10IPS IP & network intelligence
Guide · Privacy & Connection

What is a browser fingerprint?

A browser fingerprint is the combination of small details your browser reveals — enough, together, to recognise you across sites without any cookie.

Tool: Browser fingerprint Try it now — free, no signup. Open →

What it is

On its own, each signal is harmless: your screen size, time zone, language, installed fonts, graphics card (via WebGL), and how your device draws hidden images (canvas/audio hashes).

Combined, these form a profile that is often unique — a fingerprint that identifies your browser even after you clear cookies or use incognito.

Why it matters

Fingerprinting lets advertisers and trackers follow you across websites and rebuild your identity after you wipe cookies. It works in private mode and is hard to notice, which is exactly why it's used.

How to check

Open the tool above. It computes the same signals a tracker would — canvas, audio, WebGL, fonts, time zone — and shows how distinctive your browser looks, plus the privacy signals (Do Not Track, GPC) you send.

How to fix

You can't be invisible, but you can blend in:

  • Use a privacy-focused browser (e.g. Tor Browser, or Firefox with resist-fingerprinting) that makes many users look alike.
  • Avoid niche extensions and exotic fonts that make you stand out.
  • Keep your browser updated so you match the crowd.

FAQ

Does clearing cookies stop fingerprinting?

No. A fingerprint is built from device characteristics, not cookies, so it survives a cookie wipe and incognito mode.

Can a VPN hide my fingerprint?

No — a VPN changes your IP, not your browser characteristics. The two are separate signals.

Is a unique fingerprint always bad?

It makes you trackable. The goal isn't zero signals but looking like everyone else.

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