How to prevent websites from tracking you (all browsers)
from silly_goose@lemmy.today to privacy@lemmy.ml on 18 May 01:59
https://lemmy.today/post/53147245

Use a vpn with a Eu server. More sites like google will show a cookie popup with the “reject all cookies” option.

Reject all cookies if it exists. Otherwise accept cookies and then click on the :

shield icon > cookies and site data > delete (trash icon)

This is super useful when you want to read an article on some news website and it shows a cookie popup.

#privacy

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unitedwithme@lemmy.today on 18 May 03:22 next collapse

I use Waterfox which forgets all data on exit, with Privacy Badger and Port Authority extensions with no exclusions.

So far, no sites really “break”, if anything, they’re a little quicker… reading mode is nice to get passed paywall popups on most sites that want a subscribe.

If at work, I include the company-provided password manager for all my sites I need. Still works well (unless my post gets attention and companies try to break it)

umbrella@lemmy.ml on 18 May 05:56 next collapse

they can very effectively track you by fingerprinting your browser + tracking your ip if applicable.

FineCoatMummy@sh.itjust.works on 18 May 16:16 collapse

Ayup. For those not in the know… it’s a huge industry now, called Identity Resolution.

They use every available signal. A million browser fingerprinting signals. Which are much worse if you run JS. But even TLS fingerprints. Timings. How long does it take for your browser to fetch resources from these 20 domains. Canvas readbacks. A million things.

This was predicted when govs started to clamp down on cookies. Cookies were the easiest thing in the damn world to block or delete. After the ad and surveilence industry lost cookies for tracking they moved to less savory methods. Ones much much harder to block or deter. We didn’t get rid of tracking with cookie-consent. Instead we made it unimaginably more powerful.

slazer2au@lemmy.world on 18 May 07:02 next collapse

If you are using Firefox based browser get Consent-o-matic. It will actively opt you out of cookie windows instead of hiding them like others do.

Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 18 May 08:06 collapse

Just note that using extensions can make you vulnerable to fingerprinting.

slazer2au@lemmy.world on 18 May 10:21 collapse

As is everything you do. Screen size, orientation, languages, browser, browser version, even battery level until recently.

Sualtam@lemmus.org on 18 May 13:59 next collapse

But the more the worse

Sualtam@lemmus.org on 18 May 14:00 next collapse

But the more the worse

MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca on 18 May 17:06 collapse

Ironic.

umbrella@lemmy.ml on 18 May 20:45 collapse

which is why tor is the answer. it blocks out these fingerprints and is consistent between others. unless you are using something like octobrowser maybe?

[deleted] on 18 May 09:45 next collapse

.

pHr34kY@lemmy.world on 18 May 09:47 next collapse

A VPN is useless. You’re introducing another entity that can track you.

Kirk@startrek.website on 18 May 12:46 next collapse

A VPN actually hides your IP from the webpage.

pHr34kY@lemmy.world on 18 May 12:49 next collapse

So does CGNAT.

Sualtam@lemmus.org on 18 May 13:33 next collapse

Does it hide your IP from the VPN provider?

mpramann@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 May 14:47 collapse

Websites don’t need your IP to accurately remember you and track you. Using a VPN only helps when you want to hide stuff from your ISP, nothing else.

ReverendIrreverence@lemmy.ml on 18 May 17:33 collapse

Using a VPN only helps when you want to hide stuff from your ISP

…and that is a good thing as ISPs are some of the worst companies with the worst privacy policies and a penchant for selling any data they collect from you to the highest bidder…and any other bidder as well

mpramann@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 May 20:27 collapse

Sure but without extra measures the same plus a lot of more data is just sold by all the other companies and chances are your VPN company is just taking over the role of your ISP. If you want to browser somewhat more privately try to reduce your fingerprint first before trusting some VPN company just because they say so.

ReverendIrreverence@lemmy.ml on 20 May 15:25 collapse

I am pretty sure that my VPN provider (Mullvad) is not some shitty, fly by night company doing, say, Verizon-style shitty things

BrilliantantTurd4361@sh.itjust.works on 18 May 13:54 collapse

Pick your poison.

thatonecoder@lemmy.ca on 18 May 12:48 next collapse

How to prevent tracking:

  • Run on TailsOS
  • Use Tor Browser at the safest level
SteinSkylark@lemmy.ml on 18 May 17:20 collapse

This is the correct answer

atrielienz@lemmy.world on 18 May 14:42 collapse

I have a question about hiding system clock information from all browsers as well. Because this is a sanity check more and more apps and browsers are doing to disuade people from using a VPN.

Hiro8811@lemmy.world on 20 May 13:09 collapse

From my tests none of the privacy browser are that good at privacy, I tested with coveryourtracks.eff.org and some either have unique fingerprints or partial, while also providing other data useful for fingerprinting, with one exception being Mulvad browser that has the best score, all tested with JavaScript enabled, turning it off will stop a lot of data from being provided but will also break lots of sites.

atrielienz@lemmy.world on 20 May 13:12 collapse

I was thinking more along the lines of either obscuring system clock or changing it entirely as far as the apps or web browser can see. Say, making it so that it matches the time zone of your VPN.

Hiro8811@lemmy.world on 20 May 13:55 collapse

I’m not sure there’s a way other than manually, maybe you could set multiple timezones in the clock app and check the one you’re in