4 ms·
I tested the browser I normally use for untrusted sites, which has adblock, ghostery, and lots of other custom components bolted odd. Unique. Next, I tested t
by beloch 13y ago
I tested the browser I normally use for untrusted sites, which has adblock, ghostery, and lots of other custom components bolted odd. Unique.
Next, I tested the browser I never use: IE10. It was installed with the OS. I presume it's been kept up to date, but I haven't used it let alone modified it in any way. Also unique.
This is fishy.
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Update:
Okay. It makes sense now.
Part of this test gathers a list of system fonts installed. I have some pretty weird ones installed which seem sufficient to uniquely identify me.
System fonts can betray your identity online... Who knew?
- hobs 13y agoJust recently there was an article posted on hn about identifying computers by their render rates of various components in the browser. There is an entire sea of ways to identify people.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- grey-area 13y agoYou should disable flash and java on the untrusted browser - those two are popular channels for exploits, and that is how your installed fonts are leaking. However even without the fonts the combination of screen size timezone, browser and plugins list seems to be pretty unique.
- teeja 13y agoFirst of all, when you get a 'unique', turn off javascript, then go back and click the 'Test Me' button again. You'll see much of your 'uniqueness' go away, and many boxen say 'no javascript'... no plug-in or font details sent. Get a user-agent switcher and try several different browsers. (Use the 'Test Me' button after switching.) In the past I found IDing as IE8 made my browser 1 in 3000 or so. Another good site for testing your settings security is grc.org.
- andres-p 13y ago> Another good site for testing your settings security is grc.org. http://attrition.org/errata/charlatan/steve_gibson/ http://attrition.org/errata/charlatan/steve_gibson/
- kleiba 13y agoFirst of all, when you get a 'unique', turn off javascript, then go back and click the 'Test Me' button again. Then, look for a new way to get information as the web has become almost unusable for you in 2013.