers can tell which users are using VPNs like the TOR network. Likewise national defence agencies also monitor internet traffic and using a VPN like TOR is likely to get one promoted to their watchlist.
Reality Check
Our R&D team was able to create a fingerprinting solution that cannot be evaded. The solution has been tested against all of the web browsers claiming to prevent such things and it can flag TOR users. It only took 48 hours to put it together, so you can imagine what serious players and law enforcement can do with some funding and more time.
Stay safe and be yourself!
Author: William Kent
Date: 14th March 2025
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Comments
Alain
That is interesting. But what about people's rights to privacy?
> ArtistScope
There are two sides to the coin. One is to protect everyone's privacy and the other is to prevent targeted advertising. Let's not let one excuse the other.
