Firefox will start blocking fingerprints by default

[midian182]

Something to look forward to: Tracking cookies aren’t the only way that companies can track our browsing habits; they can also use fingerprints. But Firefox users will be protected from this practice by default in the browser’s upcoming update.

Fingerprints, which don’t require users to opt-in as they do with cookies, track people based on the characteristics of a computer. As noted by Techdows, these can include screen resolution, browser, timezone, language, installed extensions and fonts, and the operating system. The information is then used to create a unique profile—a fingerprint—that is used to track users across websites.

On January 7, 2020, Mozilla will release Firefox 72, which privacy advocates should appreciate as it blocks fingerprints automatically on any sites being visited using its Enhanced Tracking Protection feature.

The current Firefox 70 blocks several unwelcome web features by default, including social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, tracking content in private windows, and Cryptominers.

For those who don’t want to wait until next year to access the feature, it can be enabled now though the Custom setting in Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection. This can be accessed by selecting options in the Firefox menu, clicking on Privacy and Security, setting Enhanced Tracking Protection to Custom, and ticking the Fingerprints box.

It’s noted that enabling fingerprint blocking could break some websites or cause their appearance to change. Mozilla says it will be conducting future tests to find ways of avoiding these issues.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/82945-firefox-start-blocking-fingerprints-default.html

 

[MaXtor]

I currently have "privacy.resistFingerprinting" set to "true." Beyond websites seeing my timezone as GMT, I haven't noticed any issues. I mainly get issues from blocking third party cookies, using uBlock Origin, Decentraleyes, and using containers. I have an unmodified version of Chromium installed as well for when I need to use an uncooperative website.

 

[Capaill]

Digital fingerprint, browser fingerprint, online fingerprint, machine fingerprint, fingerprinters, fingerprinting are all valid words to describe this. Fingerprints are what are on the end of my finger. Let's try to keep the 2 concepts separate, especially as both relate to security.

 

[MaXtor]

Digital fingerprint, browser fingerprint, online fingerprint, machine fingerprint, fingerprinters, fingerprinting are all valid words to describe this. Fingerprints are what are on the end of my finger. Let's try to keep the 2 concepts separate, especially as both relate to security.

When you consider the context, I don't think there was any confusion.

"Firefox will start blocking fingerprints by default"

I doubt anyone was under the impression that a web browser would prevent your actual fingers from being fingerprinted.

 

[mbrowne5061]

When you consider the context, I don't think there was any confusion.

"Firefox will start blocking fingerprints by default"

I doubt anyone was under the impression that a web browser would prevent your actual fingers from being fingerprinted.

I thought they were talking about mobile phone finger print scanners, tbh.

 

[Evernessince]

I currently have "privacy.resistFingerprinting" set to "true." Beyond websites seeing my timezone as GMT, I haven't noticed any issues. I mainly get issues from blocking third party cookies, using uBlock Origin, Decentraleyes, and using containers. I have an unmodified version of Chromium installed as well for when I need to use an uncooperative website.

Use firefox's built in 3rd party cookie blocking. It does a good job of blocking only the ones you don't want. They just beefed up this feature in the last update.

 

[DelJo63]

Running FF 70.0.1 for a while now, I've seen no adverse effects of Blocking FingerPrinting

 

[Yynxs]

Just another developer sally in the privacy battles.

 

[Cubi Dorf]

Good Firefox. These things need to be stopped and it good to see firefox making efforts. Another thing that need stop is browser telemetry, which firefox participant in. When I open browser, I don’t want any traffic that I didn’t initiate!