Beyond Cookies: How Websites Fingerprint You

Most people know to clear their cookies, but cookies are only part of how you are tracked online. A quieter technique called browser fingerprinting builds a profile of you from the dozens of small details your browser shares with every site you visit, no cookie required.

What is a fingerprint? On its own, each detail seems harmless: your browser and version, operating system, screen size, time zone, language, installed fonts, and even your graphics hardware. Combined, however, this set of characteristics is often unique enough to single out your device from millions of others, and to recognise you again on a later visit.

Why it matters: Unlike a cookie, a fingerprint is not stored on your device, so clearing your history or browsing in private mode does little to remove it. Advertisers and data brokers use fingerprinting to follow you across websites. Some fraud-prevention systems use it for legitimate reasons, but it can also erode your privacy without your knowledge or consent.

See your own footprint. You can view exactly what your browser reveals using our Browser & Connection Info tool, and check whether your real IP address is leaking with the Privacy & Leak Check.

How to reduce your fingerprint:

• Use a privacy-minded browser: Some browsers include anti-fingerprinting protection that makes your device look more generic. Keeping your browser up to date also helps you blend in with everyone else on the same version.
• Hide your IP and location: Your IP address is a core part of how you are identified. A VPN replaces it with a shared server address, making you harder to single out. Learn more about how a VPN helps.
• Limit browser extensions: Each unusual extension can make your setup more distinctive, not less. Install only what you genuinely need.
• Be cautious with permissions: Decline unnecessary requests for location, and prefer browsers that mask the local network details exposed through WebRTC.

You cannot be completely invisible online, but understanding how fingerprinting works lets you make deliberate choices to shrink your digital footprint and take back some control over your privacy.