Understanding Fingerprint Tracking
Browser fingerprinting is a technique used to identify and track users based on unique characteristics of their browser and device. Even without cookies, trackers can combine information such as screen resolution, installed fonts, hardware details and more to create a “fingerprint” that follows you around the web. Disabling or limiting fingerprint tracking can help safeguard your privacy and prevent third parties from building detailed profiles of your online behavior.
What Is Browser Fingerprinting
Browser fingerprinting collects a variety of technical details each time you load a webpage. These details may include:
- Your browser type and version
- Operating system and its version
- Installed fonts and plugins
- Screen resolution and color depth
- System time zone and language settings
Why Disable Fingerprint Tracking
- Enhanced Privacy: Prevents advertisers and data brokers from building a unique profile tied to your visits.
- Reduced Ad Targeting: Limits the ability of ad networks to deliver highly personalized ads based on your fingerprint.
- Greater Anonymity: Makes it harder for websites to correlate your sessions across time and different sites.
Brave’s Built-In Fingerprinting Protections
Brave comes with fingerprinting protection enabled by default. You can tailor how aggressive this protection is, or turn it off entirely if it conflicts with certain sites or services.
Protection Modes Overview
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Disabled | No fingerprinting defenses. Sites can collect all fingerprinting data. |
| Standard | Blocks the most common fingerprinting techniques while maximizing compatibility. |
| Strict | Blocks all known fingerprinting vectors but may break some website features. |
How to Disable Fingerprint Tracking in Brave
On Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Open Brave and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines or dots) in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings from the dropdown.
- In the left sidebar, click Shields.
- Scroll down to the Fingerprinting protection section.
- Choose Disabled to turn off fingerprint tracking entirely.
- Restart Brave to ensure changes take full effect.
On Mobile (Android iOS)
- Launch the Brave app.
- Tap the three-dot menu (Android) or bottom toolbar settings icon (iOS).
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Tap Shields, then look for Fingerprinting protection.
- Set it to Disabled.
- Close and reopen the app to apply the new setting.
Potential Impacts of Disabling Fingerprint Protection
While disabling fingerprint tracking increases compatibility with certain web applications, be aware of the trade-offs:
- Reduced Privacy: Websites can compile more data about you and share it with third parties.
- Targeted Advertising: You may see more personalized ads based on your fingerprint.
- Tracking Across Sites: It becomes easier for analytics and ad networks to correlate your visits.
Best Practices for Privacy
- Keep fingerprinting protection Enabled or on Standard for most browsing.
- Use private or incognito windows to limit session-based tracking.
- Regularly clear cookies, site data and cache.
- Consider installing privacy-focused extensions or using a VPN for additional layers of protection.
Additional Resources
- Official Brave Shields Documentation
- Electronic Frontier Foundation on Fingerprinting
- PrivacyTools.io – Guides and tools for privacy
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