Are you ready for web Fingerprinting ?

Discussion in 'Computer Corner' started by ricky101, Feb 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM.

  1. ricky101

    ricky101 Total Gardener

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    Well we did not know about it either until we saw a magazine article.

    Seems Google will from the 16th of this month allow its advertisers to gain more info about you everytime you browse their sites using Fingerprinting, a much more info grabbing action than Cookies were.

    You can read about it in this Information Commisioners Office link and elsewhere.

    The computer magazines say you can minimise the effect by using browsers offering a level of protection like, Firefox , Brave and Tor as clearly Googles own Chrome browser has no such protection.

    Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting
     
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    • Michael Hewett

      Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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      What if you used the private browser
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        My fingerprint never seems to work, its a PITA.;)
         
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        • ricky101

          ricky101 Total Gardener

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          Do you mean the Private Incognito Windows of Chrome ?

          If so, seems self defeating from Googles Fingerprinting perspective.

          The magazine article gave this link where you can test how effective your Browser is at blocking such actions. Tried it with two of the mentioned browsers and it reported strong protection.
          ( your screen may blip a few times while it tests)

          Cover Your Tracks

          002396.jpg


          Like most things google, we try to get away from it where possible, they collect masses of data and read our emails, why should we let them do that ?
           
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          • ricky101

            ricky101 Total Gardener

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            We have a Samsung phone these days, think its the later model of the one you got the other year.
            Not sure if yours can do it, but we can use a side button as a fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone rather than keying in a Pin number, can be quiet handy at times.
             
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            Yes mine is the same but it never works, I have all these odd lines on the ends of my fingers and I think they confuse it, I have to use the pin no all the time.
             
          • Pete8

            Pete8 Super Gardener

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            I don't like the sound of that at all - thanks for sharing!

            This is my result -
            upload_2025-2-9_8-42-53.png

            I use Bitdefender for AV etc.
            Is there anything else I should use to gain additional protection?

            I'd have thought that the EU & UK would be taking action, but this is the first I've heard of it.
             
          • Michael Hewett

            Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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            I always deny cookies and I've got adblockers, but I am told I have no protection against tracking. What can I do about it ?

            Most of my emails to family and friends are in Welsh, would they be able to understand them ?
             
          • Pete8

            Pete8 Super Gardener

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            Only if your family and friends speak Welsh
            :biggrin:
            sorry....
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              That ICO info is from December. Has there been an update?
               
            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              He's here already!

              upload_2025-2-9_10-51-50.png
               
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              • Stephen Southwest

                Stephen Southwest Gardener

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                I find startpage a good search engine, which doesn't collect data like Google does.
                It's very very rare these days that I'll use Google to search for anything.
                 
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                • Tidemark

                  Tidemark Super Gardener

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                  Why does Muskrat always look as if he has a couple of gob stoppers stuffed inside his cheeks?
                   
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                  • Michael Hewett

                    Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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                    Someone once told me about Duck Go , is that any good please, I may use it if it's better than google. I'm always afraid of things I don't know about.
                     
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