How Do Websites Track You?
Modern websites use a combination of techniques to track users across the web. Even with cookies disabled, sophisticated fingerprinting can identify your browser with surprising accuracy.
Browser Fingerprinting
Your browser reveals a surprisingly unique combination of information: your browser version, operating system, installed fonts, screen resolution, timezone, language settings, hardware capabilities and even the way your graphics card renders certain images (canvas fingerprinting). When combined, this "fingerprint" can identify you across websites without any cookies.
WebRTC IP Leaks
WebRTC is a browser technology for real-time communication (video calls, etc.). Unfortunately it can leak your real IP address even when you are connected to a VPN. If a website uses JavaScript to create a WebRTC peer connection, it may reveal your actual IP through the ICE negotiation process.
Cookies and Local Storage
Traditional tracking cookies allow websites and advertisers to track your browsing history across sites. Local storage and IndexedDB are newer alternatives that persist even when cookies are cleared. A robust privacy setup blocks third-party cookies and clears storage regularly.
How to Improve Your Privacy Score
- Use Brave or Firefox with uBlock Origin
- Enable DNS over HTTPS to prevent DNS leaks
- Use a reputable VPN and verify it does not leak via WebRTC
- Disable WebRTC in your browser settings (or use an extension)
- Enable privacy.resistFingerprinting in Firefox
Test Your Browser Privacy
Our Browser Privacy Score runs 12 real-time checks on your browser and gives you a score from 0-100 with specific advice on what to improve.
