Understanding Digital Fingerprints
A digital fingerprint is a unique set of data points that websites can use to identify and track your online activity. It's composed of: browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, installed fonts and plugins, language settings, and time zone. Unlike cookies, digital fingerprints can't be easily cleared or blocked, making them a powerful tool for tracking.
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Screen resolution
- Installed fonts and plugins
- Language settings
- Time zone
Unique as you are
Your digital fingerprint
Data Collection and Surveillance
Research has shown that numerous entities, including tech companies and government agencies, collect vast amounts of user data. Englehardt and Narayanan (2016) found that 76% of websites contain hidden third-party trackers.
Mass Surveillance
Mass surveillance is the intricate surveillance of an entire or a substantial fraction of a population. The UK government through its Investigatory Powers Act, collects metadata, including the headers of every web search made. This metadata can be combined with fingerprinting techniques to de-anonymize users and track their online activities.
User Tracking
Companies use various tracking technologies to monitor user activities across websites and apps. Notable companies include Google, Facebook, and Amazon. These companies use cookies, browser fingerprinting, and device fingerprinting to collect detailed user data. Source: EFF - Behind the One-Way Mirror
Fingerprinting in Advertising
Fingerprinting is used in advertising to track users and serve personalized ads, often without explicit consent. Major tech companies employ these techniques extensively. Cao et al. (2018) demonstrated that cross-browser fingerprinting can identify users with 99.24% accuracy, highlighting its potential for tracking in advertising ecosystems.
Proven Conspiracies
Several conspiracies about surveillance have been proven true.The Snowden revelations exposed the extent of NSA’s global surveillance programs, including PRISM and XKeyscore, which collect data directly from tech giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook. Source: Snowden Revelations
Research on Privacy
Extensive research shows the impact of surveillance on privacy and the measures to protect it. Studies by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Privacy International highlight the need for stronger privacy protections. Source: EFF - Research on Privacy
The impact of data collection on user privacy is significant. Auxier et al. (2019) found that 81% of Americans feel they have little or no control over the data companies collect about them.
Key Privacy Concepts
Understanding these key privacy concepts is crucial for protecting your online privacy. Dupuis et al. (2019) found that many individuals don't use important cybersecurity tools, and suggested that security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs could help address this gap. Their research highlights the importance of educating users about privacy and security measures.
Acquisti et al. (2015) highlighted that privacy decision-making is affected by cognitive biases, which underscores the importance of clear, accessible privacy information.