EFF: Tracking Browsers Without Cookies Or IP Addresses

Dude111 · 29-01-2010, 03:58

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/01...owser-tracking

Quote:

When you visit a website, you are allowing that site to access a lot of information about your computer's configuration. Combined, this information can create a kind of fingerprint — a signature that could be used to identify you and your computer. But how effective would this kind of online tracking be?

EFF is running an experiment to find out. Our new website Panopticlick will anonymously log the configuration and version information from your operating system, your browser, and your plug-ins, and compare it to our database of five million other configurations. Then, it will give you a uniqueness score — letting you see how easily identifiable you might be as you surf the web. [more]

Results: Browser Versions Carry 10.5 Bits of Identifying Information on Average

Test how unique you are: Panopticlick

Self-defense

ronald146m · 29-01-2010, 11:51

Hi
That's quite an interesting article from EFF/Panopticlick.

For Firefox users, we can see information about plugins by typing about:plugins into the browser. That's the same information that shows in the Panopticlick test. And we can find the Firefox browser version using
Help > About Firefox.

In the article it says about an open source Flash plugin called Gnash. I've installed it to test, but if it gives me any problems I'll go back to the Adobe plugin.

BenMcr · 29-01-2010, 12:07

Apparently the browser I'm using is currently unique

ronald146m · 29-01-2010, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Apparently the browser I'm using is currently unique

Well one in 94,362 browsers have the same fingerprint as mine.
So @ BenMcr, is yours one in infinity?

cimt · 29-01-2010, 12:24

Quote:

Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 189,365 tested so far.

Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 17.53 bits of identifying information

I think that's unique?

ronald146m · 29-01-2010, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by cimt

I think that's unique?

Yes, so far it is. I was being glib when I said 'one in infinity', sorry about that.

But isn't the point of the article that the more unique you are, the more likely that they can pick you out.
For example, if there were 189,365 users hit a website, then it could only be you with that profile.
In my case it's one in 94,362, so if there were 188,724 users hit a website, it could be me or one other bloke.

DaiNasty · 29-01-2010, 13:36

Hmmm, not good..

Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 192,805 tested so far.

Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 17.56 bits of identifying information.

ronald146m · 29-01-2010, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

Hmmm, not good..

Hi
Don't worry about it.

It's a good idea for an experiment.

His result is suspect because the sample size is way too small (<200,000) and it's also 'self selecting'.

It would be better if he could get his data from a well used website, such as google or youtube.

**Hugh** · 29-01-2010, 18:15

I got

Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 218,721 tested so far.
Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 17.74 bits of identifying information.

ronald146m · 29-01-2010, 18:37

It's all over the place.

Now it tells me:-
Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 221,258 tested so far.
Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 17.76 bits

Welshchris · 29-01-2010, 20:08

Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 231,749 tested so far.

Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 17.82 bits of identifying information.

joglynne · 29-01-2010, 20:12

Never being able to resist a test I have just used the test twice.

First with Java disabled.

Quote:

Within our dataset of several hundred thousand visitors, only one in 5,777 browsers have the same fingerprint as yours.

Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys 12.5 bits of identifying information.

and second test with Java enabled....

Quote:

Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 231,235 tested so far.

Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 17.82 bits of identifying information.

ronald146m · 31-01-2010, 03:05

Hi

I've got rid of that Gnash open-source mozilla plugin because it won't run BBC iPlayer in the browser.
Way to go Mr Gnash.

In the Panopticlick test it's telling me now that my browser is unique among the 376,254 tested so far.
They use a formula which goes something like... the probability of that happening is 1 in 376,254.
So I must be giving away at least 18.52 bits of data - because 2 to the power 18.52 is 375902.764535861.
I don't really understand how you can have 18.52 bits. A bit is a bit. Maybe that's just a theoretical figure and they are telling me that my browser is disclosing 19 bits of identifying information. My head hurts now.

On page 1 of that guy's article he says that the Adobe flash plugin collects some cookies of its own. Down at the bottom of the page, note 2 in the small print, he links to Adobe's page where you can sort them out online.

It shows some of the websites that you've visited.

You can delete those cookies and you can tell it to stop collecting them.

This is the website:-http://www.macromedia.com/support/do...manager07.html

Druchii · 31-01-2010, 09:19

Within our dataset of several hundred thousand visitors, only one in 9,657 browsers have the same fingerprint as yours.
Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys 13.24 bits of identifying information.

Interesting really.

BenMcr · 31-01-2010, 10:44

This is me at home

Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 409,341 tested so far.
Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys at least 18.64 bits of identifying information